I cleansed the mirror
of my heart...
now it reflects
the moon.
Renseki
I won't even stop
at the valley's brook
for fear that
my shadow
may flow into the world.
Dogen
Through one word, or seven words, or three times five, even if you investigate thoroughly myriad forms, nothing can be depended upon. Night advances, the moon glows and falls into the ocean. The black dragon jewel you have been searching for, is everywhere.
Dogen
Dogen
note: these pictures were taken at a tea ceremony in Sendai, Japan, 2006.
how could i stay away too long?also forgive the 'orrible spelling last time- i was borrowing one of those impossible laptops you europeans use...by the way, what a coincidence! in japan now (for a grand total of 22 hours) - all i'll see is otel conference room :-(
ReplyDeletegotta run - do tell us more about your love story with japan
'those impossible laptops' we europeans use ahahah...
ReplyDeletein japan? tokyo? 22 hours imprisoned in the conference room? oh, that must be awful.
but I imagine you will have a big geisha party afterwards :-P
http://roxanaghita.blogspot.com/2007/12/many-men-have-loved-bells-you-fastened.html
Hi
ReplyDeleteRe your previous pic, the unrevealed is toxic, the revealed benign. imagination soars, takes us and leaves us stranded. these are dark shores and your pictures are intriguing.
i am not sure how you do it but then i don't usually converse with artists. i only know diletanttes who blow smoke rings and while their time in idealistic debates.
i really liked your new pictures though i am not sure what exactly. that is a hallmark of something good.
I really like the first lines, Roxana...they sound so Persian-like. But doesn't the moon wax and wane as well? Then does the mirror break?
ReplyDeletehi kubla
ReplyDeletewhich unrevealed and which revealed one?
and what do you mean by: 'you are not sure how I do it'? how I do what?
and it is intriguing what you say: that you liked the pictures (the tea ones?) but you don't know why. why is that then? :-)
anonymous? I thought you had forgotten me :-) welcome back!!!
ReplyDeletewere you busy? or angry with me? :-P
I think the mirror doesn't break anymore if the enlightenment is reached, at least in zen. omori roshi: "At the right time, you will be able to break through to the state of nothingness. You will attain this realization because of some thing and you will know with your entire being that you are at the center of absolute nothingness, at the center of an infinite circle. To be at the center of an infinite circle in this human form is to be Buddha himself. You have been saved from the beginning. You will know all these things with certainty."
I meant capturing these images, but i think they are also ideas.
ReplyDeleteyes the tea ones but i don't know why. that.
and i must add, i am also one of the dilettantes that i know, not just my friends.
I find these pics and words a little spooky but the bottom picture is very startling, as if the flower is under an interrogation light which is an odd thought.
ReplyDeletedilettantism can be one of the most amazing virtues :-) I would like to take pictures of such a reunion of dilettantes lost in their smoke rings and misty idealistic ideas :-)
ReplyDeletesuch is the beauty of shadow and light-- all life, all photos sing it. Beauty.
ReplyDeletethank you mansuetude. yes, shadow and light... who is not fascinated by their play?
ReplyDeleteroxana, these photos are gorgeous. absolutely stunning. do your textures come from the lens (filters/ light/ etc.) or from photoshop and editing? delightful. did i mention, gorgeous!?!
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely blog! There's such a wonderful atmosphere and texture to your photos...
ReplyDelete"dilettantism can be one of the most amazing virtues :-) " - i think they last believed that in 1924. gone are the days of the amatuer polymath...nowadays unless you earn a living in the field no one takes you seriously. perversely, if you earn a living in the field you automatically become an expert (no matter how incompetent, shallow or pedantic you really are). ofcourse certain professors who dabble in photography aptly prove the fallacy of this outlook...
ReplyDeleteneway, maybe we can all pose for your dilettante series then - kubla, I and your other regulars - I find armchairs quite relaxing; smoke rings may be a problem though since tobacco doesn't find a place in my list of vices..... i think sepia will be a good choice, though i shall not presume to advice a master ;-)
katrina, hi again :-) no, they come frome the light/shadow play and maybe a little bit from the 400 iso, b&w film also. I only adjusted the contrast in photoshop. I am happy you like them.
ReplyDeletecrafty green poet, thank you and welcome! I am glad you enjoyed your visit. I'll come to see you also, but right now I am travelling a bit ... this weekend I'll have more time for all those beatiful blogs out here :-)
ReplyDeletezuma: I think I am very 19th century in many things but 1924 is nice as well :-)
ReplyDeleteas for the posing part, how lovely this would be :-) so I should embark on a 80 days trip around the world to visit you all, unless you all come to see me here :-)
[and I won't ask about your vices list :-P]
it's so wonderful today. you have taken me to a moment of tea ceremony, for which i thank you. i myself feel like a mirror cleaned.
ReplyDeletelotus, I feel honoured by your words.
ReplyDeletesorlil, hi :-) I am so sorry I missed your comment, somehow I didn't get the notification in my mail, only in the blog. maybe all silhouettes in light and shadow are somehow spooky :-) for me it is different because I can recall the atmosphere there.
ReplyDeletewonderful 'glimpses' of a tea-ceremony ....
ReplyDelete