Cherry Blossoms Ink and Paper

Cherry Blossoms Ink and Paper

 

At the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on the Cherry Tree Esplanade each springtime the spectacular cherry trees are blooming, with an extravagant display of double pink blossoms.

During the last week in April every year since 1982 the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, “Sakura Matsuri” is celebrated.

When I attended the very first festival there were several Japanese cultural exhibits. At one there was a venerable Buddhist monk executing calligraphy. Impeccably dressed in traditional robes. He worked at ground level with an ink brush over a sheet of paper on his hands and knees. The fine rice paper sheet measured something like 30 X 40 inches. He would ask every person requesting his calligraphy for their name, which he inserted into each unique drawing. A donation was appropriate. I wanted one for myself, but didn't have any cash. So I hurried back home a short walk away in Park Slope and arrived back with my donation.

 
As I waited my place in line, the Monk had dipped his brush in ink and was approaching a blank sheet of paper laid flat on the ground. A big blob of the black ink accidentally dripped from the brush and made a spot on the pristine white paper. That sheet was about to be discarded, but I stepped forward and said that I would take that one, just as it was.

When he heard my request the old monk stood up straight and sang a beautiful song in Japanese. Then I gave my name and this is what he brushed for me. Notice the equipoise, flowing brush strokes and precise alignment.

Keep in mind ... on his hands and knees.

And, that ink spot.

" Seasons change.

Flowers bloom.

People come and go."

After all that a beautiful older woman gently folded the paper, wrapping it loosely in an even finer blank sheet of rice paper. I took it as an invitation of some kind. I never was able to find that monk, or that group of Buddhists. Another lesson in impermanence. And, Zen.

I used that fine blank paper to wrap a wedding gift for friends. It looked pretty casual for gift wrapping, but the richness of it was there. Not everything can be seen with the eyes.

Later on in the park I came across some friends. They asked me what I had there. Still filled with the Zen spirit, I replied, "Just some ink on paper".

Voice from the Future

"Remembering back to the time when people needed conveyances to get around. Horses, horse drawn carriages. Automobiles; the ones you drove, not unlike holding the reins of a team of horses. 

"Then autos that drove you. Wow! That was a time. It took a while to sort that out. Let's just say, a few too many glitches. Of course, there were airplanes, boats, buses, street cars, trolleys and trams.

"Well, thank God that is all behind us now."

I wish I could have more to report. The communication ended right there. No details. It does make you wonder what might be in our future. It might be that in whatever, or however humans will be getting around in the future could not be described in terms we would comprehend in this the early 21st Century. Notice even my speaking betrays a bias for having a conveyance; something to get around "in". 

iLatte

iLatte

It all started innocently enough. A fanciful heart design on the cap of your latte. How charming. Cafe Barista gets an extra kudo. Wondering who was the first to do that!?

But, now ... Yikes!

You name it. And, all in the comfort of your own home!

Your very own iLatte machine makes an image for you, just the way you want it. In whatever design you may fancy. And ... at home.

Choose from hundreds of standard designs, images, and slogans. There's even a plugin which enables you to make your own. If you have the latest Internet Interface Implant — Haven't you heard? With the I.I.I. all's you do is THINK IT and it gets uploaded to the Cloud to link with any number of devices. Aye yi yi,! Huh? Indeed. — your custom cappe is literally a blink away. On that Brave New World subject read the piece on Gatekeeper. Now rebranded as Internet Interface Implant.  

Fully functioning stand alone units, or retrofit kits for selected conventional machines. Download the free app. Get you beans and cream on. Then go. Depth worldwide technical support. 

Especially winning for when you have your hot date up for a night "cap" of — wink, wink — Coffee. All's you gotta do is send the right message. 

When it's on a cap of Cappuccino, it's especially winning. Imbibe responsibly. You could be up all night. 

When you two [or, three] lovers awaken [late ... or, is that latte] here's something that'll be sure to keep them comin' back for more. 

iToast, it's called. Available factory direct and discounted bundled with your first iLatte purchase.

Learn more about iToast. CLICK this. NOW!

In words ...

Nisargadatta Maharaj

"We are pure consciousness"

You are Pure Consciousness. Your true nature (existence) is beyond description. It (existence) cannot be known with the mind, yet it exists. It is the source of everything. You become what you believe. How powerful are the effects of beliefs. Be aware of this truth. Know that you are (exist) before knowing anything else (concepts or experiences). Have the firm conviction that you are pure consciousness (existence).

This should be done spontaneously; it is the only way. Catch hold of the knower of the mind. If you believe your thoughts, you will be disappointed. Be the witness of thoughts. Remain as the seer (the subject). The world is your mind (imagined within it). The mind is a concept and this concept is the mind it gives birth to whatever it likes. This is its nature. When one realizes the true nature of concepts, one simultaneously realizes 'That' (consciousness) which is without concepts. Only mind is born, not you (existence, consciousness).

