introduction and a question

[Alfred Collins]

Re the Zen reference, Yes, I think I was confabulating Chinese and Indian texts, perhaps because the liminal feeling is similar.  My interest is in this very special moment on the verge, which seems to open the possibility of an enlightenment that endures in life, which of course is fundamental in Zen.  I think this is imagined in the Vrindavan world, and what Sri Atmananda (Krsna Menon) called "the world between the guru and disciple," (his Malayalam Radhamadhavam): a third realm distinct from ordinary life and moksa.  I talked about this at Madison this year in connection to psychoanalysis, but left out the poem I am now searching for, obviously!  My main text was the Samkhya Karika where prakrti says to purusa "nasmi naham na me."  More on this at my website braindance.us, see the East-West Psychology page.

Al Collins

----- Original Message -----
From: jkirk <jkirk at SPRO.NET>
Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2003 7:27 am
Subject: Re: introduction and a question

> Posted by Joanna Kirkpatrick
>
> Perhaps you are thinking of the famous death poems of Zen monks
> and other
> poets in Japan? Like Saigyo's death poem, written perhaps a decade
> earlieraccording to La Fleur, 2003 (his translation):
>
> Let it be in spring
> and under the cherry blossoms that
> I die, while the moon
> is perfect at midmonth, like
> it was for his peaceful passing. (refers to the Buddha, of course)
>
> =========
>
> > Yes, thank you, that is certainly the sort of poem I remembered.
> I don't
> think it is the same one, but of the same genre. Thanks again,
> >
> > Al Collins
> >
>