Actually, Basho's book is just wonderful. I know I take the piss out of pseudo spirituals, but this is the Zen thinker's Zen book, in a charmingly disarming way.
At one point - which is the only one I can remember - Basho smokes a pipe of tobacco under a tree and likes it so much that he decides to give it up forever, before he gets hooked.
I have read The Mustard Seed by Basho several times. It was written when he was Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. I also tried reading The Zen Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance many years ago but I sadly fell by the wayside. Maybe it's time for another.
If you were able to work out the time clock on your own blog you would see that a good part of this conversation took place this morning. In case you don't know how to do it you add on 8 hours. As for the book you didn't miss anything.
Yes, I read about the booker prize winner in the Times this morning. My first husband (died 1991) was on the Death Railway in what was then Siam, so it will not be essential reading for me I am afraid. I found it interesting that he spoke of finding the right format for his writing, even thinking at one stage of writing the whole thing in haiku-type stanzas.
What's this book got to do with the Booker prize winner?
ReplyDeleteThe winner's book was named after this book - do your research, Rachel! (google is my friend)
ReplyDeleteI must be slipping. Thank you Carol.
DeleteYou're welcome - heck it's midnight where you are!
DeleteCarry on, panic over.
ReplyDeleteActually, Basho's book is just wonderful. I know I take the piss out of pseudo spirituals, but this is the Zen thinker's Zen book, in a charmingly disarming way.
DeleteAt one point - which is the only one I can remember - Basho smokes a pipe of tobacco under a tree and likes it so much that he decides to give it up forever, before he gets hooked.
WELL FUCK HIM!!!!!!!
Hahaaa, but that is how I dealt with heroin!
DeleteNow there you have me - I have not tested myself with either H or Crack.
DeleteI won't touch crack.
DeleteAnd I won't touch heroin again. But dear lord almighty! Given my penchant for opiates...well you can just imagine.
Not like Pirsig's book then? His wasn't wonderful.
DeleteI haven't gotten through "Zen.." it's been over 30 years.
DeleteI also do not like Burroughs...at all.
I have to go to sleep Carol.
DeleteGoodnight Rachel.
DeleteWe're going to watch some TV now.
I've not read it. The one Zen sort of book I read, and it probably wasn't really all that Zen was 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance'.
ReplyDeleteI managed about half way through that one.
DeleteThat was Pirsig's. Crazy, mixed up man, wrote this cult book of the 1970s. The book we all had and never finished.
DeleteIf I can find it, maybe I'll read the second half,
DeleteI read it through twice, once in the 70's and again in the 90's. I liked his writing style but never looked to see if he wrote anything else.
DeleteHe did. By then he was even more crazy.
DeleteI have read The Mustard Seed by Basho several times. It was written when he was Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. I also tried reading The Zen Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance many years ago but I sadly fell by the wayside. Maybe it's time for another.
ReplyDeletetry, go, attempt.
DeleteWasn't Bagwan's other name Osho, not Basho?
DeleteI finished Zen. It's a mad book.
Hello Tom :~)
Hello Sarah. ;^
DeleteI must have gone to bed when you were all having the above conversations. All I can say is that I haven't ever read the motorcycle maintenance one.
ReplyDeleteIf you were able to work out the time clock on your own blog you would see that a good part of this conversation took place this morning. In case you don't know how to do it you add on 8 hours. As for the book you didn't miss anything.
DeleteMakes no difference, I was still asleep.
DeleteSorry, I forgot sunrise is earlier over here in the east.
DeleteAbout 4 hours earlier, I think.
DeleteYes, I read about the booker prize winner in the Times this morning. My first husband (died 1991) was on the Death Railway in what was then Siam, so it will not be essential reading for me I am afraid.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that he spoke of finding the right format for his writing, even thinking at one stage of writing the whole thing in haiku-type stanzas.
Did he? Talk about making it hard for yourself. I have no inclination to read it either, Weave.
DeleteI heard the authors son interviewed on radio 4 this morning
ReplyDeleteV ery interesting
Oh Aye?
Delete