When you become stabilized in your Self, the continuous commentary of the mind will stop. Your true state (existence) is ever existent (since existence always exists). Only the religion of one's true nature (an awareness of one's inner awareness) will last to the end. True religion is the religion of the Self (existence, consciousness). It lies in searching for one's true nature and stabilizing oneself there.

Religious traditions are based on concepts. There is silence (existence, consciousness) when these concepts are given up. The ultimate religion is a state of Self-realization it is an unbroken and fearless state of Being (existence, consciousness). This means to live with the conviction that we are pure consciousness (existence).

CHRISTMAS 2019

Base-Ichy Politics

"... and, it's a tactic."

Seems with further looking the above clip is referring to Republicans. 

Pelosi, June 22, 2017: Republicans are afraid of that contrast in a race because they are going to go there to be involved in trickle‑down economics, shutting down hospitals, and the rest of it.  So they don’t want them to see that contrast.  So they focus on something else.

And it’s a diversionary tactic. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. You demonize and then you — we call it the wrap-up smear. If you want to talk politics. We call it the wrap-up smear. You smear somebody with falsehoods and all the rest and then you merchandise it. And then you write it [Pelosi gestures at reporters] and they’ll say, “see it’s reported in the press that this, this, this, and this,” so they have that validation that the press reported the smear. And then it’s called the wrap-up smear — now I’m going to merchandise the press’s report on the smear that we made.

Farmers Market 2019

Jeannie and Jim Matarazzo North Caldwell New Jersey

May 4, 2019

Michele T. Fillion [My Sweetie] Montclair Farmers Market June 2, 2019

 
Best is Show at Montclair Farmers Market

The Farmers Daughter Montclair June 2, 2019

The Farmer ... Jim Matarazzo

Both, Winners

Carol Zimmermann Newlands June 14, 2019 Cedar Grove, New Jersey

Jim Matarazzo passed away July 17, 2019.
Wonderful, generous friend. Pillar of the community.
Died with his boots on, preparing for the next Farmers Market.

Farmer Dan at the end of the season, October 19, 2019.

City Green in Clifton New Jersey November 2, 2019.

Farmsview at Paterson Farmers Market November 2, 2019.

 Ms. Schultheis at the Paterson Farmers Market November 2, 2019

Sellin' at the Paterson Farmers Market

Welcome to the City Green Thanksgiving Farmers Market November 26, 2019

 That's Farmer Joe

See the Other Farmers Markets

2022

2020

2018

2017

2016

2015

Ven. Tong Songchol (1912~1993), one of the great Zen masters in the last century was also called the Living Buddha of Korea.

There is One Thing - It existed before the earth and skies came into being, and it will exist long after they all have disappeared. The heavens and earth could appear a thousand times and be destroyed ten thousand times, but this One Thing would not change at all.

This One Thing is incomprehensibly huge. The entire universe is just a spray of water in comparison to this ocean.

This One Thing is incomparably brighter than a trillion billion suns and moons, and it constantly lights up everything. This absolute Great Light is beyond light and dark, and yet it lights everything that exists.

This One Thing is beyond description, beyond discrimination, and it is absolute. But even the term "absolute" is entirely inadequate to describe it. To call it "One Thing" is to lie, because "One Thing" is only a name and a terribly inadequate name. All Buddhas of the universe could spend eternity describing it, but such an effort would be insignificant. If you were to become enlightened, then you yourself would know;
but you would never be able to explain it to anyone.

This One Thing is called "Buddha" by those who have become enlightened. It is beyond the agony of life and death, and those who know it become free-flowing for the rest of eternity. But those who have not become enlightened to this One Thing continue to struggle and suffer in the sea of life and death, in the everlasting cycle of the four forms of birth and the six realms of sentient existence.

Even the tiniest form of life includes this One Thing. Both an enlightened Buddha and an unenlightened ant possess it. The only difference between them is that one knows it and the other doesn't.

It is so brilliant and astounding that even the Buddha and Bodhidharma cannot look at it when they raise their eyes. They can open their mouths, but cannot describe it. They and all our other Zen patriarchs become merely blind and mute in the face of it.

All one can do is to become enlightened to it, and then become totally free-flowing in it.

Oh Wronski Family Party

Rummaging through the old shoe box stashed away way back in the bottom of the storage closet we came upon this candid from a typical Wronski Family get together. 

Pictured is my Uncle Rosco. Rosco Wronski. "R.R." Stood for "Rough and Ready." "Raunchy and Rambunctious." "Refined and Reserved." Well, that last one ... not so much. 

Then there's his Mom. She's the one with the penchant for torching her effluence. Aunty Selma. Smelly Selma some called her; but, behind her back. Yes, the pun just came out. "Behind her back." As in, behind her back side. She lit up every party.

Then there's Grandma Wronski. Seen her pictured refreshing herself to get ready for another machine gun round of Peppermint Schnapps shots with Beer chasers. Polish Beer, you betcha. As you can imagine the apples didn't fall far from that tree. 

Truth be told, that photo shows just the tip of the iceberg. The rest of the goings on that night would make The Aristocrats blush.

CLICK to view the complete Wronski Family saga.