“We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor. It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful: but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look…”
This essay entitled “Where I lived and What I Lived For” is from Henry David Thoreau’s Walden points to a wonderful koan that I believe we can appreciate as much today as brother Henry did in his time. Tomorrow is Henry David Thoreau’s birthday and though we are not related by blood I feel he is part of our clan. The title “Where I live and What I lived For” is itself the koan and what he says about it is the commentary.
I found this in a copy of Walden – it was one of the last books I gave my father before he died. It was my father’s koan “Where I lived and What I Lived For” – it is mine as well and I hope you will accept it as a gift to you on Thoreau’s birthday.
It is a marvelous practice to carve and create our own atmosphere, our own life.
To really appreciate our life and death is to carve and create our atmosphere and life. It is Genjokoan – the koan of everyday life.
Beautiful words. Thanks for sharing them.
@Wynn
Thank you Wynn for appreciating them and being supportive.
Most of my life I was convinced, that all I could do with it is trying to survive it’s thunderstorms and hoping for a little sunshine once in a while.
What a discovery to experience that I can sail with the winds, sing with the rain and shine with the sun!
Thanks to my teacher, my Sangha and my practice for helping me to awake from this dream whenever I fall back into it!
@Annette
Thank you Annette. I hope you continue in that direction. Remember I can help but its up to you and that should be good news. I very much appreciate you saying this to me and our Sangha.
This work by Thoreau is what inspired me to go up into the lookout for my summers of college. I have to keep it inside and rediscover that I can do that now, especially now.
@Elena
I am happy that this launched you in the direction of that rediscovery. Thanks Elena.
Thank you for this very personal and precious present. I’ll make accepting it my practice.
Making my life my “work of art” sure sounds better than what I’ve been doing- living through a filter of fear and emotional upheaval. Why oh why can’t I just LET GO?!
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/walden/section2.rhtml
Interesting overview…
The words and their intension open my heart and mind with hope and inspiration as do all the comments. I’m so happy to have found Daniel. i’ve been teaching yoga and meditation and practicing both for years, yet this practice is like new and improved windex for the windows of my mind. Now I’m going to go sit for a few before i sleep.