Andrew Furst's Blog, page 95
November 15, 2015
Sitting With Toad – One Minute Meditation
On a rainy September night, climbing up the stairs, I interrupted Mr.Toad amidst his meditations. I could not resist capturing his good example. He demonstrated steadiness in the face of my camera, lights, cat,and overbearing presence. A samurai and a guru at my front door.
They say when a student is ready, a teacher appears.
These Meditation Videos Are Best Viewed In Full Screen
One Minute Meditations is an ongoing series of short videos, poems, and commentary intended as a meditation. Offered as an opportunity to step back from your cyber routine and settle into a more natural rhythm, if only for a minute.
Get Each Week's Minute Meditations in your email box First Name:
Last Name:
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In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:
Weekly Series:
One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
These videos are produced for those of us who spend an inordinately large amount of time in the cyber-world. They are not a substitute for unplugging from your devices and taking a stroll near trees, water, or a patch of unkempt grass. Getting out into the world - touching, smelling, hearing, and seeing nature is the best way to reconnect with our prime purpose.
What is our prime purpose? We are feeling and sensing machines. We are the universe looking back on itself. We are witness to the wonders and dangers of living in this corner of the cosmos. We are the seekers looking for connection a little further beyond yesterday's borders and boundaries.
But sitting and staring at the screen robs us of the sustenance that we rely upon for wonder and sanity. These videos are an opportunity to bring the sensations of nature to you, while you're in the cyber-world. Its an opportunity to relax your gaze, resettle your posture, and regain some depth in your breath. Listen and watch the video and allow your self to open up and recharge.
If you enjoyed this post, please like and share.
The post Sitting With Toad – One Minute Meditation appeared on Andrew Furst.
Alice by Tom Waits – Sunday Morning Coming Down
Because Tom Waits.
Sunday Morning Coming Down is an ongoing music video series. The songs fit my definition of music for a lazy couch bound Sunday morning. Get Each Week's Sunday Morning Coming Down in your email box First Name:
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One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
If you enjoyed this post, please like and share.
Alice
by Tom Waits
It’s dreamy weather we’re on
You waved your crooked wand
Along an icy pond with a frozen moon
A murder of silhouette crows I saw
And the tears on my face
And the skates on the pond
They spell Alice
I disappear in your name
But you must wait for me
Somewhere across the sea
There’s a wreck of a ship
Your hair is like meadow grass on the tide
And the raindrops on my window
And the ice in my drink
Baby all I can think of is Alice
Arithmetic arithmetock
Turn the hands back on the clock
How does the ocean rock the boat?
How did the razor find my throat?
The only strings that hold me here
Are tangled up around the pier
And so a secret kiss
Brings madness with the bliss
And I will think of this
When I’m dead in my grave
Set me adrift and I’m lost over there
And I must be insane
To go skating on your name
And by tracing it twice
I fell through the ice
Of Alice
And so a secret kiss
Brings madness with the bliss
And I will think of this
When I’m dead in my grave
Set me adrift and I’m lost over there
And I must be insane
To go skating on your name
And by tracing it twice
I fell through the ice
Of Alice
There’s only Alice
The post Alice by Tom Waits – Sunday Morning Coming Down appeared on Andrew Furst.
November 14, 2015
Better Than Nothing? – Say What?
Say What? is an ongoing series of laconic exchanges on Buddhism in the format of a comic strip.
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One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
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August Sights – Tiny Drops (Photography)
Bust
Chandalier
Westfield BridgeAugust Sights
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Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
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Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
FIVE LIMITLESS THOUGHTS
May all living beings have happiness and its causes
May all be free from unhappiness and its causes
May all dwell in equanimity, free of attraction and aversion
May all quickly find the great happiness that lies beyond all misery
May all enjoy inner and outer peace now and forever
NAMO AMITOFO
The post August Sights – Tiny Drops (Photography) appeared on Andrew Furst.
November 13, 2015
Baltimore I – Tiny Drops (Photography)
Over the next several weeks I’ll be posting a series of photos I took in Baltimore. I spent some time in Midtown near the theaters, graffiti alley, and the bar my old band played at back in the 90s.
MFF bw
Penn Statio Baltimore
vacations on sale hereBaltimore I
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One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
If you enjoyed this post, please like and share.
Get Each Week's Tiny Drops in your email box First Name:
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In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:
Weekly Series:
One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
FIVE LIMITLESS THOUGHTS
May all living beings have happiness and its causes
May all be free from unhappiness and its causes
May all dwell in equanimity, free of attraction and aversion
May all quickly find the great happiness that lies beyond all misery
May all enjoy inner and outer peace now and forever
NAMO AMITOFO
The post Baltimore I – Tiny Drops (Photography) appeared on Andrew Furst.
Worrying About Enlightenment? – Modern Koans
Estimated reading time: 4 minute(s)
Worrying About Enlightenment?
What’s up with enlightenment? What is it? Is it or is it not the goal of Buddhism? There’s never ending talk about it. There are gradual paths and sudden paths. Apparently there are at least 84,000 doors to it. It seems like there’s plenty to do in Buddhism that seems to get at enlightenment. But is any of it contributing to your enlightenment? Is it worth it? Is it worth worrying about? Here’s how I worked in out in my flow chart mind.
