Tag Archives: Photography

Zen and Meditation. Ancient Poetry

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The Third Zen Patriarch, Janzhi Sengcan, wrote in his poem Xinxin Ming:

 

“The more you talk and think about it, the further astray you wander from the truth. Stop talking and thinking, and there is nothing you will not be able to know. To return to the root is to find the meaning, but to pursue appearances is to miss their source. At the moment of inner enlightenment there is a going beyond appearances and emptiness.”

These words were written almost 1,500 years ago in China.

Checking in with Nina. Journaling and about me.

Ponder1_kindlephoto-670767544 AM May 22nd – I was thinking of going back to sleep but it is beautifully dark, beautifully quiet and peaceful. I just awoke from having multiple dreams. It was the first day of our high school and it was more of a wasteland of stoners than an actual school as blunts were passed around before we walked barefoot into a piss covered hallway leading to our homeroom. It only lasted for about five minutes before we all realized how horrible school was and ran off into the darkness. Darkness? Yes its odd school was in the middle of the night and I’m realizing that now. A woman beats her child for acting up asking if he wants to end up in the downtown eastside when he grows up. My dreamlands are… they are definitely something.

I’m awake now. The coffee is made. It’s cold in the house because my landlord cut off the heat to save money so I’m all bundled up. I want to go to the skatepark down the street today so long as it doesn’t rain on me. I feel kind of like I haven’t been my ever-so-optimistic self lately. Now waking up this early I wonder if it’s because I haven’t been waking up before daylight. This feels far better than seeing light as soon as I’m up. It’s been 4 months since I left the homeless shelter but I still haven’t found a routine that truly satisfies me… I’m addicted to ever-changing life but I feel quite still.

I’ve gotten used to living here and am going to start looking for work soon. I want to work in a plant nursery; So I’m going to try that first. If not… I’ll try something else! Transitioning is going just fine. I consider it done and I’m comfy in my own skin, taking pictures as often as I can and daring to go out in dresses and skirts by my lonesome at the spur of any moment. On the other hand I cry a lot; but I’m not sure if that entirely relates to the hormones or not hahaha… Maybe that is silly. Crying over very little and trivial things… But bigger things are an even harder challenge. Today however I am feeling optimistic. I feel refreshed and ready for whatever.

Just checking in.

Nina

Pondering The Magical Light-Switch – Nina

nina-on-fire-copySometimes…. if not always, I ponder the magical lightswitch .

Dark usually.. Black, or even a dim glow through my windowpane…

Wondering where it is!

Searching with my dumbfounded mind and wandering hands…

Ive been searching so long but the longer I search perhaps the more convinced I become that there really is a light switch.

“Where is it?”.

Wandering through the dark

An electrical pulse. Or a frequency sent.

SOMETHING?!

If one could simply turn the lightswitch all would be seen.

A transcending force.

I close my eyes harder, as if focussing deep inside my mind body and soul.

Fearing what I may see once found.

Too curious to give up on my quest.

Searching.

…for the light switch.

 

Nina

 

Beyond — Great Middle Way

Beyond the extremes of gullibility and distrust lies discernment. Beyond the extremes of laxness and rigidity lies integrity. Beyond the extremes of indifference and fanaticism lies respect. Beyond the extremes of pride and degradation lies humility. Beyond the extremes of idleness and agitation lies diligence. Beyond the extremes of cowardice and recklessness lies courage. Beyond […]

via Beyond — Great Middle Way