Le Prophète

Alors un maçon s’avança et dit, Parlez-nous de Maisons.

Et il repondit et dit:

Bâtissez de vos rêves une retraite dans le désert avant de bâtir une maison dans l’enceinte de la ville.

Car de même que vous avez des retours au foyer en votre crépuscule, ainsi le voyageur en vous, celui qui est toujours loin et seul.

Votre maison est votre plus grand corps.

Elle grandit dans le soleil et dort dans le silence de la nuit; et ell n’est pas sans rêves. Votre maison ne rêves-t-elle pas? et en rêve, ne quitte-t-elle pas la ville pour le bosquet ou la colline?

O si je pouvais cueillir vos maisons dans ma main et comme un semeur les éparpiller dans les forêts et les prés.

Fasse que les vallées soient vos rues et les verts sentiers vos ruelles, que vous puissiez vous chercher l’un l’autre à travers les vignes et ramener les senteurs de la terre dans vos vêtements.

Mais il n’est pas encore le temps de ces choses.

Dans leur peur, vos aïeux vous ont rassemblés trop près l’un de l’autre. Et cette peur durera encre un peu de temps. Encore un peu de temps les murs de vos cités sépareront vos foyers de vos champs.

Et dites-moi, peuple d’Orphalese, qu’avez-vous dans ces maisons? Et que gardez-vous derrière ces portes fermées?

Avez-vous la paix, la tranquille impulsion qui révèle votre puissance?

Avez-vous des souvenirs, ces voûtes brillantes qui surplombent les sommets de l’esprit?

Avez-vous la beauté, qui détourne le couer des objets faits de bois et de pierre pour l’orienter vers la montagne sainte?

Dites-moi, avez-vous cela dans votre maisons?

Ou n’avez-vous que le bien-être, et la convoitise du bien-être, ce désir furtif qui entre en invité dans la maison, puis y devient un hôte, et puis un maître?


Oui, et il devient dompteur, et avec fourche et fouet il fait des pantins de vos plus généreux désirs.

Bien que ses mains soient de soie, son couer et de fer.

Il vous berce jusqu’au sommeil uniquement pour hanter votre chevet et se gausser de la dignité de la chair.

Il se moque de vos sens qui son bons et les couche dans de l’ouate comme des vases fragiles.

En vérité, la convoitise du bien-être tue la passion de l’âme, et suit en ricanant ses funérailles.


Mais vous, enfants de l’espace, vous les inquiets dans le repos, vous ne serez ni capturés ni apprivoisés.

Votre maison ne sera pas une ancre mais un mât.

Elle ne sera pas un voile étincelant qui couvre une plaie, mais une paupière qui protège l’oiel.

Vous ne replierez pas vos ailes afin de pouvoir franchir les portes, ni ne courberez vos têtes pour qu’elles ne heurtent pas les plafonds, ni ne craindrez de respirer de peur que les murs ne se fendent et s’écroulent.

Vous n’habiterez pas des tombes construites par les morts pour les vivants.

Même faite avec magnificence et splendeur, votre maison ne saurait contenir votre secret ni abritrer votre désir.

Car ce qui est infini en vous habite le château du ciel, don’t la porte est la brume du matin, et don’t les fenêtres sont les chants et les silences de la nuit.

Khalil Gibran

Are we living or simply following?

In Romania, this month has started as the  Month from Hell. A hell of our own making.  A child apparently has been killed by dogs in one of the capital’s parks. I say apparently because it is not clear and I dare say it never will be, what exactly happened. Also, his brother was bitten, but managed to escape. But I repeat, after two weeks, we still don’t know the truth.  The incident happened it would appear 1 km away from the bench where granny was apparently watching over them. And now more contradictory statements follow like the granny saying they were gone for an hour, oh, I did look for them, while I was still looking for them one of my grandsons came back and told me what happened. So you see, to me at least, it is still not clear what happened. You can find all sorts of articles on the Internet saying this and that.

I agree it is a tragedy, a child died, I can not even imagine the parent’s pain. But since that day, Romania has been surrounded by a murderous aura. We need to kill all stray dogs and it has to be NOW! The media, as always in Romania, blew everything out of proportion in the channels’ race to see who has more ratings, in the reporters’ mad dash to be noticed and now we have citizens killing, torturing, slaughtering dogs. The images I see every day will haunt me forever. Even the country’s president stated: Humans are above dogs! I dare say there is no human and no animal that is above God that created us all and in His eyes, we are all alike, being made from the same energy and with the same love. We have no right to kill them.

Since most of the stray dogs started appearing on the streets when in the communist era the houses  where knocked down to build buildings, the owners of dogs that lived in houses and then moved in flats, abandoned them on the streets. Like any other species on Earth, they have this basic instinct to reproduce. So there you have our stray dogs today. Along the years incredible amounts of money have been appearing on paper for stray dogs – for sterilization, for buildings shelters – things that only remained on paper because the money went… to those “smart” people who were able to fill their pockets. So, again, nothing happened! The dogs kept multiplying, not enough adoptions were made – and you know what? Most dogs are adopted outside Romania, in countries like the UK, Germany and Holland. Of course, some Romanians have even up to three stray dogs in their apartments, some who live in houses and have big yards, have even more than five. But these are the lucky dogs.

In Romania – I don’t know about other countries, but I know about mine – dogs are kicked, beaten and tortured every day. And now, in more  recent days, they are being tortured-killed-butchered!!!!! by those well-meaning citizens that apparently want to protect their children from the beasts. I repeat – the images I see everyday of how the dogs are killed and the screams I hear in the youtube postings – we have videos, can you imagine that? – are absolutely shocking and will mark you forever. And all in the name of this apparent modern time we’re living. It’s just an excuse for these bipedal beings that have no rational thinking and no kind of feeling whatsoever to satisfy their need for violence and blood. This is how they manifest. They are no more than basic animals without any hope of ever gaining some kind of wisdom and rationality.

