I've been discarding quite a few bits of writing. They don't read too bad; they might even be good in parts. But something seems not right when I internalise it yet again from where it came. There could be an explanation. Here's one that may or may not apply...
From 'Incense Burner', a Zen story:
A woman of Nagasaki named Kame was one of the few makers of incense burners in Japan. Such a burner is a work of art to be used only in a tearoom of before a family shrine.
Kame, whose father before her had been such an artist, was fond of drinking. She also smoked and associated with men most of the time. Whenever she made a little money she gave a feast inviting artists, poets, carpenters, workers, men of many vocations and avocations. In their association she evolved her designs.
Kame was exceedingly slow in creating, but when her work was finished it was always a masterpiece. Her burners were treasured in homes whose womanfolk never drank, smoked, or associated freely with men.
The mayor of Nagasaki once requested Kame to design an incense burner for him. She delayed doing so until almost half a year had passed. At that time the mayor, who had been promoted to office in a distant city, visited her. He urged Kame to begin work on his burner.
At last receiving the inspiration, Kame made the incense burner. After it was completed she placed it upon a table. She looked at it long and carefully. She smoked and drank before it as if it were her own company. All day she observed it.
At last, picking up a hammer, Kame smashed it to bits. She saw it was not the perfect creation her mind demanded.
Ok...but...what does the smoking and drinking and associating freely with men have to do with her internal journey??
ReplyDelete"She saw it was not the perfect creation her mind demanded."
Too bad her heart was not assertive in being more forgiving.
I'm sure what you're discarding is good as usual...but I guess sometimes (for myself I would say ALL the time) it's good to keep things to yourself. Not everything should be put out there.
I present to you one of my all time fav songs...hope it enchants you the way it enchants me :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2LjFgsK3VI
Make sure to read the lyrics accompanying the vid.
Hi Meriam,
ReplyDeleteIf I may?
>> . . . what does the smoking and drinking and associating freely with men have to do with her internal journey??<<
Erm, that's what "artists, poets, carpenters, workers, men of many vocations and avocations," do? That her work, in the final analysis, was thus derivative? Of course, that she nonetheless smoked and drank and imagined it was her own company in evaluating the finished product -- and then smashed it -- perhaps it was the "as if it were her own company" part that made the difference. And perhaps this was also why, "Her burners were treasured in homes whose womanfolk never drank, smoked, or associated freely with men" . . .
The Ikue Asazaki piece is also a treasure. :)
M.
FV, it's very elementary, really, you write and we read. I can elaborate, but in the end that's all it amounts to. It's like the birds, they fly and we watch, or the flowers, they bloom and we admire. Like the river that flows, surely sometimes there is less, sometimes it overflows. something like that.
ReplyDeleteMstaab,
ReplyDelete"that's what "artists, poets, carpenters, workers, men of many vocations and avocations," do?"
Well, yes. Thats a universal truth. I want to know why that phrase was repeated multiple times in the fable as if it ought to have some major significance. Threw me off. Most such tales do actually. I feel they dramatize simple things and look for deeper meaning in things that don't have any. Sufism and zen-ness gets on my nerves :)
>>Sufism and zen-ness gets on my nerves :)<<
ReplyDelete:) Well, perhaps it's an acquired taste? Kinda like a more refined appreciation for the leaf and grape, bird and flower, as Al notes -- and men perhaps, save only in certain of their variform variety? What's more, thinking about it, there does seem an element of form versus function to Farzana's Zen story. Were Kame's incense burners prized by homemakers who never drank, smoked, or associated freely with men because they looked good or because they worked well? What *is* the definition of a masterpiece?
Not all Anons are Als.
ReplyDeleteMeriam:
ReplyDelete{I'm sure what you're discarding is good as usual...but I guess sometimes (for myself I would say ALL the time) it's good to keep things to yourself. Not everything should be put out there.}
My work is words. I am not talking about leisure writing, which I may or may not put up for several reasons. It is a call one takes, and I don't judge those who do. Why must only writing come under such scrutiny? People put out a lot of other stuff...
Thanks for the vid. My connection is too slow, so it will have to wait.
Re the fable, Mark has elucidated upon much of it. I'll probably have something to say later...except that Sufi and Zen have been misused /overused. But if a story conveys what I want to, I'd even tap Rastafarians!
Anon:
ReplyDelete{it's very elementary, really, you write and we read. I can elaborate, but in the end that's all it amounts to. It's like the birds, they fly and we watch, or the flowers, they bloom and we admire. Like the river that flows, surely sometimes there is less, sometimes it overflows. something like that.}
Okay. So, you don't care about the birds' nests, straw in beaks? The buds waiting to sprout? The pebbles in the river? And how when the water overflows, you may feel the spray on your face or turn away?
Not so simple. Really.
PS: I know you aren't Al, because he writes his 'name'. I know you aren't Al or anyone else.