tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904219782540965444.post666006470210041651..comments2024-03-14T04:06:54.124-04:00Comments on GENKAKU-AGAIN (adam fisher): nag, nag, naggenkakuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135705172119950326noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904219782540965444.post-12179391157568751662017-10-16T14:44:17.366-04:002017-10-16T14:44:17.366-04:00I second many of olcharlie’s sentiments and add th...I second many of olcharlie’s sentiments and add the following.<br /><br />I have heard and read about the notion of writing as a spiritual practice. Sometimes it’s journaling as a spiritual practice. I’ve added a quote below from a proponent of this idea. Google will find you many who hold this notion.<br /><br />In my own case, I have been trying to find some truly essential components of spiritual practice in both form and substance.<br /><br />Assuming that your form is writing, I’d say that if writing makes you happy, and it’s done consistently (for sure), and it’s given the period it takes to burn an incense stick 20 - 50 minutes, it probably qualifies. A major component of “Spiritual Practice” is, in the end, something done over a long period of time.<br /><br />The quote:<br />“Writing can be a spiritual practice. To write about what is painful is to begin the work of healing. To write the red of a tomato before it is mixed into beans for chili is a form of praise. To write an image of a child caught in war is confession or petition or requiem. To write grief onto a page of lined paper until tears blur the ink is often the surest access to giving or receiving forgiveness. To write a comic scene is grace and beatitude. To write irony is to seek justice. To write admission of failure is humility. To be in an attitude of praise or thanksgiving, to rage against God, or to open one’s inner self and listen, is prayer. To write tragedy and allow comedy to arise between the lines is miracle and revelation.”<br />From<br /><b>“How The Light Gets In: Writing as a Spiritual Practice”</b><br />By Pat Schneider<br />© 2013<br />Oxford University Press<br />ISBN-13: 978-0199933983 ISBN-10: 0199933987 Edition: 1st<br /><br />Pat Schneideris founderof Amherst Writers & Artists and the author of 10 works of poetry and nonfiction, including Writing Alone and With Others. Founder of Amherst Writers & Artists, she travels frequently to teach and has been leading workshops in creative writing at the Pacific School of Religion for almost 30 years. Garrison Keillor has read her poems 16 times on "Writers Almanac."Andy Shizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15215297395548845513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904219782540965444.post-13301017199399979352017-10-16T11:07:20.624-04:002017-10-16T11:07:20.624-04:00The Kalama sutra pretty much said to sit as buddha...The Kalama sutra pretty much said to sit as buddha sat and see for yourself. Sitting gave me an appreciation for the metta sutra and made the heart sutra relatable. After that I don't know anything. Between birth and death we keep pretty busy with yearning and fear whether engaged or distracted. <br /><br />Most of my life I thought music was the most important thing and spent quite a lot of time and effort on it. Then one day, being part of a good band with much promise, some offers from labels, I just suddenly was over it. I enjoy listening and have fond memories, but it's not important.<br /><br />In a book called Conversations With Merlin by Frown Strong, he says it is not the man who creates, but what is out of balance in the man. So maybe I achieved balance? Went the distance? Maybe I discovered it wasn't filling my cup? I don't know. It just changed. Buddha said that sometimes happens.<br /><br />Having gone from baptist to pagan to buddhist, sorta, all things were lumped under spiritual, which is somehow metaphysical, which is somehow lacking in evidence and importance. I was told along the way that I can't fall out of the universe, and that seemed to handle all of my metaphysical/spiritual needs. <br /><br />Maybe you just have to go your own distance, far enough to have an impact on yourself. <br />olcharliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00309255390011851502noreply@blogger.com