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Whew.
I just arrived in Montgomery, Hellabama, to teach tomorrow. Four-and-a-half hours of drive time. Normally, I would bitch (or rent a car), but I just happen to be in a loaner from Mini while they perform invasive surgery on Mr. Teapot. So, I sported the 2008 Mini Cooper S with the enormous MINI OF NASHVILLE COURTESY VEHICLE emblazoned across the rear window. Sweet.
Today, I sold my Leica M6 on eBay. My holy grail of cameras. My "I'm-divorced-and-crushingly-depressed-s o-I-am-going-to-make-an-egregious-financ ial-mistake" camera.
Anyway.
It's an awesome camera, no doubt about it. However, I am somewhat disappointed (yet elated) to say that I honestly prefer my Nikon FM3a and my Voigtlander to the Leica. And hey, times are tough. Money is tight. And how else will I ever be able to justify getting a certain scooter unless I sell some of my superfluous shit? ;)
I'm going to keep the lens, however. It works on the Voigtlander.
So, chilling here at my hotel suite which is honestly bigger and nicer than my apartment, I am inspired to share an extravaganza of music!
In other words, new music up.
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All things, material and spiritual, originate from one source and are related as if they were one family. The past, present, and future are all contained in the life force. The universe emerged and developed from one source, and we evolved through the optimal process of unification and harmonization.
* * * * *
This is how the universe came into being: There was no heaven, no earth, no universe - just empty space. In this vast emptiness, a single point suddenly manifested itself. From that point, steam, smoke, and mist spiraled forth in a luminous sphere and the sacred sound SU was born. As SU expanded circularly up and down, left and right, nature and breath began, clear and uncontaminated. Breath developed life, and sound appeared. SU is the Word mentioned in many world religions.
* * * * *
All sounds and vibrations emanate from the Word. Your voice is a very powerful weapon. When you are in tune with the cosmic breath of heaven and earth, your voice produces true sounds. Unify body, mind, and speech, and real techniques will emerge.
* * * * *
The Art of Peace emanated from the Divine Form and the Divine Heart of existence; it reflects the true, good, beautiful, and absolute nature of creation and the essence of its ultimate grand design. The purpose of the Art of Peace is to fashion sincere human beings; a sincere human being is one who has unified body and spirit, one who is free of hesitation or doubt, and one who understands the power of words.
Morihei Ueshiba - The Art of Peace
Tags: art of peace
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Tonight, I had the pleasant surprise of seeing A Silver Mount Zion play.
I was sitting in the apartment having yet another "is this really what my life has become" night when K and A texted me to join them at Mercy Lounge for the show.
Their invitation could not have been more timely, and I rushed out to meet them.
The show was great. Small venue, not a bad seat in the place. The last time I saw Efrin, it was many years ago, and he was in Godspeed You Black Emperor! - tonight he was characteristically snarky and a teeny bit condescending - just like before. I still can't believe they came to Nashville.
A great show. I think it was surpassingly great, because it was unexpected. To my delight, they played "Mountains Made of Steam", probably my favorite tune by them. Here it is for you. Listen to all of it, as loudly as possible.
This was a stormy ending
Water sank our boats
Shouldn't we, oh, shouldn't we
Throw our hopes into the ocean
The ocean
The warm grey sea
Tell me or kick me or hold me or please believe
This is their busted future
And this is our dream
Which one do you believe in?
Together, never to retreat
Mystery and wonder
Messy hearts made of thunder
Somewhere there's a soldier
Sleeping in a field
Somewhere there's a mother
Please believe in gentle dreams
The sweetness of people
Whistling in their sleep
The angels in your palm
Sing gentle worried songs
The sweetness of our dreams
Like mountains made of steam
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Yesterday, one of my clients was telling me that 2008 is supposed to mark the return of the periodical cicada in this area.
I - being extremely afraid of bugs, and remembering all too well the last occurrence of the cicada spawning - was extremely perturbed by this information, so I had nightmares about cicadas being all over me.
This morning, stepping outside into the cool spring air, the sun shining, the birds singing, I felt the last vestiges of the dream melt away, and I felt confident that my client was just another naysayer who perhaps had been looking at the perpetually full-of-shit farmer's almanac.
I began to whistle and walk toward my car. Then, suddenly, my attention was arrested by this:
A fluke perhaps? Just a random cicada smugly waiting for me? Or is this an early bird, a harbinger of the doom that is soon to come creeping out of the earth and into my waking nightmares?
I remember the last time. Thousands - nay, MILLIONS of demon-spawned insects congregating on EVERYTHING - on cars, in trees, in grass, underfoot, their corpses piling in huge drifts on the side of the roads... *shudders*
Summer 2008, I curse you in advance.
Coming this summer!
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Translator's Introduction
Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) was history's greatest martial artist. Even as an old man of eighty, Morihei could disarm any foe, down any number of attackers, and pin an opponent with a single finger. Although invincible as a warrior, Morihei was above all a man of peace who detested fighting, war, and any kind of violence. His way was Aikido, which can be translated as "The Art of Peace".
Unlike the authors of such warrior classics as The Art of War and The Book of Five Rings, which accept the inevitability of war and emphasize cunning strategy as a means of victory, Morihei understood that continued fighting - with others, with ourselves, and with the environment - will ruin the earth. "The world will continue to change dramatically, but fighting and war can destroy us utterly. What we need now are techniques of harmony, not those of contention. The Art of Peace is required, not the Art of War." Morihei taught the Art of Peace as a creative mind-body discipline, as a practical means of handling aggression, and as a way of life - in personal relationships, as we interact with society, at work and in business, when dealing with nature. Everyone can be a warrior for peace. Morihei Ueshiba called his grand vision Takemusu Aiki, or "Courageous and Creative Living."
The quotations in this book have been compiled from Morihei's collected talks, poems, calligraphy, and from oral tradition. Other than these doka, didactic "poems of the Way," Morihei wrote very little himself. This is typically the case for truly great masters, who refrain from setting their teachings in stone, preferring to speak to the moment. It was up to their disciples to listen carefully, discern what the master was saying, and then pass it on. The oral tradition includes tape recordings of Morihei speaking, transcripts of his talks and interviews, and sayings as recalled and collected by his many students, supporters, and admirers.
Although I have been studying the sayings of Morihei Ueshiba for more than thirty years, I'm always delighted that I am still so inspired by his words. I hope readers of this edition of The Art of Peace will have the same experience.
- John Stevens Tags: art of peace
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