Beside these beings I live every day. And I get scared. This massacre can not possibly continue and yet it does. We could have found – long ago – solutions for the stray dog problem. Because it has become a problem. And no, I do not want any people to be killed by dogs – if that is what really happened – I simply don’t want more suffering, I don’t want violence, I don’t want to be afraid of living beside these “human” beings. Because if today they tortured and killed a dog while grinning, who is to say what they will do tomorrow to their fellow human beings since they have found this thirst for blood or maybe it was just always there, dormant.

Many people say on Facebook, on Twitter, in articles, on blogs… that maybe all this stray dog problem has come at a very good time for our leaders to take our mind off the mining problem – Rosia Montana and maybe it is so, I do not know. If it is so, they have not quite succeeded. Protesters are still in the streets every evening-night and they still want to be heard.

In our thrist for blood and excuses to fulfill this desire to kill, we have forgotten about the human criminals. The ones who rape, the ones that kill, we have forgotten about the statistics that show us that more children are being killed, beaten and tortured by their own parents than children being bitten or killed by dogs. But we do nothing and say nothing about those kind people. Well, you know, that’s normal, I mean, it’s absolutely normal in a society for humans to torture and kill other humans and we just imprison them and feed them and keep them warm in winter while at some point, they’ll get out and do some more damage. This is normal, we have gotten used to this. Now, I am not saying we should kill the killers, I am just saying we are a bunch of hypocrites. We have forgotten about all the other problems – the fact that we barely have enough to live a decent life, that old people die in hospitals for lack of care or medicine or money or that they don’t have enough to live by because the pensions are just not enough, the fact that our hospitals are in a very bad shape, the fact that the economy is not going as it should etc. No! Now we only want to kill dogs.

People that love dogs are desperately trying to save them by adopting them themselves or by taking them in as foster dogs while trying to find loving owners. And we are running out of time because they are being taken to shelters where apparently we have 14 days to take them back, but I doubt they even wait that long.

I haven’t cried so much in a long time. Before, when I would hear about foreigners talking badly about my country and its people I would get upset because I would think – hey, don’t talk like that! We’re not all that bad. But now, I truly think, we are all that bad and that we deserve whatever’s coming. We have become a nation of killers and savages. Instead of evolving, we have regressed. This country makes me sick. The media makes me sick, our leaders make me sick and now a whole part of the country’s residents make me sick.

We are saving our children from dogs? We are mutilating their spirit! We are teaching them it’s ok not to feel love for other beings on the planet, that it’s ok to kill! I truly feel like moving from the city, going in an isolated place in the hills with my family or just leaving the country entirely in a hope of escaping mass murder.

I have been shocked by the reaction of some of my acquaintances when I dared express my opinion about saving the dogs. They practically bit my head off. And I am not the only one who gets this treatment. The whole nation has gone into an uncontrollable hysteria. When will it end and how? Will it ever end?

I do not want to live in a country like this! Why couldn’t we have just love between us and everything that is instead of violence and pain and terrible suffering?

These days, I am deeply ashamed to be a Romanian. I never thought I would say it. It is such a beautiful country with wonderful traditions, culture and talented people. I truly love it, but now I can not stand to be among its people because unfortunately, more than half of them are not rational beings.

Are we really living or are we simply following? Do we always need to be told what to do? Do we like to be manipulated so much? Can we not think for ourselves? Lots of people react like this – oh, if it says so on TV, then it has to be true! oh, if it says so in the paper, it has to be true! oh, if the president of the country says so, then it must be true! We do not think anymore – if we ever did – we just follow.

We are on a steep slope, declining rapidly. As human beings.

I thought I had no more words to express what I feel, but I find there are still some left. May God watch over us and give Light and Love over this country that somehow seems lost. May we someday forgive ourselves for what we have done. May we someday learn to love. May we someday learn what it means to be human. May we bring peace on this Earth!

Nara

I think it would have been nicer if I had written about the places I visited in Japan in the order I visited them and maybe not more than a year after, but there you go. I want to write about one of my favourite places – Nara.

We went to Nara after leaving Osaka, heading for Kyoto, our final destination. We took a train and stopped in Nara. I really liked the train we took and I think that in the two weeks we were in Japan, we took so many trains that I think we covered pretty much all of the types. Of course, the most comfortable is the Shinkansen, way more comfortable than the plane seat, even though we flew Qatar Airways and they really have class. But the train I like the most was the Trans-Kyushu Limited Express that took us to Aso. It was an older type of train and the route it takes is just out a fairy tale. If you have the chance, you should take this train and enjoy the wonderful scenery.

So, coming back to Nara, we only had one day to visit it and Fushimi Inari Taisha wasn’t in the guide’s plan, but some of us really wanted to stop and see as much as we could. About Fushimi Inari Taisha in the next article.

The first permanent capital of Japan was established in the year 710 at Heijo, the city now known as Nara. As the influence and political ambitions of the city’s powerful Buddhist monasteries grew to become a serious threat to the government, the capital was moved to Nagaoka in 784. Nara is located less than one hour from Kyoto and Osaka. Due to its past as the first permanent capital, it remains full of historic treasures, including some of Japan’s oldest and largest temples.

