Thursday, May 29, 2014
A Talent for Self-Realization Will Get You Only as Far as the Vacant Lot Next to the Lumber Yard
Iannis Xenakis was born ninety-two years ago today. Play loud.
The Egoslavian birthdayiest month of the year continues. Will continue. There's one last May birthday, an apt Egoslavian High Holy Day day after tomorrow for finishing.
Persepolis one, two, three, four, five, six.
Bohor one, two.
Xenakis here before one, two, three. Can't find the rest.
The Complete Electronic Music of Iannis Xenakis.
LIFE IS A DREAM
John Ashbery
A talent for self-realization
will get you only as far as the vacant lot
next to the lumber yard, where they have rollcall.
My name begins with an A,
so is one of the first to be read off.
I am wondering where to stand - could that group of three
or four others be the beginning of the line?
Before I have a chance to find out, a rodent-like
man pushes at my shoulders. "It's that way," he hisses.
"Didn't they teach you anything at school? That a photograph
of anything can be real, or maybe not? The corner of the stove,
a cloud of midges at dusk-time."
I know I'll have a chance to learn more
later on. Waiting is what's called for, meanwhile.
It's true that life can be anything, but certain thinkgs
definitely aren't it. This glove hand,
for instance, that glides
so securely into mine, as though it intends to stay.
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self-realization
ReplyDeleteself-realization is an expression used in psychology, spirituality, and eastern religions
the indian mystic paramahansa yogananda describes self-realization as "the knowing—in body, mind and soul—that we are one with the omnipresence of god; that we do not have to pray that it come to us, that we are not merely near it at all times, but that god's omnipresence is our omnipresence; that we are just as much a part of him now as we ever will be - all we have to do is improve our knowing"
the basic premise of self-realization is that there exists an authentic Self (or 'soul') which has to be discovered by psychological or spiritual self-striving
self-realization can be a gradual or instantaneous phenomena depending on the school of thought but in all cases it involves extensive preparation of mind and emotions to recognize self-realization when it occurs
self-realization is a maturing of the ego or personality to accept its own evanescence and thus allow space for the true Self to reveal itself - the sun veiled by clouds is an apt metaphor for the Self's apparent absence in our everyday lives
the dissolution of the ego's obsessive, internal pre-occupations with its psycho-somatic complexes frees the psyche's energy to directly experience reality of the world as it is, free of any assumptions
introspection, questioning one's higher purpose and striving towards self-awareness are often initiators towards the process of self-realization