Sunday, April 3, 2022
Monday, July 19, 2021
Seeking the Source
A post from January 21, 2003, now also tagged Big Sur,
suggested a search for the source of that post's
Shih Te poem. The result of the search —
Related Fredonia material, from posts tagged Church and Temple —
Update, from six minutes later, on related entertainment —
Update of 12:38 PM ET on the next day — July 20, 2021 —
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Crystal Poem by Shide (Shih Te, etc.)
at https://terebess.hu/zen/chang/shide.html
from "Comparative List of Shide's Poems" —
Traditional Chinese:
無去無來本湛然，
不居內外及中間。
一顆水精絕瑕翳，
光明透滿出人天。
Simplified Chinese:
无去无来本湛然，
不居内外及中间。
一颗水精绝瑕翳，
光明透满出人天。
Romanization:
wú qù wú lái běn zhàn rán ，
bù jū nèi wài jí zhōng jiān 。
yī kē shuǐ jīng jué xiá yì ，
guāng míng tòu mǎn chū rén tiān 。
English Translation by Paul Rouzer:
No goings, no comings, originally tranquil;
No dwelling within or without, or at the point between.
A single crystal of purity without flaw or crack;
Its light penetrates and fills up the worlds of men and gods.
English Translation by Red Pine:
Not waxing or waning essentially still
not inside or outside and nowhere between
a single flawless crystal
whose light shines through to gods and men
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Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Tuesday January 21, 2003
Diablo Ballet
Thanks to Meghan for the following:
not going, not coming,
rooted, deep and still
not reaching out, not reaching in
just resting, at the center
a single jewel, the flawless crystal drop
in the blaze of its brilliance
the way beyond.
— Shih Te (c. 730)
It turns out that Shih Te ("Foundling") was the sidekick of Han Shan ("Cold Mountain"). Here are some relevant links:
Thoughts of Robert Frost (see past two days' entries) lead to "Two Tramps in Mud Time," which in turn leads to Jack Kerouac and Gary Snyder splitting wood in The Dharma Bums.
This in turn leads, via a search on "Kerouac" and "axe," to the sentence
"There's the grace of an axe handle
as good as an Eglevsky ballet,"
in Big Sur.
Kerouac taught me when I was 16 and he is still teaching me now that I am 60.
Searching for "Eglevsky ballet" leads to this site on André Eglevsky, his work, his life, and his children. A further search leads to his daughter Marina Eglevsky, who stages dance for the Diablo Ballet.
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Marina Eglevsky and |
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Those who feel the above is too "arty" for them may nevertheless appreciate the movie by the same name: "Born to Dance" (1936), starring Eleanor Powell and James Stewart.
In the larger metaphorical sense, of course, Powell and Eglevsky are both part of the same dance… at the "still point" described so well by Shih Te.
"just resting, at the center
a single jewel…"
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"At the still point, |
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From Marshall's Jewelers, Tucson — The ideal cut is a mathematical formula for cutting diamonds to precise angles and proportions to maximize the reflection and refraction of light. In addition to these ideal proportions, the polish and symmetry of the diamond is done to the highest standards also. Only then does it qualify to receive the American Gem Society (AGS) "triple zero" rating. A "zero" rating is the most perfect rating that the AGS gives evaluating the cut, polish, and symmetry of the diamond. When a diamond receives the "zero" rating for each of these areas, (cut, polish, and symmetry), it gets three "zeros," hence the "triple zero" rating. Because of this attention to detail, it takes up to four times longer to cut a diamond to these standards than an "average" diamond. You may choose to compromise on color or clarity but to ensure the most brilliant diamond you should not compromise on cut…. The "triple zero" ideal cut guarantees you a magnificent balance of brilliance, sparkle, and fire. |
Postscript of 1/25/03:
See also the obituary of Irene Diamond, ballet patron, for whom the New York City Ballet's "Diamond Project" is named. Diamond died on January 21, 2003, the date of the above weblog entry.