Well, maybe the first thing you notice in Nara are the deers. There are thousands of them. According to local folklore, deer from this area were considered sacred due to a visit from one of the four gods of Kasuga Shrine, Takenomikazuchi-no-mikoto. He was said to have been invited from Kashima, Ibaraki] and appeared on Mt. Mikasa-yama riding a white deer. From that point, the deer were considered divine and sacred by both Kasuga Shrine and Kōfuku-ji.Killing one of these sacred deer was a capital offense punishable by death up until 1637, the last recorded date of a breach of that law. After World War II, the deer were officially stripped of their sacred/divine status, and were instead designated as National Treasures and are protected as such. You can buy special crackers to feed the deers, but they have no problem searching your pockets, your bag, whatever is more handy.

To me, they looked really sad.  But anyway, they really are not scared of humans, after so long and are truly used to the modern ways:

though they can be pretty insistent when asking for food, so it would be better if you don’t annoy them, or else:

First, we went here on our way to Tōdai-ji. It was really really crowded, but the trees were in full bloom and it was one of the rare sunny and warm days we had, so everything was beautiful.

We didn’t go inside the temple, saw only the front yard because as usual, we were “on the run”.

Tōdai-ji - Eastern Great Temple -  is a Buddhist temple complex. Its Great Buddha Hall - Daibutsuden - houses the world’s largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu.  The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism. The temple is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site as “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”, together with seven other sites including temples, shrines and places in the city of Nara.

The beginning of building a temple where the Tōdai-ji complex sits today can be dated to 728, when Emperor Shōmu established Kinshōsen-ji  as an appeasement for Prince Motoi, his first son with his Fujiwara clan consort Kōmyōshi. Prince Motoi died a year after his birth.

During the Tenpyō era, Japan suffered from a series of disasters and epidemics. It was after experiencing these problems that Emperor Shōmu issued an edict in 741 to promote the construction of provincial temples throughout the nation. Tōdai-ji (still Kinshōsen-ji at the time) was appointed as the Provincial temple of Yamato Province and the head of all the provincial temples. With the alleged coup d’état by Nagaya in 729, an outbreak of smallpox around 735–737, worsened by consecutive years of poor crops, then followed by a rebellion led by Fujiwara no Hirotsugu in 740, the country was in a chaotic position. Emperor Shōmu had been forced to move the capital four times, indicating the level of instability during this period.

In 743, Emperor Shōmu issued a law in which he stated that the people should become directly involved with the establishment of new Buddha temples throughout Japan. His personal belief was that such piety would inspire Buddha to protect his country from further disaster. Gyōki, with his pupils, traveled the provinces asking for donations. According to records kept by Tōdai-ji, more than 2,600,000 people in total helped construct the Great Buddha and its Hall. The 16 m (52 ft) high statue was built through eight castings over three years, the head and neck being cast together as a separate element. The making of the statue was started first in Shigaraki. After enduring multiple fires and earthquakes, the construction was eventually resumed in Nara in 745,[8] and the Buddha was finally completed in 751. A year later, in 752, the eye-opening ceremony was held with an attendance of 10,000 people to celebrate the completion of the Buddha. The Indian priest Bodhisena performed the eye-opening for Emperor Shōmu. The project nearly bankrupted Japan’s economy, consuming most of the available bronze of the time.

The original complex also contained two 100 m pagodas, perhaps second only to the pyramids of Egypt in height at the time. These were destroyed by earthquake. The Shōsōin was its storehouse, and now contains many artifacts from the Tenpyo period of Japanese history.

This is the imposing Nandaimon, the Great Southern Gate, just wanted you to see how small the man in the centre of the picture is compared to it. The existing Nandaimon  is a reconstruction of end-12th century based on Song Dynasty style.

And the flag, so the pack wouldn’t get lost:

Then you have the guardians:

And so you’ll get an idea of how big they are:

The dancing figures of the Nio, the two 28-foot-tall guardians at the Nandaimon, were built at around the same time by Unkei, Kaikei and their workshop members. The Nio are an A-un pair known as Ungyo, which by tradition has a facial expression with a closed mouth, and Agyo, which has an open mouthed expression. The two figures were closely evaluated and extensively restored by a team of art conservators between 1988 and 1993. Until then, these sculptures had never before been moved from the niches in which they were originally installed. This complex preservation project, costing $4.7 million, involved a restoration team of 15 experts from the National Treasure Repairing Institute in Kyoto.

The next gate you have to pass:

And then you see it:

The gardens that surround it:

The Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden) has been rebuilt twice after fire. The current building was finished in 1709, and although immense—57 m long and 50 m wide—it is actually 30% smaller than its predecessor. Until 1998, it was the world’s largest wooden building. It has been surpassed by modern structures, such as the Japanese baseball stadium ‘Odate Jukai Dome’, amongst others. The Great Buddha statue has been recast several times for various reasons, including earthquake damage. The current hands of the statue were made in the Momoyama Period (1568–1615), and the head was made in the Edo period (1615–1867).

This left me breathless. It wasn’t just the size of the statue, but also the atmosphere in this place, it was so warm and peaceful even though there was an amazing numer of people. I found a nice bench in a corner and just sat there with my eyes closed, just feeling that incredible space.

Several smaller Buddhist statues and models of the former and current buildings are also on display in the Daibutsuden Hall. Another popular attraction is a pillar with a hole in its base that is the same size as the Daibutsu’s nostril. It is said that those who can squeeze through this opening will be granted enlightenment in their next life.There were more statues in the temple:

 

 By the way, I bought more bells here.  :D  Yes, I know, I’m a maniac, but I just love their sounds. I think I bought 5, but I gave 2 as presents, so I was left with just 3.  :D  (Oh, and I bought more – different models in Beppu and Miyajima. I’ll take a picture of them someday and show them to you.)

