Book of Mercy #20-24

[mat james]

Manna said,

“our drive for survival is our original sin.”

This seems "arse about", to me, Manna

In my wayward opinion:

The “Original sin” was to “judge”.
“Do not eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” (no apple mentioned)
Sex is neither good nor evil; it is an essential for all species. So is killing and the fight for a niche somewhere.
We (all species) are squabblers! We squabble with each other among our own species, for dominance of some sort, and we squabble with other species for space and food and survival and dominance of a similar sort.
There is no guilt in this for the participants.
That is the “Way”, the Tao, the Eden!
The sin, so to speak, is to not accept this pattern and to judge it.
East of Eden is “judgment” (via that shedder of Light and understanding, Lucifer). Lucifer, it could be said, taught us to question, to reason things through.

Sin is: not recognizing this fatal flaw imbedded in “Reason”. With reason we have the tools to judge, and usually we judge from a self-centered perspective, not through the eye of the “Cause” (the Way, the truth of life.)
It brings me to a much misunderstood quote:
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”; “Unless you come by me you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. (and hence, to the narrow minded Christian all other religions are not up to scratch)
Poetically speaking, J.C. the Author/speaker is saying, “unless you know the Way, which is to become/know Truth and become/know the Life itself, you will never understand that perspective which belongs to the Creator of this world of opposites. Or, to take us back to original sin;
Unless you see through the eyes of nature (not through your own fears and wants) and once again “become an unbiased, observer of nature, and recognize our place in it, you will always be lost and ignorant of the “Way” life in a natural world works.

Humanity is a pack of squabblers, living amongst a world of squabbling species and the joke is;
It’s O.K. (It is the will of Allah, so to speak)
That is how it works, so;
Krishna says to a concerned Arjuna, in that wonderful Hindu epic poem, The Bhagavad-Gita:
“… there is no sin in taking this action, creation has brought you to this moment, so:

Fight Thou thy fight!”

And getting back to 1.20 and Leonard's plea,

" From every side of Hell is my greed affirmed. O shield of Abraham, affirm my hopefulness."

;
One needs to ask, "where is Heaven if the greedy gratification impulse is "Hell"?
And I suggest the answer lies in that mystic perspective, God of

Absolute Unity

.
But that godly view is not held for long, in this world, nor should it be.
As the mystic

comes down from the Tower

he quite naturally is again aware of the beauties of life that led him up the Tower in the first place. He re-enters the world of the opposites, Eden and the alluring Bathsheba(s) and other glories of nature and the Quest.
Plotinus and St.Juan de la Cruz tell us that it is those treasures of natural beauty that lead us to experience "Undifferentiated Unity" (god). And when the Mystics "come down" from that place (god's presence) they notice the next best thing to divine Unity; the sexy Bathsheba!,that beauty (that only Leonard's God surpasses) sublime. This is as true for David as it is for Leonard and for many others too.

And so the poor guys/girls get mixed up between the monkey and the mystic.

("My kingdom is not of this world" is how one guy put it.)
Aint it a great adventure?!
So raise your glasses, if you wish. A Toast: "To the allure of Absolute, undifferentiated, Authentic Unity; via Bathsheba ! (what a babe)"

Fight Thou thy fight!

Matj

[Boss]

You talk too much, James.
We fight for love, period.

In peace,
Adam

[DBCohen]

After a slow start the discussion was picked up by several people and diverged is different directions. Now it seems to have dried out again, so I guess it’s time for the next installment. As I’ve said earlier, following the pair of short and intense prayers, I.19 and I.20, the next one is a little like the earlier I.18: more of a short story than a regular prayer.

I.21
My teacher gave me what I do not need, told me what I need not know. At a high price he sold me water beside the river. In the middle of a dream he led me gently to my bed. He threw me out when I was crawling, took me in when I was home. He referred me to the crickets when I had to sing, and when I tried to be alone he fastened me to a congregation. He curled his fists and pounded me toward my proper shape. He puked in disgust when I swelled without filling. He sank his tiger teeth into everything of mine that I refused to claim. He drove me through the pine trees at an incredible speed to that realm where I barked with a dog, slid with the shadows, and leaped from a point of view. He let me be a student of a love that I will never be able to give. He suffered me to play at friendship with my truest friend. When he was certain that I was incapable of self-reform, he flung me across the fence of the Torah.

