Tag: Poetry

• June 21, 2015

  Eloquence Training: Episode 3. Misconceptions About Eloquence

  Eloquence involves saying the right thing in the right way with a sense of ease. An eloquent person, then, is someone who often or almost always speaks eloquently. In this third episode, Alexandra and I discuss misconceptions about the nature of eloquence: that eloquence is flowery speech, charismatic speech, or scholarly discourse. We urge instead…
• December 6, 2013

  ‘As I sit, / the sun rolls over…’

  Words that arose before today’s philosophical conversation with one philosophical friend: * As I sit, the sun rolls over the backs of the mountain. / Before, being was no-thing, but now being is thinged. / Loss but also gain.
• November 25, 2013

  ‘Thoughts unwinding…’

  While meditating, I let my thoughts unwind themselves until they grow tired of themselves. * Thoughts unwinding Clouds uplifting Vast expanse of home.
• November 23, 2013

  ‘The morning gray closes in…’

  Words that came to me during morning meditation moments before a philosophical conversation recently: * The morning gray closes in, and I cannot see the mountain. I do not know you thus, but might I find you still by some other route? I close my eyes, and mumble your name. Soon I forget it.
• November 20, 2013

  ‘Through you / I feel the mountains…’

  A chant: Swaying reeds like hanging beans Through you I feel the mountains * Zazen is preparation for living discourse? What kind of living discourse? Only this: direct speech. * Tell me, friend, how am I doing taking notes? Speak too quickly, and I won’t catch your words. Therefore, go slowly with me so that we catch…