Meaning of the symbols on DH cover

[Young dr. Freud]

Say! Those first nine lines from Leonard---are they a new poem?

Interesting
I never suggested that Jikan meant 'The Silent One'
that somehow got into the air
and was taken up by journalists –
whenever I've been asked
I've given Roshi's bad English translation
which is something like:
"ordinary silence, normal silence, just ok
everything don't sweat it silence"

Or is that a format problem?

YdF

[tomsakic]

I wondered that also I think LC writes in that telegrafic form

[Tchocolatl]

Oh silent night, oh Silent One? This is a kind of lapsus, No, Silent One? As he was so silent and also they can have been incluenced by the past of the Man. The legendary Leonard Cohen must have a poetic nickname, not a slogan like for Mr. Muffler.

I like this story of the Zen Master teaching Zen, I mean, the search for spiritual enlightenment is reported to provoke the inflation of the ego in the first times, which must absolutely be deflated in order to progress, and how the poetical twist of mind can be anoying in this field for the spiritual leader (is a ZM can be put in this category - I mean buddhism is not a religion? I don't know), I had a similar experience few years ago (not in Zen discipline, though) : he was saying (more or less) "no fiorituras, stick to plain reality, it is what is important, do not lose time with flourishes".

[Anne-Marie]

Jikan night
holy night
all is calm
all is bright

[Anndiamo]

I may be the one who started the false rumour flying that "Jikan" means "Silent One." I got this information from the then-Abbot of Rinzai-ji Zen Centre, Teki-O Michael Radford, and wrote it into a little report that was published in the Montreal Mirror, a weekly entertainment paper, the same week that Leonard was ordained on Mount Baldy. I believed Teki-O had got it from the horse's mouth, which would be Roshi or Leonard himself. I also think other monks commented on the name, and thought this was the correct translation -- but of course, I could be mistaken...

[ashevillefan]

This is my new tattoo - it was taken the day I got it - so it's kind of puffy. Thanks for all your help in decoding the symbol - I wasn't about to get it before I knew what it meant!

[linda_lakeside]

That looks great! I've often thought about getting my 'chops' made - there are many places that do it here. And, I've often thought of getting a tattoo. Hmm...no...I won't steal your thunder. I think my tattoo will be the logo for The Future - nice simple design. Congrats. When Leonard passes on....you'll won't be able to look at your tattie without crying.

PS: I wonder if it's bad mojo to have the chops of someone else tattooed onto your body??

[ashevillefan]

I know - don't make me cry already! I have a hummingbird on my other shoulder - supposed to be an homage to The Future - the artist (Mario Bell @ Two Kings in Hendersonville, NC) said that the handcuffs would wind up looking like little blurry balls after 20 some years - so I opted out and just kept the hummingbird. Again - picture taken the day I got tattooed so pretty red and puffy. I'm seeing Leonard this weekend (actually tomorrow!) here in Asheville, NC!