I was so sorry we only had half an hour to admire this unique place, next time, I’ll stay at least an hour. And now, on to Kasuga Taisha - Nara’s most celebrated Shinto shrine. It was established at the same time as the capital and is dedicated to the deity responsible for the protection of the city. Kasuga Taisha was also the tutelary shrine of the Fujiwara, Japan’s most powerful family clan during most of the Nara and Heian Periods. Like the Ise Shrines, Kasuga Taisha had been periodically rebuilt every 20 years for many centuries. In the case of Kasuga Taisha, however, the custom was discontinued at the end of the Edo Period.

Beyond the shrine’s offering hall, which can be visited free of charge, there is a paid inner area which provides a closer view of the shrine’s inner buildings. Furthest in is the main sanctuary, containing multiple shrine buildings that display the distinctive Kasuga style of shrine architecture, characterized by a sloping roof extending over the front of the building.

Kasuga Taisha is famous for its lanterns, which have been donated by worshipers. Hundreds of bronze lanterns can be found hanging from the buildings, while as many stone lanterns line its approaches. The lanterns are lit twice a year on the occasion of the Lantern Festivals in early February and mid August.

And this is where we separated as a group and we each went our separate ways, settled to meet at a certain hour at the train station. I went with two sisters that were on the same visit as much as possible lenght as me.

And we came across Kōfuku-ji - The Five Storied Pagoda which is a National Treasure. The temple is the national headquarters of the Hossō school and is one of the eight Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Kōfuku-ji has its origin as a temple that was established in 669 by Kagami-no-Ōkimi, the wife of Fujiwara no Kamatari, wishing for her husband’s recovery from illness. Its original site was in Yamashina, Yamashiro Province (present-day Kyoto). In 672, the temple was moved to Fujiwara-kyō, the first planned Japanese capital to copy the orthogonal grid pattern of Chang’an. In 710 the temple was dismantled for the second time and moved to its present location, on the east side of the newly constructed capital, Heijō-kyō, today’s Nara.

Kōfuku-ji was the Fujiwara’s tutelary temple, and enjoyed as much prosperty, and as long as the family did. The temple was not only an important center for the Buddhist religion, but also retained influence over the imperial government, and even by “aggressive means” in some cases.When many of the Nanto Shichi Daiji such as Tōdai-ji -declined after the move of capital to Heian-kyō (Kyoto), Kōfuku-ji kept its significance because of its connection to the Fujiwara. The temple was damaged and destroyed by civil wars and fires many times, and was rebuilt as many times as well, although finally some of the important buildings, such as two of the three golden halls, the nandaimon, chūmon and the corridor were never reconstructed and are missing today.

And around it, there is this:

And then, there I am, about to east something really good with chestnuts.

And we went walking and also did some shopping. We found the most wonderful store selling antiques. I bought a really nice bowl for my exboyfriend because he loves antiques and for me I found these very cute bowls, I bought three for 100 Yen each which is a real bargain, I practically felt I got them as a gift. And just so you’ll have an idea about the prices, my ex’s bowl cost a few thousand Yen compared to my 100 Yen. The friends I was with bought dolls, beautifully made. I think we browsed that store for more than 40 minutes.

The store had an outside display too and as I was browsing, I saw them and quickly took a photo.

We also stumbled on a Koto concert. The Koto is national instrument of Japan. Koto are about 180 centimetres (71 in) length, and made from kiri wood (Paulownia tomentosa). They have 13 strings that are strung over 13 movable bridges along the width of the instrument. Players can adjust the string pitches by moving these bridges before playing, and use three finger picks (on thumb, index finger, and middle finger) to pluck the strings.

Continuing to the train station

Nara is a city in which you absolutely have to stay for more than a day as we did. There are so many things to see and it’s just a very beautiful place with an air that to me, spoke of the old Japan, a place where you can really feel history unfolding.

This is the train we took to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Till the next article, I leave you with this image.

Iluzii – Aventurile unui Mesia reticent

Acesta

este testul

care iti permite sa afli

daca misiunea ta pe Pamant

s-a incheiat:

Daca esti inca in viata,

nu s-a incheiat.

Astazi am citit “Iluzii – Aventurile unui Mesia reticent” de Richard Bach. Cartea mi-a fost recomandata  de medicul stomatolog la care merg si cu care schimb impresii despre cartile citite si ne mai recomandam carti intre timpul necesar anesteziei sa isi faca efectul si intarirea materialului cu care lucreaza. Eram terorizata de cabinetele stomatologice inainte, acum ma duc cu drag.

Daca as fi putut, as fi copiat toata cartea lui Richard Bach aici. Atat de mult mi-a placut si mi se pare ca i-as face o nedreptate redand doar un pasaj – citatul de mai sus se afla pe spatele copertii.  Unora poate cartea le va parea o simpla lucrare beletristica, in timp ce altii vor gasi ceva mult mai profund printre randuri si poate ii va schimba, poate ii va ajuta in cautarea sinelui si a adevarului suprem, in a deveni la randul lui/ei “Maestru”.

Este o carte pe care cu siguranta o veti citi la “momentul potrivit”, care cu siguranta va veni singura la voi, atrasa fiind de cautarea Sinelui, in incercarea spiritului de a va reaminti cine sunteti cu adevarat. Am sa inchei aici, parandu-mi chiar ca am spus prea mult. Aceasta este o carte care merita descoperita fila cu fila, nu citind un rezumat.

