Eugene Friesen, a cellist's cellist and a lovely human being. I first heard him with Paul Winter in the mid 1980s, and his playing opened up an entire universe for me of emotion, music, and the natural world.
My Tuvan friends of Alash, from whom I bought my igil two years ago and I am still trying to figure out how to play it!
Noirin Ni Riain, Irish sean nos singer and contemplative soul. I have learned a wealth of songs from her collection (Stor Amhran) that are among my favorites.
The songs and sounds of the great whales, the humpbacks, rights, blues and fins. They have entered my music, and my way of seeing the world. The best commercial recordings are Songs of the Humpback Whale and Deep Voices. Both can be purchased from the Ocean Alliance, which will benefit their good work on behalf of the whales.
Martin Luther King, Jr., whom I met in 1965. I was only 3 or 4 years old, but I remember the meeting vividly.
Two of Martin's quotes that I love:
"Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
"Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right."
Biologist Roger Payne, with whom I worked briefly in the late '90s. His work on humpback whale song caught my interest when I was a Linguistics student in college. Many people have devoted their energy to the great whales, but Roger's influence is so broad and deep that he may rank as the human being who has had the greatest positive impact on the lives of the whales.
The Natural Contemplative's Details
Status:
Married
Here for:
Networking, Friends
Zodiac Sign:
Capricorn
The Natural Contemplative's Schools
Brown University
Providence, RI
Graduated: 1983
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: Linguistics
1979 to 1983
The Natural Contemplative is more woodchuck than whale these days. Posted at 5:10 PM Jul 5 view more
" I think the most critical thing, and it can and must happen right
alongside all the practical things that need to be done, is to turn and face
ourselves very honestly."
"Natural meditation does not involve trying to attain an extraordinary
state of consciousness or quietness, nor does it take extraordinary concentration
or training. It is a natural way of being that is inherent in every person.
..."
"The mind tries to fill all the space with itself, so it doesn't have
to face its ultimate emptiness, which it can not understand or control. The
mind tries to find fulfillment in more, and more, and more. And it can't.
It never works."
"These laws of the spirit emerged over the course of an extended period
of solitude. I call them laws, because in my experience they are as ineluctable
as the laws of gravity and motion."
"[True] silence is not the absence of noise. It is not the absence
of thought. It is not the absence of sound. It is not the absence of feelings
in the body. It is not the absence of experience. It is with us, now and always.
"
On the same subject at the Reverend Billy video you just sent out, I'd like to recommend Peter & Lou Berryman's song "Weirder than Sunlight". You can hear it at http://tinyurl.com/5u5od6 or
http://www.last.fm/music/Lou%2B%2526%2BPeter%2BBerryman/House+Concert/Weirder+Than+Sunlight if you prefer.
Gracias por añadirme. Thank you for adding me. Wherever there is something in the universe, there is love. Wherever there is music, there is life. All the best from Madrid -Spain.
“I had been called from my dreams to come forth and witness on the banks of the Great River of the South the grandeur of new beginnings, and to become reacquainted with an old friend.
With the floating higher of sun and the expanding of the tidal waters, I decided to make for myself a simple rod from a length of river driftwood that I found in the nearby rushes.
And with taking the stems of fresh riverside flowers, I made for myself a fine long line that I knotted on to the end of the rod. I was pleased with my work, and so did cast the line on the waters.
And there I sat on a grass-carpeted promontory with my legs dangling over the edge as I watched the green woven line, with its lovely purple flowers floating away on the surface of the waters.”
(Source: Generations Reaching, Chapter 20 A joyous signature)
'Look, Chaubran, there is an old man with a dog walking over by the rocks.' 'They appear to be coming this way.' 'Good dawning, young Trustbirds!' 'Good dawning, Sir.' 'Welcome, Sir.' 'Please call me, Cetusfreon.' 'A beautiful name. Friend of the whales.' 'My father gave it to me.' 'Join us for a nice bowl of soup, Cetusfreon. It's almost ready.' 'Thank you. I live just down the strand. You're new here, aren't you?' 'Yes, we live in the small pretty house over there. This is Mysteria and I'm Chaubran.' 'You look very happy both of you. A union definitely made in the stars. I know a lot about the stars. I used to be the captain of a sailing ship. She was called the Ages o'Reverence. Ah, she was a beautiful piece of workmanship. Bright yellow and red. We spent forty-two years together on the high seas going from one piece of jutting land to another.' 'Wonderful.' 'I've come to the realization that there is but one ocean which delights in trying to fool us humans into thinking that there are many separate land masses of various sizes and shapes spread out all over the planet. It's one of the many great physical deceptions I've discovered in my life. Oh, and believe me, there are so many others. Can you imagine, Mysteria the real picture of the planet, if the sea were to part company from it for a while?' 'Perhaps it would be simply gorgeous, Cetusfreon!...' (from my forthcoming work: Innkeeper's Fire, ACT 16. Moonstarry Nights)