Here we have the relatively rare case in this book, in which the figure of the “other” can be identified clearly. In some earlier cases we could not be sure, but here it is quite certain that the teacher is Roshi, whom he seems to criticize rather bitterly. I guess this has to do with the spirit of Zen, which often verges on the absurd, and in which the opposite of normal behavior can be expected. Once again, we very much need Simon’s contribution here!

He referred me to the crickets when I had to sing – Crickets often appear in LC’s songs, and there’s also the famous “Summer Haiku” from The Spice-Box of Earth. I think there was also a place where Roshi and a cricket were mentioned together, maybe in LC’s own voice, but I can’t recall where. Is it only in my imagination, or was there really such a place?

that realm where I barked with a dog – Brings to mind the lines “I find myself/ barking with the dog”, from the poem “Roshi” (BoL, 16).

he flung me across the fence of the Torah – “The fence of the Torah” is an expression taken from a well-known Jewish source, Mishnah, Avot 1:1 (known in English also as “Ethics of the Fathers” or “Sayings of the Jewish Fathers”). I have already quoted it earlier, during our discussion of I.14 (“Book of Mercy #11-15” thread, on the eighth page). This line also brings to mind the poem “One Of My Letters” (BoL, 5), in which Roshi “silenced” him, apparently cutting short his correspondence with “a famous Rabbi”. Did the correspondence with the rabbi make Roshi jealous? And here, when he flings him across the fence of the Torah, in which direction is it: in or out? I have some more thoughts about all this, but I’ll leave some for later.

[Manna]

Heya, Mat.
I think judging has gotten a bad wrap too. Judging is no more sin than sex. Judging is part of the way things are. Things are the way they are because it's the only way they can be.

[tomsakic]

He referred me to the crickets when I had to sing – Crickets often appear in LC’s songs, and there’s also the famous “Summer Haiku” from The Spice-Box of Earth. I think there was also a place where Roshi and a cricket were mentioned together, maybe in LC’s own voice, but I can’t recall where. Is it only in my imagination, or was there really such a place?

That's the anegdote from Death of a Lady's Man, the crazy page where Cohen offers to Roshi three haikus about crickets, adn then Roshi comments each (like "Nah, Kone, not working."). There's also the story that Roshi commented - when he was listening to Leonard's sessions for Various Positions in studio - "Leonard, you have to sing more sad." (!) [I will mention that this story was also later retold a shappened during New Skin... sessions in 1974, just for the record.]

More next week, I was just passing by:-)

[DBCohen]

Tom,
I knew I could count on you to supply the goods, as always.
The page you refer to is also reprinted in Stranger Music, pp. 275-6. How could I have missed it? The old head is not working as it should anymore.
Thanks, and looking forward to hearing more from you soon!

[blonde madonna]

The crickets are singing, the vesper bells ringing,

First a joke:
A woman asks the old Zen master if he travels much any more. The master comments, “When the snow is on the ground the tree sleeps.” Surprised she comments, “Master, I don't think you understood my question.” The Master replies, “My dear lady, I don't think you understood my answer”.

To me it seems this verse is written in the style of Zen koans rather than a Christian psalm. The propositions are obliquely stated and puzzling. There is a theme of the student's struggle to learn and the teacher's to teach. There is also the idea of the need to break down the self and ego (as in 'If it be your will').

[mat james]

“You talk too much, James." Adam B M

We fight for love, period.

In peace,
Adam”

There is truth in what you say about me, Adam.
And I am waiting to hear your response to the verse below.

“My teacher gave me what I do not need, told me what I need not know. At a high price he sold me water beside the river. In the middle of a dream he led me gently to my bed. He threw me out when I was crawling, took me in when I was home. He referred me to the crickets when I had to sing, and when I tried to be alone he fastened me to a congregation. He curled his fists and pounded me toward my proper shape. He puked in disgust when I swelled without filling. He sank his tiger teeth into everything of mine that I refused to claim. He drove me through the pine trees at an incredible speed to that realm where I barked with a dog, slid with the shadows, and leaped from a point of view. He let me be a student of a love that I will never be able to give. He suffered me to play at friendship with my truest friend. When he was certain that I was incapable of self-reform, he flung me across the fence of the Torah.”