 

"O experienta personala"

- Ai dreptate, ma priveste doar pe mine, e o experienta personala. Dar trecand prin unele experiente personale, in care te arunci cu capul inainte in prapastie, gasesti pana la urma un tunel secundar sau ceva care da catre un adevar ce nu te mai priveste doar pe tine, ci e universal. Si astfel gasesti macar alinare pentru suferintele indurate. Ca Tom Sawyer, care a trebuit sa sufere intr-o pestera, in bezna, dar care a gasit nu numai calea de iesire, ci si un sac cu aur! Dar experienta mea personala de acum e ca un put de mina sapat vertical si izolat, care merge pana la o adancime unde nu mai exista speranta si care nu se deschide catre lumea nimanui. Asa ca degeaba ma zbat si sufar in bezna in pestera, experienta mea personala n-o sa aiba nici macar o farama de sens pentru nimeni. Nu fac altceva decat sa sap intruna, in zadar, cu rusine. Tom Sawyer din mine e pe funul unui put de mina cumplit de adanc si chiar nu m-as mira sa-si piarda mintile.

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- De data asta chiar ai facut fata cu brio.

- De fapt, tot incercam sa fug si aproape ca reusisem, dar se pare ca realitatea te obliga sa traiesti cum trebuie atunci cand a accepti. Adica, degeaba vrei sa te lasi prins intr-o capcana a inselatoriei, pana la urma tot iti dai seama ca singura optiune e sa o eviti. Cel putin asta am descoperit eu, spune Bird, uimit de sila ascunsa din vocea lui.

- Se poate trai in realitate si altfel, Bird. Sunt oameni care sar ca broastele dintr-o minciuna in alta, pana la moarte.

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 Avea sa se uite in oglinda de indata ce ajungea acasa, iar apoi avea sa foloseasca dictionarul pe care i-l daruise Delcev inainte sa fie trimis acasa de catre consulat. Pe pagina de garda, Delcev scrisese cuvantul “speranta”. Brid voia sa caute “perseverenta.”

Kenzaburō Ōe , castigatorul premiului Nobel pentru literatura in 1994, al doilea scriitor japonez dupa Yasunari Kawabata care primeste aceasta distinctie, prezinta intr- “O experienta personala” o intreaga paleta de simtiri profunde si extrem de intense ale spiritul uman, care pus in fata dramei noii vieti aparute (fiul nou nascut) care de la inceput este condamnata la a fi “altfel” la o prima vedere,  mai intai se afunda intr-o acuta intunecare care pare fara scapare, incercand de fapt sa fuga de sine, de “realitate” si nu neaparat de “drama” care se desfasura in viata lui ca mai apoi sa isi dea seama ca orice scapare – in alcool, in sexul cu o iubita care nu are de fapt nici o semnificatie profunda pentru el, in planuirea calatoriei in Africa – este de fapt iluzorie si complet lipsita de sens. In momentul in care se accepta pe sine, exact asa cum este, gaseste eliberarea si hotararea necesara sa reia firul vietii pe care l-a crezut pierdut pentru totdeauna.

Este a doua carte care ma face sa resimt atat de profund lumea in care se gaseste personajul principal. M-a dus cu gandul la “Ciuma” lui Albert Camus datorita descrierilor intense care la un moment dat te fac parca sa te retragi  intr-o incercare de a scapa de mediul apasator al trairilor si simtamintelor personajelor. Cu atat mai mult raman fascinata de talentul scriitorului in realizarea cadrului perfect care te atrage complet in firele retelei de sentimente intortocheate ale povestirii.

Yasunari Kawabata

"Elegie"

Vorbind de lucruri ciudate, ti-am spus si eu o multime in seara asta, dar, daca stau sa ma gandesc, nu sunt de fapt decat visele
 sau dorintele zecilor si sutelor de milioane de oameni, avute de-a lungul a catorva mii bune de ani, iar eu m-am nascut pe aceasta
 lume ca o poezie elegiaca simbolica, ca un bob de lacrima umana.

"Luna in apa"

Intr-o dimineata de mai, ea auzi la radio niste glasuri de pasari salbatice, transmise de pe un munte din aproprierea locului unde statuse cu primul sot pana ce acesta isi daduse sfarsitul. Dupa ce-si conduse pana la poarta actualul barbat care pleca la serviciu, scoase oflinda de mana din setul mesei de toaleta si reflecta in ea cerul senin. Isi privi apoi si propria fata. Facu o descoperire stranie. Nu-ti poti zari fata decat reflectata intr-o oglinda. Tu esti singurul care nu-ti vezi propria fata. Iti atingi zilnic figura convins fiind ca imaginea reflectata ar fi cea pe care o vezi direct. Kyoko ramase un timp pe ganduri, intrebandu-se ce sens o avea oare faptul ca Dumnezeu i-a facut pe oameni astfel incat sa nu-si poata vedea chipul.

“Oare am innebuni daca ne-am vedea propria fata? Am ajunge sa nu mai putem face nimic?”

Totusi, probabil ca omul insusi evoluase catre o forma in care sa nu-si poata percepe propria fata. Foarte posibil ca libelua sau calugarita sa fie in stare sa-si vada chipul, se gandi Kyoko.

Fata, care iti apartine in cea mai mare masura, parea cumva sa fie destinata pentru a fi aratata celorlalti. O semana oare asta cu dragostea?

Continui cu pasajele care mi-au placut din ultimele carti citite. Ieri am terminat “Dansatoarea din Izu” de Yasunari Kawabata – povestiri.  De fiecare data, scrierile lui Kawabata ma fascineaza prin puterea incredibila a descrierilor sentimentelor si trairilor umane, in cateva cuvinte insumand tot universul emotiilor ascunse, atat frumusetea, cat si uratenia sufletului uman. Abia astept sa achizitionez urmatoarea carte scrisa de Kawabata din Wishlist-ul meu. Momentan citesc “Cheia” de Junichiro Tanizaki.

Iar astea sunt ultimele carti cumparate ieri. Cele de arhitectura au venit cadou la comanda.

Noaptea se aduna ganduri impreuna...

