This is the last in the series of Flower paintings by Joy Shaylor

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A ZEN STORY

One day a young student came to Zen Master Bankei with a problem.

“Master,” he said, “I can‘t control my temper and I go into a terrible rage. What can I do?”

“Show me what happens,” replied Bankie.

The young man shook his head and explained that it just happened unexpectedly.

“Well,” said the master," this bad temper can’t be the real you. If it was, you’d be able to show it to me at any time. What’s more, you didn’t have it when you were born, and it didn’t come from your parents. Why don’t you go away and think about that.”

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A FAVOURITE POEM

The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,
The lowing herd wind slowly o’er the lea,
The ploughman homeward plods his weary way,
And leaves the world to darkness and to me.

Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight,
And all the air a solemn stillness holds,
Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight,
And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds;

Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tower
The moping owl does to the moon complain
Of such as, wandering near her secret bower,
Molest her ancient solitary reign.

 (from Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard by Thomas Gray 1716-1771)  

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" O for the wings of a dove" from “Hear my prayer” by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)



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SCOTTISH TALES FROM THE OTHER WORLD continues on Friday 6th November with “MacCrinnoch’s Lament.”

http://scottishtalesfromtheotherworld.blogspot.com

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To meditate is to listen with a receptive heart (Anon)

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A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching; yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits. (John Keats 1795-1821)

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May you have -
Walls for the wind,
A roof for the rain,
Drinks beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all that your heart may desire. (A Celtic Blessing)

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SCOTTISH TALES FROM THE OTHER WORLD
My new site begins on Saturday 31st October with ”A Hallowe’en Story” and will feature a different tale every week.
http://scottishtalesfromtheotherworld.blogspot.com

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One evening lately there was a completely cloudless sky here, and I was so impressed with the very bright full moon that I called on Jean to come and have a look.

I then went to get something to read, and I found a book I had bought many years ago, but hadn’t looked at for quite a while - “365 Tao” by Deng Ming-Dao, a collection of thoughts for every day of the year. As I picked it up, it fell open at 3rd October - what a coincidence! Yes, that very day was October 3rd.

You can imagine my astonishment when I read what was on the page. Here it is -

Silver disc: Let me call you goddess -
You, with your mirrored face,
Tonight, of all nights, your shape is perfect,
Your presence sublime.
You know it too. You appear before the sun has even set,
Glorious without your cloak of night,
Gazing down in supreme splendour,
To make this dusty world pastoral.

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The following poem was written by Thomas Hood (1799-1845)

I love thee, I love thee,
‘Tis all I can say;
It is my vision in the night,
My dreaming in the day;
The very echo of my heart,
The blessing when I pray,
I love thee, I love thee,
Is all I can say.

I love thee, I love thee,
Is ever on my tongue;
In all my proudest poesy
That chorus still is sung;
It is the verdict of my eyes,
Amidst the gay and young;
I love thee, I love thee,
A thousand maids among.

I love thee, I love thee,
Thy bright and hazel glance,
The mellow lute upon those lips,
Whose tender tones entrance;
But most, dear heart of hearts, thy proofs
That still these words enhance,
I love thee, I love thee,
Whatever be thy chance.

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This slide show “A Tribute to Vincent Van Gogh” was put together by “Shaelrion.” The song is “Starry Night” by Don MacLean.



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Finally, you might be interested in my new website which begins appropriately on Hallow’een Saturday 31st October -

SCOTTISH TALES FROM THE OTHER WORLD

http://scottishtalesfromtheotherworld.blogspot.com

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Only as high as I reach can I grow,
Only as far as I seek can I go,
Only as deep as I look can I see,
Only as much as I dream can I be. (Anon)

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Love is like the wild rose-briar;
Friendship like the holly tree;
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms,
But which will bloom more constantly?

The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again,
And who will call the wild-briar fair?

Then scorn the silly rose-wreath now,
And deck thee with the holly’s sheen,
That, when December blights thy brow,
He still may have they garland green. (Emily Bronte 1818-1848)

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CLICKING FOR CHARITY

For many years now my day on the computer begins by logging on to the Ecology website. By clicking half-a-dozen times, I’m making a donation to a Fund which helps to save rainforests and endangered wilderness. So far I have personally saved more than five and a half acres.

I then log on to the Hunger site and my click results in a sponsor donating a cup of food. From the top of the Hunger site page you can access more charity sites - Breast Cancer, Child Health, Literacy, Rainforest and Animal Rescue, and by clicking at the relevant place on each one you are making donations at no cost to yourself.

The two addresses are -

http://www.ecologyfund.com

http://www.thehungersite.com

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He who is of a calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition youth and age are equally a burden. (Plato)

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My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky;
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.

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Thanks to FreeFoto for the rainbow photograph
The poem is by William Wordsworth 1770-1850
“Autumn Pastoral” painted by Francois Boucher 1703-1770
The video was devised by “Thespadecaller”

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This week at HAIKU HOMESTEAD -
When is a haiku not a haiku?

http://haikuhomestead.blogspot.com

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A ZEN STORY

Two monks Tanzan and Ekido were travelling along a very muddy road in heavy rain, when they met a lovely young girl dressed in a beautiful silk kimono. She was standing, uncertain what to do, for at that point the mud was particularly messy.

Tanzan immediately stepped forward, lifted her up in his arms and carried her on to a spot where the ground was less muddy.

Later, when the two monks had reached their destination, Ekido, who had been very quiet during the final stages of their journey, spoke up. “Tanzan,” he said, “We monks aren’t allowed to have any physical contact with females. I can’t understand what you did today.”

Tanzan replied, “I left the girl back there. Are you still carrying her?”

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Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close-bosom friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;
To bend with apples the mossed cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, Later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’er-brimmed their clammy cells.

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(If an advert appears on the screen, click on the small cross on the right to remove it)


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The flower painting is No5 in the series by Joy Shaylor
“Autumn Woods” was painted by Albert Bierstadt
The poem is taken from “To Autumn” by John Keats
The music for the video “Autumn” is “La petite fille de la mer” by Vangelis who wrote the film scores for Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner

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FRIDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER

Thanks to FreeFoto.com

Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water.
The moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken.
Although its light is wide and great,
The moon is reflected even in a puddle an inch wide.
The whole moon and the entire sky
Are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass. (Dogen 1200-1253)

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Painted by Theodore Rousseau 1812-1867

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THINKING ABOUT NATURE

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. (John Muir)

Man’s heart away from nature becomes hard. (Standing Bear who was a Ponca Native American chief)

Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. (Kahlil Gibran)

The poetry of the earth is never dead. (John Keats)

The human spirit needs places where nature has not been re-arranged by the hand of man. (Anon)

To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment. (Jane Austen)

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. (Lao-Tzu)

I can enjoy society in a room; but out-of-doors nature is company enough for me. (William Hazlitt)

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This week EIGHTY PLUS includes “Tam O’Shanter and the Witches” and a video clip of Barbara Dickson singing “The Skye Boat Song”
http://80plus.blogspot.com

This week at HAIKU HOMESTEAD - “Caterpillars and Butterflies” plus the 5-7-5 rule, Yes or No?
http://haikuhomestead.blogspot.com

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