01/09/2008
22/08/2008
Guitar, Television and the Mystical Origins of Music Itself…
Richard Lloyd is the vividly creative guitarist from Television. He now teaches guitar. His site has various lessons which cover the more esoteric understanding of music theory, including the Pythagorean search for unity with the divine through understanding how the whole became a multiplicity. I especially liked the following:
In a land
I once lived in a land where no one was negative;
where no one was angry,
and where no one lied.
The inhabitants loved each other beyond description,
so that they always told each other the truth;
which meant that all people were always in pain.
This suffering they welcomed as the deepest love;
a burning off the dross of their imperfections;
and they strove to constantly feel this burning,
which made them shine in the glistening of their
suffering like diamonds.
And the Endless Father of all
looked down upon them with great kindness,
for this was one of his favorite places.
And then I awoke, or was it that I slept?
And I found myself alone in a darker place,
where everyone was angry, and afraid.
Where every person was afraid of suffering,
and they lied to themselves to avoid the pain.
They lied to each other,
so that they would not be caught in their own lies,
and they never talked about it.
It became impolite to stare --
because everyone was hiding from the fear;
and everyone became alone,
so that none were truly friends,
because none could bear the truth.
Then again I slept, or was it that I awoke?
And I could remember,
like a distant dream that other place,
my home.
www.richardlloyd.com/
In a land
I once lived in a land where no one was negative;
where no one was angry,
and where no one lied.
The inhabitants loved each other beyond description,
so that they always told each other the truth;
which meant that all people were always in pain.
This suffering they welcomed as the deepest love;
a burning off the dross of their imperfections;
and they strove to constantly feel this burning,
which made them shine in the glistening of their
suffering like diamonds.
And the Endless Father of all
looked down upon them with great kindness,
for this was one of his favorite places.
And then I awoke, or was it that I slept?
And I found myself alone in a darker place,
where everyone was angry, and afraid.
Where every person was afraid of suffering,
and they lied to themselves to avoid the pain.
They lied to each other,
so that they would not be caught in their own lies,
and they never talked about it.
It became impolite to stare --
because everyone was hiding from the fear;
and everyone became alone,
so that none were truly friends,
because none could bear the truth.
Then again I slept, or was it that I awoke?
And I could remember,
like a distant dream that other place,
my home.
www.richardlloyd.com/
30/06/2008
De puta madre
The firecrackers started before the final whistle. The trumpets followed, then the streams of cars swinging through the streets of the Spanish capital, honking their hearts out, scarlet and gold flags rippling from the windows. "Viva Espana!" wafted in the air as they passed.
Within minutes, thousands of fans filled the streets, forcing celebrating vehicles to inch their way through the human tide.
"It's not just in Madrid, you know," said my upstairs neighbour Tina, a teacher, as we headed for the street. "My brother's in Cuenca, in La Mancha, and he says it's the same there. He went out into the patio and fired his shot gun into the air."
Youngsters burst from doorways, draped in the flag of their heroes, their faces blazing with happiness.
The Independent covers the party...
Within minutes, thousands of fans filled the streets, forcing celebrating vehicles to inch their way through the human tide.
"It's not just in Madrid, you know," said my upstairs neighbour Tina, a teacher, as we headed for the street. "My brother's in Cuenca, in La Mancha, and he says it's the same there. He went out into the patio and fired his shot gun into the air."
Youngsters burst from doorways, draped in the flag of their heroes, their faces blazing with happiness.
The Independent covers the party...
27/06/2008
Death Letter Blues - Son House
This song is heartbreaking...
I got a letter this mornin, how do you reckon it read?
It said, "Hurry, hurry, the girl you love is dead."
I got a letter this mornin, I say how do you reckon it read?
You know, it said, "Hurry, hurry, 'cause the girl you love is dead?"
So, I grabbed up my suitcase, and took off down the road.
But When I got there she was layin on a coolin board.
I grabbed up my suitcase, and I said and I took off down the road.
I said, but when I got there she was already layin on a coolin board.
Well, I walked up right close, looked down in her face.
Said, the good old girl got to lay here til the Judgement Day.
I walked up right close, and I said I looked down in her face.
I said the good old girl, she got to lay here til the Judgement Day.
Looked like there was 10,000 people standing round the burying ground.
I didn't know I loved her til they let her down.
Looked like 10,000 were standing round the burying ground.
You know I didn't know I loved her, til they began to let her down.
Well, I folded up my arms and I slowly walked away.
I said, "Farewell honey, I'll see you Judgement Day."
Yeah, oh yes, I walked away.
I said, "Farewell, farewell, I'll see you Judgement Day."
You know I didn't feel so bad, til the good old sun went down.
I didn't have a soul to throw my arms around,
I didn't feel so bad, til the good old sun went down.
You know its so hard to love, someone don't love you
Ain't no satisfaction, you don't care what you do
Yes, its so hard to love someone don't love you
You know you can't get no satisfaction, you don't care what you do
Well I woke up this morning, the break of day,
Just hugging the pillows, where she used to lay,
So this morning, the break of day
You know I was hugging the pillows, where my good girl used to lay
I got up this morning, feeling round for my shoes,
you know I must have had the walking blues
So this morning, feeling round for my shoes,
you know I must have had the walking blues
Oh hush... I thought I heard her call my name,
It weren't so loud, so nice and plain.