Am mai cumparat niste carti in nebunia mea pasionata. Lipseste una pe care o comandasem – “Iertati-ma ca nu sunt japonez” de George Moise, dar va veni si ea, la timpul ei. Intre timp, acestea sunt trofeele de azi cu care ma prezint inimii mele avida de carti.

Pe ultimele 3, despre film, le-am primit cadou la comandarea cartilor. Cartile lui Neale Donald Walsch despre care v-am scris in postul trecut le-am citit deja, dar erau imprumutate de la o prietena si nu am rezistat sa nu le am si eu, mi-au placut foarte mult, m-au impresionat nespus.

Am inceput sa citesc din aceste carti si anumite pasaje vreau sa le impart si cu voi, caci imi plac mult. Citesc cel mai mult noaptea cand e liniste, racoare si o stare mai speciala a verbului “a fi”.

“Bunica noastra implinea optzeci de ani. Era numai piele si os, dar foarte sanatoasa.

In dupa-masa aceea ne impresionase mica umbrela de soare alba, tremurand in mijlocul campului verde de orez. Bunica ne asteptase mult timp pe drumul din camp. In fusta si incaltata cu pantofi, desfacuse umbrela de soare care zacea cine stie de cand in fundul dulapului.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Imi venise in minte raspunsul gasit cu putin timp inainte: “Nu te poti baza pe memoria bunicii”. Exact, era intr-o stare groaznica. Am privit-o nemiscata, mi se rupea sufletul s-o vad cu lupa in dreapta si cu degetele mainii stangi numarand iar, indoindu-se. Si Tateo, ca si cand n-ar mai fi avut putere sa zica ceva, privea pierdut miscarea degetelor ei. Amintirile destramate nu mai puteau fi reinnodate.

Batranul album, mainile bunicii mangaindu-l. Lupa marea chipurile ingalbenite de timp ale multor oameni. Mie mi se pareau aproape toti la fel. Se nascusera la o distanta de un an sau doi, sau in acelasi an, la inceput si la sfarsit, din cauza asta era greu sa le descifrezi trasaturile din fotografiile palide.

Candva, dorisem sa stiu sub ce forma se pastrau amintirile bunicii, petrecute cu zeci de ani in urma. Atunci m-am gandit ca un soi de picaturi fine, de ceata sau de negura, se ridica de pe memoria ei.”

Kiyoko Murata – “Ceaunul” (Nabe no naka)

“Profesorul meu de compunere se-ncrunta mai tot timpul la lucrarile mele fantasmagorice, in care cuvintele nu aveau nici o legatura cu realitatea. Aveam, inocent si inconstient, presentimentul ca nu poti ajunge la o perceptie valida a realitatii prin intermediul cuvintelor si al regulilor lor subtile, greu de inteles. Asta, desigur, daca doreai sa profiti din plin de beneficiile calitatilor lor corozive si sa le eviti pe cele negative sau, mai pe scurt, daca doreai sa le mentii puritatea. Asadar, trebuia sa am grija si sa las numai partea benefica a corodarii sa se manifeste, desi nu puteam sa evit contactul intamplator cu vreun obiect sau altul.

Pe de alta parte, urmarea fireasca a acestei tendinte pe care am manifestat-o de timpuriu a fost faptul ca am perceput existenta realitatii si a propriului meu corp numai in zonele in care cuvintele nu aveau nici un fel de amestec. In felul acesta, realitatea si trupul mi-au devenit sinonime, obiecte ale unui fel de fetisism. In acelasi timp, insiduos, dar indubitabil, prin intermediul acestui cult mi s-a dezvoltat si interesul pentru cuvinte, care aveau sa constituie obiectul celuilalt fetisism major al existentei mele.

In prima faza, m-am plasat pe mine insumi de partea cuvintelor, realitatea, trupul, actiunea devenind astfel “ceilalti”. Aceasta antinomie mi-a format nu numai prejudecatile cu privire la cuvinte, ci si o intelegere gresita a naturii realitatii, a trupului, a actiunii.

Baza acestei antinomii era prezumtia ca eu insumi nu posedam nici trup, nici realitate si nici actiune. La inceputul vietii  a nu avea prea mult trup nu reprezinta decat confirmarea ordinii naturale, dar eu nici nu mi l-am intampinat pe-al meu asa cum se cuvine, asteptandu-l cu cuvinte. Iar asta s-a datorat, probabil, acelei tendinte amintite mai devreme, care m-a impiedicat sa il percep ca fiind “trupul meu”. Poate ca daca l-as fi perceput ca apartinandu-mi, cuvintele si-ar fi pierdut puritatea, iar realitatea m-ar fi distrus, facandu-se de neevitat.”

Yukio Mishima – “Soare si otel” (Taiyo to tetsu)

Cartile le-am luat ieri, iar acum sunt la inceputul cartii lui Yukio Mishima. Am mai citit “Ceaunul” de Kiyoko Murata care mi-a placut mult si “Dansatoarea” de Mori Ōgai. Am sa va mai impartasesc pasaje din carti pe masura ce le citesc.

Sa aveti o saptamana minunata!  :-)

Un dialog neobisnuit

“Sunt atat de multe lucruri despre care vreau sa te intreb. Sunt atat de multe intrebari. Cred ca ar trebui sa incep cu cele mari, cu cele evidente. Cum ar fi: de ce este lumea asa cum e?

Dintre toate intrebarile pe care omul le-a pus lui Dumnezeu aceasta este cea mai des intalnita. Omul a pus-o chiar de la inceputuri. Asta este ceea ce ati vrut sa stiti din prima clipa - de ce trebuie sa fie asa?

