I wrote about a friend of mine who is a poet before, but she recently went to Jindai Botanical Gardens/Chofu-city, Tokyo to see this large konjac candlestick. It seems to be the second example in the world that flowers and leaves appear at the same time. She sent me a picture, thinking it might be a lucky charm. This is a lucky charm that jumped into my eyes when I opened my email a little while ago!
Well ~, actually my birthday was this 28th. I am deeply grateful for the messages and cards overflowing with love from everyone, the news to commemorate the publication, and the lucky charm images. Only the Appreciation.
Well said! This Christmas vacation has been colder than usual, and the weather news has been awful. Air and land routes are mostly closed. The daily life of spending a normal (warm) day becomes a pipe dream in the face of of serious nature. I felt strongly that each of us must keep our survival spirit, immunity and good judgment from rusting.
Earlier that week, when I finished my aide work in NYC, I walked as usual in an hour to the Port Authority Bus Terminal (we’re still pre-moving and going to/from Newburgh), and I felt like my nose might be a bit chilly. Hit the jackpot. Sinus cold, Sinus cold, Sinus cold. Fortunately, there was no fever and no change in appetite. thank you very much.
It piled up quite a bit, but the next morning it melted a lot. I’m going to New York City for my things, but I didn’t have to worry about what to do if the sidewalk is frozen. In a couple years, twice I had experiences of breaking my bones—since then, my fear is still in my heart(xxx).
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva when practicing deeply the Prajna Paramita perceives that all five skandhas are empty and is saved from all suffering and distress. Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. That which is form is emptiness, that which is emptiness form. The same is true of feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness. Shariputra, all dharmas are marked with emptiness; they do not appear or disappear, are not tainted or pure, do not increase or decrease. Therefore, in emptiness no form, no feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness. No eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind; no color, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no object of mind; no realm of eyes and so forth until no realm of mind consciousness. No ignorance and also no extinction of it, and so forth until no old age and death and also no extinction of them. No suffering, no origination, no stopping, no path, no cognition, also no attainment with nothing to attain. The Bodhisattva depends on Prajna Paramita and the mind is no hindrance; without any hindrance no fears exist. Far apart from every perverted view one dwells in Nirvana. In the three worlds all Buddhas depend on Prajna Paramita and attain Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi. Therefore know that Prajna Paramita is the great transcendent mantra, is the great bright mantra, is the utmost mantra, is the supreme mantra which is able to relieve all suffering and is true, not false. So proclaim the Prajna Paramita mantra, proclaim the mantra which says: gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha. Chanting the Heart Sutra by Thich Nhat Hanh <– click
Here Newburgh Free Library is one of my favorite places. A large, clear glass window facing the Hudson River stretches right in front of me, sitting in a comfortable chair and unfolding my laptop. Even though my old eyes, across the river I can see the Metro-North Railroad Hudson line passing and stopping at Beacon Station, also Dia Beacon (Art Foundation) too.
This side of the Hudson River, under my eyes freight trains come and go regularly. I hardly notice it, but in the middle of the night and at dawn, the distant horn jumps into my ear, I wonder what is the train running next to my house? Suddenly something difficult to explain with emotion shaking my soul and nostalgic feeling.
Railroads, trains, and night trains are classics in songs, poetry, literature, and movie/images with the addition of symbolic concepts such as the first station and the last station (life / death), passing stations, transfer stations, local trains, express trains, bullet train—I wonder if it is the speed of each life that people choose. Even now, in my way, a life that ran between stations (the highlights), the parts between stations are now a bit more important and getting acceptance and love.
It’s not important that I stay near the hospital, so I go to Chinatown alone under the hot blue sky. I’ve done some necessary shopping, but I still have plenty of time to meet Orin. While choosing the shadow of the building, I walk north on 3rd Avenue with a cane in one hand.