I got a letter this mornin, how do you reckon it read?
It said, "Hurry, hurry, the girl you love is dead."
I got a letter this mornin, I say how do you reckon it read?
You know, it said, "Hurry, hurry, 'cause the girl you love is dead?"
So, I grabbed up my suitcase, and took off down the road.
But When I got there she was layin on a coolin board.
I grabbed up my suitcase, and I said and I took off down the road.
I said, but when I got there she was already layin on a coolin board.
Well, I walked up right close, looked down in her face.
Said, the good old girl got to lay here til the Judgement Day.
I walked up right close, and I said I looked down in her face.
I said the good old girl, she got to lay here til the Judgement Day.
Looked like there was 10,000 people standing round the burying ground.
I didn't know I loved her til they let her down.
Looked like 10,000 were standing round the burying ground.
You know I didn't know I loved her, til they began to let her down.
Well, I folded up my arms and I slowly walked away.
I said, "Farewell honey, I'll see you Judgement Day."
Yeah, oh yes, I walked away.
I said, "Farewell, farewell, I'll see you Judgement Day."
You know I didn't feel so bad, til the good old sun went down.
I didn't have a soul to throw my arms around,
I didn't feel so bad, til the good old sun went down.
You know its so hard to love, someone don't love you
Ain't no satisfaction, you don't care what you do
Yes, its so hard to love someone don't love you
You know you can't get no satisfaction, you don't care what you do
Well I woke up this morning, the break of day,
Just hugging the pillows, where she used to lay,
So this morning, the break of day
You know I was hugging the pillows, where my good girl used to lay
I got up this morning, feeling round for my shoes,
you know I must have had the walking blues
So this morning, feeling round for my shoes,
you know I must have had the walking blues
Oh hush... I thought I heard her call my name,
It weren't so loud, so nice and plain.
22/06/2008
When I was a boy scout...
Hmm, is that something to admit to?
Anyway, I did a badge (this is getting worse!) in forestry. We did it in Busche park which is in a different universe known only to scout leaders. In the forestry hut there, they have the actual axe that was used to cut off Ann Bolin's head. Its had twelves different heads and the handle has been replaced five times, but its the same axe...
Anyway, I did a badge (this is getting worse!) in forestry. We did it in Busche park which is in a different universe known only to scout leaders. In the forestry hut there, they have the actual axe that was used to cut off Ann Bolin's head. Its had twelves different heads and the handle has been replaced five times, but its the same axe...
20/06/2008
20/05/2008
Dorje Shugden Part II
So, it has begun…
The Dalai Lama will face protests from the Western Shugden Society at all of his talking events in the UK. The reason is for the perceived persecution and ostracization of Dorje Shugden practitioners in the Tibetan communities in exile and in the Buddhist community at large. I have researched extensivly into this, there is much propaganda and noise from all sides in the debate, but the voices that we must pay attention to are those of HH Dalai Lama, HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
The conclusion I have reached is the following: the Dalai Lama cannot enter into debate with the people holding opposing views about this matter. The reason as I see it is that either view of Dorje Shugden is difficult to prove conclusively, and students need to rely upon their teachers – it is fundamentally a matter of faith. Therefore, there is no valid reason to impose a ban on this practice. Its very difficult to deny that there is not persecution of Dorje Shugden practitioners happening, one only needs to check the videos on youtube.com to see what is happening. Furthermore, it seems that all letters and petitions to the government in exile have been completely ignored, if ever there were a time for open dialogue, this is it, I have read my full quota of negative comments written by people trying to discredit Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and the Dalai Lama. The way I see it, the ball is very much in the Dalai Lama's court, and its up to him to make some changes. My fear is that he is simply going to wait for Geshe Kelsang to pass away…
The Dalai Lama will face protests from the Western Shugden Society at all of his talking events in the UK. The reason is for the perceived persecution and ostracization of Dorje Shugden practitioners in the Tibetan communities in exile and in the Buddhist community at large. I have researched extensivly into this, there is much propaganda and noise from all sides in the debate, but the voices that we must pay attention to are those of HH Dalai Lama, HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
The conclusion I have reached is the following: the Dalai Lama cannot enter into debate with the people holding opposing views about this matter. The reason as I see it is that either view of Dorje Shugden is difficult to prove conclusively, and students need to rely upon their teachers – it is fundamentally a matter of faith. Therefore, there is no valid reason to impose a ban on this practice. Its very difficult to deny that there is not persecution of Dorje Shugden practitioners happening, one only needs to check the videos on youtube.com to see what is happening. Furthermore, it seems that all letters and petitions to the government in exile have been completely ignored, if ever there were a time for open dialogue, this is it, I have read my full quota of negative comments written by people trying to discredit Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and the Dalai Lama. The way I see it, the ball is very much in the Dalai Lama's court, and its up to him to make some changes. My fear is that he is simply going to wait for Geshe Kelsang to pass away…
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