Earth

by

The Clowns of Us

Philo Thoughts posted this for us:

A fire broke out backstage in a theatre. The clown came out to warn the public; they thought it was a joke and applauded. He repeated it; the acclaim was even greater. I think that’s just how the world will come to an end: to general applause from wits who believe it’s a joke.

~Søren Kierkegaard (Book: Either/Or https://amzn.to/3Mj3tab)

(Art: ‘Stańczyk’, 1862 by Jan Matejko)

I love the clown painting and the quote is so right on. There is a Netflix movie I watched a bit ago, but recent enough to be relevant. In it there was an occurrence (I believe a comet or space junk) that was to destroy the earth. The heroes could not convince anyone of the impending doom. At first, of course. But the twist in the plot is that even after convincing people, no one would act. So eventually the world was to end. Right then. With people going on about their everyday business. A very powerful and sad movie. We are now—if not headed for—our very own clown ending. Laughing all the way as we refuse to act.

by

Today’s Birthday

Again late, my friends. Apparently I am only able to acknowledge birthdays a day past. Nonetheless, here it is.

Gary Snyder…sometimes called the poet of the earth. Some of his poems transcend, may cause an altered state. A caution might precede the poetry: warning, may cause thinking, even loving.

Beat hero, steward of the earth, Zen Buddhist—in his mid-eighties, poet Gary Snyder looks back on an honorable life at the leading edge.

Gary Snyder. Photo by Festival of Faiths.

Gary Snyder. Photo by Festival of Faiths. In Lion’s Roar Buddhist Magazine

I want to share a GS poem with you. Here’s one.

My home was at Cold Mountain from the start,
Rambling among the hills, far from trouble.

Gone, and a million things leave no trace
Loosed, and it flows through the galaxies
A fountain of light, into the very mind—
Not a thing, and yet it appears before me;
Now I know the pearl of the Buddha-nature
Know its use: a boundless perfect sphere.

 

by

Earth Day

It seems, on this Earth Day in particular, that things are a bit disheartening. How to reclaim a continent and all continents when science is denied, facts are denied, and whole worlds (e.g. The Rain Forest) are decimated by greed.

It’s tough. It’s painful. It may be hopeless. Still some plod on. Some keep smiling and giving. Some pray. Many sit and are silent. And on we go. Some go on in beauty, while yet they can. And still we love. We love this earth of ours in all its splendor, and the terror of a sunrise. And while we go on, we love, and smile. Maybe plant a flower. Maybe stop and watch the wonder of nature, and see all of heaven in a grain of sand. Enough to just go on.

quantumWorld

Posted by Quantum World