Friday, February 12, 2010

Thanks for missing me ---

I've been reading the comments to my last post. I was halfway through writing responses to the comments when I realized that my response was turning into a blog post, so I've moved over here.

I am truly looking forward to having John's book, The Days of Wine and Roses, in my hands. (I'm also fascinated by the fact that he calls himself Jack. Who knew?) John, would you prefer to be called Jack, or is that just the name you use for publication purposes?

England - My husband is English, and he is always homesick, so we go to England pretty well every year. I love visiting England, but I'm homesick for Canada by the end of my three or four weeks' holiday.

Kathryn, I recommend to you the experience of climbing worn stone stairs to some little chapel that's been in use for over a thousand years. It's a memory you will cherish for the rest of your life. (I'll be there for most of May - come on over, and I'll show you around!)

As for Tai Chi, it's all about pushing and pulling, sending out energy and drawing it back, finding balance. Making room for Tai Chi in my life, making room for The Turtle, making a living, making poetry -- sometimes it is hard to get my balance, and when I stumble, as I often do, I'm left feeling angry and tired. Then nothing works. Nothing.

So here I am, trying again to get my balance. Bear with me, friends.

I'm reading a book called Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain, which addresses this quest for balance. In it, I found a beautiful quotation from Lieh-tzu -- and immediately, I wanted to share it with you. It describes the moment when Lieh-tzu stopped trying to push the river.

"It was then that the eye was like the ear, and the ear like the nose, and the nose like the mouth; for they were all one and the same. The mind was in rapture, the form dissolved, and the bones and flesh all thawed away; and I did not know how the frame supported itself and what the feet were treading upon. I gave myself away to the wind, eastward or westward, like leaves of a tree."

Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain: pp. 72-73.

9 comments:

Kat Mortensen said...

Why is it the Asians seem to have their finger on the pulse of life so much better than the rest of us?

Nice to see you back.

Kat

P.S. I've got John's book and it is fantastic!

Unknown said...

It can be hard to keep everything in balance, for sure. I bet the Tai Chi will end up helping with that. On the Jack/John question: the short answer is that I go by John in my day to day life, & while I like the name Jack at least as well, for all intents & purposes it's a "pen name." For the longer version of the story, could could check this post out some time!

Sandra Leigh said...

Kat, I'm not sure that Asians per se are significantly more enlightened than the rest of us -- but the philosophies that originated in Asia are certainly compelling. Perhaps, though, the lure of the exotic is at work here. I picture millions of Asians reading Kant and thinking they've found the secret of life.

John - you can tell how far behind I am in my reading by the fact that I had missed that post. Now I'm completely confused! I guess I'll stick with calling you John, to avoid destroying my all-too-fragile mind.

Karen said...

Hi, Sandra. I'm trying to cut back on blogging, too, because I find myself neglecting real life to spend time with my virtual friends. Not a good balance there. I'm also trying to be healthier and I find I must move more than sit in front of this computer. All things in moderation. Good luck with your balancing act!

Debbie said...

That book sounds great! Thanks for the tip.

The Unbreakable Child said...

Beautiful passage. I will have to check out John's book. : )
x0

Karen said...

Sandra - I hope you're okay.

Barry said...

"From time to time, I go through a period in which I simply cannot post..."

I hope that's what's happening now and not something more ominous. I'm missing you.

Lenin said...

Hey
I don´t know well english but
I like your blog jeje
nice you are an important women
see you jeje
happy women`s day