Formularea clasica a intrebarii e de obicei cam asa: Daca Dumnezeu este absolut perfect si a-toate-iubitor, de ce a creat mizeria si foametea, razboiul si boala, cutremurele si tornadele si uraganele si toate formele de dezastre naturale, profundele dezamagiri personale si calamitatile de pretutindeni? Raspunsul la aceasta intrebare se afla in misterul cel mai profund al universului si in sensul cel mai inalt al vietii.

Eu nu Imi arat bunatatea creand numai ceea ce voi numiti perfectiune in jurul vostru. Eu nu Imi arat dragostea nepermitandu-va voua sa o aratati pe a voastra.

Dupa cum ti-am explicat deja, nu poti sa-ti arati dragostea pana cand nu ai aratat non-dragostea. Un lucru nu poate sa existe fara opusul lui decat in lumea absolutului. Dar aceasta imparatie a absolutului nu ne-a satisfacut nici pe Mine, nici pe tine. Eu am existat acolo in eternitate si de acolo veniti si voi.

In absolut nu exista traire prin experienta, ci numai cunoastere.

Cunoasterea este o stare divina – dar, cu toate acestea, cea mai mare bucurie este sa existi. A exista se realizeaza numai dupa experienta. Evolutia este aceasta: a cunoaste, a trai o experienta, a fi.

Aceasta este Sfanta Treime – Trinitatea care este Dumnezeu.

Dumnezeu Tatal este a cunoaste – parintele a tot ceea ce intelegi, initiatorul a tot ceea ce inseamna experienta, pentru ca tu nu poti sa traiesti o experienta legata de ceva ce nu cunosti.

Dumnezeul Fiul este a trai o experienta – intruparea, actiunea legata de tot ceea ce Tatal stie despre El insusi, deoarece tu nu poti sa fii ceea ce nu ai trait ca experienta.

Dumnezeu Sfantul Duh inseamna a fi  - destruparea a tot ceea ce Fiul a trait ca experienta de Sine; starea de a fi simpla, remarcabila, posibila numai prin amintirea a ceea ce stii si a ce traiesti ca experienta.

Aceasta stare simpla de a fi este o binecuvantare. Este o stare-a-lui-Dumnezeu, dupa ce te-ai cunoscut pe Tine Insuti si ai trait experienta legata de Tine Insuti. Spre asta a nazuit Dumnezeu la inceput.”

Acesta este un pasaj din cartea “Conversatii cu Dumnezeu – un dialog neobisnuit”, vol. I de Neale Donald Walsch.

Mai intai am citit de acelasi autor “Comuniune cu Dumnezeu – un dialog neobisnuit”, care m-a schimbat complet si mi-a raspuns la multe nelamuriri pe care le aveam de mult, mult timp si cel mai placut pentru mine, mi-a confirmat unele lucruri pe care le simteam dar nu stiam cum sa le iau.

Recomand aceaste carti tuturor, chiar si celor care poate nu sunt asa interesati de aspectul mai “spiritual” al vietii. Va veti regasi cu siguranta printre randuri, va veti re-descoperi printre randuri, poate veti si plange putin, cu siguranta va veti emotiona.  Prin cuvinte aparent simple, pe intelesul tuturor, ni se transmite adevarul, nu am nici cea mai mica indoiala si suntem ajutati sa dam valul iluziilor la o parte si sa ne regasim goi, asa cum sunt sufletele noastre milenare.

Abia astept sa termin cele 3 volume din seria “Conversatii cu Dumnezeu” si sa explorez si celelalte carti ale lui Neale Donald Walsch.

Rien de moi

Des années déjà
 Que je ne me vois pas,
 Je ne sens plus rien,
 Plutôt

Mon corps n’abrite
 Rien de moi, petite,
 Rien ne m’accrédite,
 Plus trop

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Ultimele carti citite

Pentru ca nu am mai postat de ceva timp nimic despre carti, am sa scriu astazi despre ultimele doua carti citite. Amandoua le-am imprumutat de la o prietena si ma bucur mult ca am facut-o. Mai am inca doua luate de la ea care isi asteapta randul.

Prima este “Dhyanna Printesa Daca”

Pentru mine a fost o carte putin cam greoaie de citit, stilul nu este tocmai unul preferat de mine, insa este o carte in care gasesti o sumedenie de informatii despre cultura, traditiile, “zeii” dacilor. Aparent poate parea o lucrare de beletristica, autorul dand dovada de o imaginatie foarte bogata. Totusi, nu cred ca acesta este cazul aici. Bineinteles, nu pot spune ca un anumit procent este real si un anumit procent nu este pentru ca nu detin aceasta cunoastere. Insa in paginile de sfarsit am gasit ceva foarte apropiat de sufletul meu, ceva despre care imi “aminteam” si eu, candva. Ca atare, pentru mine a fost cat se poate de autentic. Si cred ca in cele din urma la aceasta se reduce totul: daca te regasesti, fie si doar intr-o fraza din carte, atunci aici se afla raspunsul realitatii celor prezentate in ea.

As putea spune ca acelasi lucru se aplica si celei de a doua carti, care trebuie sa recunosc, a fost mult mai aproape de sufletul meu.

Sper ca intr-o zi sa am onoarea sa il cunosc pe autorul acestei carti. Mi se pare a fi un spirit extraordinar cel care a reusit sa aduca in realitatea noastra aceste “legi” si cunostinte uitate de cei mai multi dintre noi.

Cartea te pune pe ganduri, iti deschide porti, iti da indicii catre alte lumi… interioare. Te provoaca sa-ti explorezi propriile dimensiuni si iti creeaza o sete de a sti mai mult: despre tot ceea ce te inconjoara, despre tine insuti. Despre aceasta carte nu voi scrie prea multe, cu toate ca ar fi multe idei de transpus, insa cred ca cel mai bine las pe fiecare sa o exploreze pentru ca este un intreg univers cuprins in filele acestei lucrari pe care o recomand cu mult drag.