When I go to New York, I can’t let go of the cane that “doesn’t fall” however, this time as well, I left the cane at the cash register so was told by the customers and the cashier “Hey you! You forgot!”— they pointed at my cane (lol). Somehow, the tension and luscious self-satisfaction that I had in New York long ago disappeared already. As well as the streets that run regularly like grid, helped by my memories and habits. Singing songs, vaguely chasing thoughts, wiping sweat, and “I wonder if this is what it means to get older” becomes somewhat interesting. I want to meet my favorite friends, but the return bus is waiting.
When I was thinking about Prince Rogers Nelson, I saw “Prince Street” in front of me. Houston Street, Stanton Street, Rivington Street, and Third Avenue/Bowery. This area is a proof of my existence at that time.
The loft where I lived for awhile soon became a luxury gallery, and today I passed by after a long time, where did the gallery go? The whole building is in the middle of a renovations.
Now it is a prime location where the price is soaring. The museums, restaurants and markets are lined up, and intersect with the memories of 20 years ago. At that time, the back of the loft was covered with dense vacant lots and shrubs, and stray dogs were barking. I saw fairies several times in the loft. I thought butterflies flying in the dark loft, which was already leaking and the floor was about to collapse. What? Not the butterflies but they were little fairies! !! ?? I’ve seen it multiple times.
What I asked the fairies at that time, also all of my appreciation and feeling of gratitude to a person who was the loft owner at that time – I sewed several eccentric funny clothings for him. Now these old clothings have turned the loft owner into a Cinderella Boy. It’s like a strange novel, but it’s a real story.
High concentration salt water in a small pottery cup. Something is rolling to the bottom quite boldly. My “Oya-shirazu/wisdom tooth” that I pulled out earlier today.
Twenty-two years ago, the tooth next to the back tooth that had been unavoidably extracted was gaining momentum. Suddenly, “Unknown” wisdom tooth appeared! I think it came out because there were no obstacles. The “Oya-shirazu/wisdom tooth” has recently become inflamed, and had jumping pain continuously attacking the pain points in my brain so I didn’t sleep at all.
The 22-year-old “wisdom tooth” had spent 22 years in New York survival life with me. We’ve always been close to each other, having a hard time or joyful time together… It doesn’t matter if I am in sentimental regret of losing it, because I neglected to take care of my teeth.
The first step to help digest food, “chewing / biting” and “swallowing”, cannot be achieved without teeth. Blinking, breathing, and unconscious organ activity all respond to each other by an exquisite mechanism for the smooth functioning of a single person.
Should I chose to get an implant, or should the remaining teeth be used carefully while changing the diet to one that is more digestible and absorbable? I’m just staring at “wisdom tooth” which looks like it’s laughing.
Due to the corona situation in the last few years, No! wait a minute, since June 2018, when we moved to Arizona, then we returned to the east coast again in the fall of 2019. We have settled in Newburgh and I have been spending time with Orin almost every day.
Is the 15-year period (almost 24hours stay together for the last three and a half years) short or just right? We have met each other since we were old, and the momentum of the sparks feelings of our hearts have been replaced by calmness, and Orin is no longer Orin. He is as if my father, mother, twins, best friend, soulmate, and fighting companion, etc. There are many conflicting ideas and opinions between us, so we are giving up on each other now (lol).
We met at a 2007 friend’s art opening. I knew his name because of the common art center, but for some reason I believed that it was converted to “Orin-Osuzu(bell)”, a Japanese female name, Orin must be a female. I didn’t think that the man in front of me is the person I had emailed inquiries several times before, I didn’t write to him Mr. but made it Miss.
Very beginning, I was surprised when I held his hands! !! This is, this is, what I’ve been looking for so many years! !! A mysterious and nostalgic feeling was revived. When I die, I will hold the hand of “someone” and say, “Oh, it was an interesting my life, thank you, let me go.” It was the feel of someone’s palm, the palm of Orin! !!
His tough body will surely recover from the critical condition. Let’s get along well with medicines and treatment, and at the same time strengthening our own self-healing power and immunity without relying on them. Orin, born in Pisces / Uncle / Grandpa / Old man / Dad / Mom, thank you very much for being with me. Here is a video of our hands dancing : https://orinbuck.com/video/hand-dance