Matj

[lizzytysh]

Quoting DBCohen:

. . . but here it is quite certain that the teacher is Roshi, whom he seems to criticize rather bitterly.

It's not much of a comment at this point, Doron, but I didn't feel criticism or bitterness in Leonard's words about Roshi.

Beginning at this point, there seems to me to occur a subtle shift from what might be considered criticism or bitterness, and it carries through to the end of the verse... "He curled his fists and pounded me toward my proper shape. He puked in disgust when I swelled without filling." From that point to the end, he turns what may have seemed to be those two things [depicted by the acts of sternness cited in the beginning; especially taking into account the way this verse begins... and then ends... may well have had a parenthetical at the end of the first sentence saying "(or so I thought)"] toward making the point that Roshi did what was necessary to break him down, to get Leonard's ego and self-will out of the picture and "When he was certain that I was incapable of self-reform, . . . " then turned him back to his spiritual base, the Torah, for the study of G~d.

He let me be a student of a love that I will never be able to give. He suffered me to play at friendship with my truest friend.

For me, this is really all about immense gratitude to Roshi for his love and true friendship, the depth of each to which Leonard aspires. In this situation, the "love" and "my truest friend" may, at once, be G~d and Roshi.


~ Lizzy

[Kush]

The best and oldest of friends often criticize the other, because they have the right to do so. And the right to speak their minds. Otherwise it would be some kind of a sick sterile saccharine sweet sort of friendship with no real depth to it and no growth to it.

[lizzytysh]

Leonard could easily have felt criticised, ridiculed, 'abused,' and abandoned by Roshi at the time that all this was going on and groused about it, maybe even bitterly complained about it [likely to himself]... and, in writing about it in retrospect, included examples that would evoke that feeling... yet, also through retrospect comes perspective... and he does not ~ in my mind ~ end the verse being either critical or bitter. For me, instead, he imparts his trust in Roshi's methods and acknowledges that, although grueling and seemingly pointless at the time, they benefited him. For me, the transition between 'then' and 'now' is made within the verse.

I'm glad that my posting inspired/prompted you to comment, Kush. We need more active participants in this thread. I look forward to more of your contributions as we continue here.


~ Lizzy

[dangermouse]

Leonard could easily have felt criticised, ridiculed, 'abused,' and abandoned by Roshi at the time that all this was going on and groused about it, maybe even bitterly complained about it [likely to himself]... and, in writing about it in retrospect, included examples that would evoke that feeling... yet, also through retrospect comes perspective... and he does not ~ in my mind ~ end the verse being either critical or bitter. For me, instead, he imparts his trust in Roshi's methods and acknowledges that, although grueling and seemingly pointless at the time, they benefited him. For me, the transition between 'then' and 'now' is made within the verse.

I'm glad that my posting inspired/prompted you to comment, Kush. We need more active participants in this thread. I look forward to more of your contributions as we continue here.


~ Lizzy

Lizzytish - a question.
I thought your analysis was cool and it rang a bell.
Last year in college I had a relationshuip that was (initially) sexually gruelling & seemingly pointless but when I ended the affair in May (just before taking my exams) I missed it and the explorations that had initially been gruelling. I think, in hindsight, they benefitted me.

A question - Did Leonard go back, submissive and open-mouthed to Roshi?
Should I?

[lizzytysh]

Your question appears to be one better suited for Dr. Ruth Westheimer than for me or this thread, DangerMouse. I hope you make the right decision, though.

I'm glad you appreciated my analysis and were able to apply it elsewhere in your life.


~ Lizzy

[dangermouse]

Lizzytish
I think from your brief reply you feel my query is inappropriate. If so I apologise. I guess I overstepped what isacceptable on the forum by giving away that element of my life. I'm sorry and I hope you accept my apology.
I guess I was over come by your generosity of time and words and I really did not wish to cause offence.
I'm sorry.

[mat james]

A question - Did Leonard go back, submissive and open-mouthed to Roshi?
Should I? dangermouse

Dangermouse!
Go back with an open mind, as well as that open mouth.
Either way it sounds like fun!
Matj