Legile lui Zamolxe, legi universale, legi ale Pamantului, legi ale Omului, legi ale “Focului cel Viu si Vesnic”.

Despre mancare...

Am scris acest articol saptamana trecuta, menit sa ajunga in alta parte, insa intre timp, m-am razgandit, asa ca am sa il introduc aici. De ceva timp mananc aproape numai crud, mancarea gatita cateodata mi se pare ca mi-ar pica atat de greu, inca nici nu pot concepe sa ma gandesc la ea. Alte dati, poftesc si ca atare, mananc, insa ma simt obosita si cam greoaie dupa, asa ca revin la mancarea cruda care mi se pare un deliciu, iar o salata mi se pare un intreg univers culinar. Nu mananc carne, nu prea consum oua decat in masura in care mama mai strecoara prin felurile pe care mi le aduce, convinsa fiind chiar si acum, ca nu mananc destul. Am mai luat smantana, pentru ca mi-e tare pofta, am mai incercat sa mananc si ceva branza, dar nu prea mai imi place. Lapte nu mai beau deloc. Fac “lapte” din caju cu scortisoara, putina miere si curmale si este delicios.

Asadar, mai jos va impart gandurile asternute intr-o seara, care poate va vor face curiosi sa explorati si o altfel de alimentatie, sa aflati cum va influenteaza modul in care va hraniti organismul. Tu ce ai mancat azi?

Nu cu mult timp în urmă, în România, a manca „raw” era o noutate, iar atunci când oamenii aflau despre ce este vorba strâmbau din nas, dădeau din cap şi treceau mai departe, compătimindu-i pe cei care aleseseră acest stil de viaţă. Acum, a mânca crud este în mare vogă chiar şi printre vedete. Este noua modă. Dacă căutăm pe Internet despre „mişcarea” raw vegan în România, vom găsi de la reţete la nenumărate ateliere menite să te introducă în noţiunile de bază a ceea ce înseamnă raw vegan şi vom găsi de asemenea, restaurante care te invită să le explorezi meniurile raw, care mai de care mai apetisante.

Unele persoane nu sunt încă complet convinse că ar fi bine să mănânce numai crud, asta însemnând că avem două categorii: cei din gama vegetarienilor şi cei din gama veganilor. Unii vegetarieni exclud din dieta lor doar carnea, consumând în continuare ouă şi lactate. Unii dintre ei mănânca încă peşte şi fructe de mare, deoarece pentru ei, peştele intră într-o categorie aparte care nu este chiar „carne”. Acum să trecem la regimul celor din categoria vegan. Ei nu consumă nici ouă, nici lactate, ci tot ce se poate găsi în piaţă sau cules din grădina proprie şi consumate ca atare – crude – începând cu legume, fructe şi ajungând la o gamă variată de seminţe şi nuci.

Dacă eşti vegetarian / vegan, te poţi aştepta şi la întrebări de genul: de unde iei cele necesare corpului în fiecare zi, mineralele din carne care lipsesc acum din dieta ta. Nu este chiar aşa. De curând, Ligia Pop, raw food chef, autoare a cărții „Rețete vegane fără foc” și organizatoare a târgului Raw Food Expo a publicat pe site-ul ei o listă cu  „Cele mai importante minerale de provenienţă vegetală” în care găsim o listă lungă cu mineralele care pot fi găsite în sursele vegetale. Iată că organismul nostru nu are nevoie de carne să supravieţuiască, aşa cum am tot auzit de când ne-am născut.

Veţi găsi multe păreri împărţite, mai ales cele ale doctorilor care nu te sfătuiesc să treci la un regim care presupune să consumi numai alimente crude, dar mai descoperim şi păreri ale unor oameni care datorită unui anumit regim crud au scăpat de boli grave, cum ar fi cancerul.

Trebuie sa ţineţi seama de faptul că atunci când vă gândiţi să treceţi la un regim de alimentare crud este indicat să o luaţi treptat, mai ales dacă încă mâncaţi carne. Dacă eliminaţi deodată carnea şi felurile gătite, organismul vostru ar avea un şoc şi în loc să îi faceţi bine, îi faceţi rău.

A mânca crud nu presupune numai să nu consumi mâncare preparată termic, ci să menţii un stil de viaţă sănătos: să faceţi mai mult sport, să vă odihniţi mai bine. Conform mărturiilor unor vegani, după un timp, au observat că au mai multă energie, nu mai sunt la fel de nervoşi ca înainte şi au o stare generală de bine. Asta dacă veţi afla cum să aveţi o dietă raw vegan echilibrată.

Ascultaţi-vă organismul!

Incrucisari

Traind si nu numai.

Realitati paralele se infasoara si se desfasoara in mii si mii de lumini si lanterne ale sufletului uman descatusat in inima orasului.

Mii de ganduri impletite.

Milioane si milioane de oameni diferiti.

Aceeasi exprimare a sufletului etern.

Raze de lumanare si ecouri de cantari ingeresti sau poate prea umane.

Acel ce sunt. Aceea care esti.

Un semn pagan. Un simbol crestin.

Limitarea unde mai e oare intre demon si inger pe Pamant?

Sub aceeasi stea veghetoare ne nastem din nou, din al meu cadavru etern ma transform.

Din mii de aere perpendiculare ma trezesc si adorm din nou.

Din a cerului cantare vin acum ale mele nave plutitoare de ganduri disipate.

Si dorm.

foto by Alexandra Dumitrescu