Enlightenment is the ultimate enigma. Our teachers won’t define it. Everyone is wondering what it is. After all, if we’re going to invest time an energy into something, any rational person will want to know what their return on investment will be.
I’m trying out a little thought experiment using this flow chart. In it I sidestep the problems that come up when you try to define enlightenment. Using the Buddha’s teaching on the causes of suffering, you can evaluate two things
Whether it’s just another potential cause of suffering
Do we need to pursue it
All arrows point to don’t worry about it!
I guess Bobby McFerrin has it right. Don’t Worry, Be happy.
So what’s all this Buddhism stuff about? Meditating, chanting, offerings, prostrations, statues, mantras, temples, priests, monks, lamas, malas, and on and on and on. Does any of it really help in the matter of enlightenment?
I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Modern Koans is an ongoing series that recognizes that good questions are often more important then their answers.
The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man. ― G.K. Chesterton Get Each Week's Modern Koan in your email box First Name:
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Weekly Series:
One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
If you enjoyed this post, please like and share.
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November 12, 2015
Ikkyu on Change
Quotes -The path to right view is an arduous walk through fields of manure.
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One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
If you enjoyed this post, please like and share.
Ikkyu on Change
The post Ikkyu on Change appeared on Andrew Furst.
Connecticut Shoreline – One Minute Meditation
This is the second video I compiled from the train home from Baltimore. This is a collection of shots from various points along the Connecticut shoreline. Many places were familiar from my childhood. I grew up in Connecticut and went to college there. A lot of memories were tripped off.
Please enjoy and consider taking the train next time.
These Meditation Videos Are Best Viewed In Full Screen
One Minute Meditations is an ongoing series of short videos, poems, and commentary intended as a meditation. Offered as an opportunity to step back from your cyber routine and settle into a more natural rhythm, if only for a minute.
Get Each Week's Minute Meditations in your email box First Name:
Last Name:
Email address:
In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:
Weekly Series:
One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
These videos are produced for those of us who spend an inordinately large amount of time in the cyber-world. They are not a substitute for unplugging from your devices and taking a stroll near trees, water, or a patch of unkempt grass. Getting out into the world - touching, smelling, hearing, and seeing nature is the best way to reconnect with our prime purpose.
What is our prime purpose? We are feeling and sensing machines. We are the universe looking back on itself. We are witness to the wonders and dangers of living in this corner of the cosmos. We are the seekers looking for connection a little further beyond yesterday's borders and boundaries.
But sitting and staring at the screen robs us of the sustenance that we rely upon for wonder and sanity. These videos are an opportunity to bring the sensations of nature to you, while you're in the cyber-world. Its an opportunity to relax your gaze, resettle your posture, and regain some depth in your breath. Listen and watch the video and allow your self to open up and recharge.
If you enjoyed this post, please like and share.
The post Connecticut Shoreline – One Minute Meditation appeared on Andrew Furst.
November 11, 2015
I’ve Not Stood Accused of Being Garrulous – Verse Us
I’ve Not Stood Accused of Being Garrulous
It’s almost selfish,
to desire disentanglement from idle prattle.
It is a fault – a potent aversion held against it.
Disdain for the robotic reworking of the tired machinations of routine.
The break room chatters
dressing up stale leftovers
garnished with a vulturesque grin
The impatience I have for it
A gust portending a gale.
What do I do with this collection of faults?
Purging is too simple
As though by mentioning a fault, it would be slain.
I’d be a fool to relinquish responsibility
for the happiness
that would avail, were I to vanquish them.
Sages advise doing and non-doing.
What indeterminate path will flow below my feet
on the way to my demise?
Verse Us - Poems I write: haiku, senryu, mesostics, free verse, random word constructions, I might even use rhyme or meter once and a while.
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One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
If you enjoyed this post, please like and share.
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Meditations on Gratitude – Those Who Defend Us
There is no greater travesty than war. No greater offence to the humane ideal. There is no more universally appalled darkness than the martial machine. Yet in this cauldron of hate, there are forged hearts so perfectly broken as to be capable of knowing peace. Not personal peace, warriors have forsaken this in exchange for the freedom and well-being of others; but a silence in which to cast their memories.
A silence into which children are free to unleash their foolishness.
A quiet into which the greedy may hoard their gold.
A stillness in which a poet might recollect, a mother might console, and two bitter enemies might share a cup of tea.
There will be war,
Just as sure as there will be hunger, hatred, and confusion.
There will be those who will answer the call to fight.
And there will be those who take to the square to cry for peace.
Here, both armies
Standards set for peacetime
Give thanks and gratitude for those who keep us safe.
Meditations on Gratitude - A weekly series of people and situations I’m thankful for and a short meditation.. Get Each Week's Meditations on Gratitude in your email box First Name:
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In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:
Weekly Series:
One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
If you enjoyed this post, please like and share.
The post Meditations on Gratitude – Those Who Defend Us appeared on Andrew Furst.
