David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


10 December 2009

by Trans Love Railways to Melbourne

.
Awoke with a headache, the gift-side of which provided clear recall of a splendid dream. The final scene took place at a railway station where, having remembered I could fly, and begun to do so, looked back to see others, higher, already doing the same.

Arrived at the Ballan railway station a few hours later. From the ten directions we came. For the Ballarat train to Melbourne, to the 20th anniversary celebration of the Dalai Lama being awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.

At Ballan station, this sign.

2009.12.10_Sign at Ballan station_Happiness_400

Happiness is not a state to arrive at,
But a manner of travelling.

- Margaret Lee Runbeck

I cannot and will not cut my conscience
to fit this year's fashions

- Lillian Hellman
----------------------------------
MONDAY 7th DEC 2009
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ALL PROCEEDS OF HOT & COLD
DRINKS DONATED TO
CANCER COUNCIL
$900.00 SO FAR...

What rare V/Line vehicle of enlightened means is this?

And with stops along the way at Sunshine and Deer Park?
(It was at Deer Park, Sarnath, India, that Buddha, after his enlightenment, gave his first teaching : The Four Noble Truths. Can't travel through Deer Park, Victoria, without recalling that.)

Fly Trans Love Railways?
Ancient memories arise of Eric Burdon & The Animals' San Franciscan Nights (1967), still somewhere here in a bL heap. It begins with an announcement :

This following program is dedicated to the city and people of San Francisco (and Melbourne), who may not know it but they are beautiful and so is their city. This is a very personal song, so if the viewer cannot understand it, particularly those of you who are European residents, save up all your brand and fly Trans Love Airways to San Francisco, U.S.A. (or to Melbourne, Australia), then maybe you'll understand the song, it will be worth it, if not for the sake of this song but for the sake of your own peace of mind.

for the sake of your own peace of mind. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been touring and teaching in Australia and New Zealand for the past two weeks. He has been a regular visitor to Melbourne over many years. Yesterday morning there was a gathering (Peace Through Justice) to celebrate his 20th anniversary of receiving the Nobel Prize for Peace. In the afternoon, at the Melbourne Convention Centre, he spoke to the topic World Peace - Who is responsible?

'Last talk before exhaustion', he chuckled at the start.



Later, in a Q&A session, he briefly addressed this again : 'because body, speech and mind are dedicated to all beings, therefore no mental tiredness, even in these busy times'.

As he has done before, the Dalai Lama told us of his favorite prayer, from
“A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life” by Shantideva.
For as long as space remains,
For as long as sentient beings remain,
Until then may I too remain
To dispel the miseries of the world.


May his life be long

and may his aspiration be quickly fulfilled.