Showing posts with label Jack Kerouac. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jack Kerouac. Show all posts

Sunday, February 1, 2026

The Waste Land Redux: Five Quintets - # I













Note: This contemplation is the first of Five Pieces

to be continued in subsequent posts.

"On the day of judgment , it matter more how devoutly one

has lived and what good works were done, rather than how 

much was read."

- Thomas A'Kempis

 Inspiration :

This pilgrim didn't realize the magnetic force of a group

of Venerable Monks walking for Peace would fuel

an avalanche of soul searching. Recollections of how 

a piece of the great puzzle rediscovered fueled insights as to

how everything is connected and fits.


The Writing; 


The Walk: Tears of Joy, Remembrance and Peace


Maybe April is not the cruelest month.

Sometimes when a soul enters that dark night as it wanders

it wonders if light will return. Belief in the experience doesn't suffice.

Faith fades and trust replaced with doubt . Weakened spirits forget experience

that all things pass . Sun sets, sun rises. 

Yet, there is an eternal spark that refuses to fade. It requires a mystical

breath of unknown origin to be rekindled to flame. 

    Buddhists remind pilgrims, "you can't push a river." 


For this  accidental pilgrim that rekindling arrived without

 the proclamation of a holiday parade. Rather, it was

a gentle walk - not protest nor political statement but a living

prayer of peace , hope and kindness. Step by step a line of 

venerable Buddhist Monks making way from 

Texas to Washington, DC..


Why and how did lost souls become drawn to this 

Sangha making way on their journey. How and why  was this

piece of the great puzzle of existence make appearance now? 

What was its source? Does it fit , where and why? 

Time wasted with a monkey mind.


The morning was breaking slow and grace filled. Being present

washed away the worry and fear. The wind blown chimes ceased their song.

An unexpected message appears on his small miracle of technology.

Was this a vision or reality ? It was a message and video from

a distant acquaintance , an in person witness to the procession

of monks. A flower in hand as tears flowed.  

Tears of joy , remembrance and peace

This pilgrim joined the river of tears . 


- JF Sobecki

-------

Music and Poetry ( for your listening pleasure

and contemplation) - Something New:

This is a complete YouTube Playlist of songs and poetry .

You can listen one or more at one sitting without clicking 

on each entry...or all in one sitting.

Second Chance Dance Playlist Songs and Poetry 

February 1 , 2026 - 

For your listening pleasure and contemplation:

 Click on the link below

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB8FrnVEQMJDcY3mpFo5Ac5-okpE7E2oc&si=mo6y3dNYyNfeE65w

Coda: Faith, Trust and Purpose

Some music to guide your contemplation.

Music of eclectic different spiritual and religious perspectives

click on the link below

       The Wisdom Knot

https://youtu.be/TJIbOsWfa3M?si=wAIduhs0t3phiful

Whether you "believe" or not...this might be interesting:

* Research indicates that even with significant differences

the major religions and spiritual practices around the world 

they share the following common perspectives and themes:

- Compassion and love - how we treat others

- promote human welfare and reduce suffering

- Practice loving kindness all ways

- All life ( existence) is connected.

- A good life is measured by your kindness to others

- Seek truth, wisdom and understanding

- Be grateful , present and aware of each moment

- There is a higher purpose in life than materialism

- Service to and care of others, be selfless ( especially those 

   who cannot help themselves)


"If this is well told and to the point, that is what I 

desired; if it is 

poorly done , it was the best I could do."

- 2 Maccabees 15:38-39

               

AMDG

Copyright All Rights Reserved 2026 JF Sobecki LLC

 

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

A California Reunion


"Remembrance is a form of Meeting"

- Kahil Gibran

"We are not Human Beings with a spiritual experience, but 

spiritual beings with a human experience"

- Pierre Teilhard Chardin


The Inspiration :

(Over 100 family members and friends gathered in Northern California's 

wine country to honor, remember and celebrate the life of the pilgrim's

sister's husband who had recently passed to the other side.)


A venerated teacher iterated , it is said that a Buddhist story

explains the probability of our incarnation as a human being on

this earth at this time and place is something like one life

preserver being tossed randomly into the ocean. There is one

turtle in the great expanse of the global ocean swimming somewhere 

underneath the water. The probability that we come into this world 

is the same as this one particular turtle sticking its head out

of the water...and in that specific moment its head peaks through 

the hole in that one random life preserver in just one try. Some social

scientist calculated that the odds of any one being becoming a 

real thing ( real life) is 1 in 400 million.

The patient pilgrim pondered,"If all creation is not a miracle

I don't know what is. This vessel may end its earthly journey but

the essence of the spirit in everything is not finished as a new 

journey begins."


The Writing:

(A personal reflection inspired by this post's theme)


A California Reunion

What is that flame,. that light

That Mystical source that draws searching souls,

Abandoning their daily passage to gather,

Reuniting in compassion and empathy?

How is it that in one fleeting urgent moment

The baggage of their journey

Is left behind with no regrets or hard feelings?

How strong is that desire for healing

The broken hearts of fellow travelers?

The pilgrim and two offspring converged

In the land of Jacks Dharma Bums' ghosts,

California stars, joining

The great pilgrimage to be where

Mindfulness is the practice of

Redemption and gratitude becoming

The "Holy Communion."

Rivers of tears flow like sacramental wine.

The unwavering torrential rains 

Came to a hard stop without notice,

Giving rebirth to a divine virgin blue sky

Making way for the great gleam.

Witness the true Beautiful Day.

The Tower of Song of the mask free sojourners'

Overflowing hearts sang out

As one unified voice of a singular solemn

Angelic choir filling the sanctuary

Serenely settled on the secret banks 

Of the Russian River, one or two puffs

South of the Emerald Triangle

Guarded by the glorious green mountainous grandeur.

Rhythms of the Chicago Blues reverberate

From within this chapel of untethered celebration

With the same DNA heard in the most holy arias.

Higher and Higher, cowboy lamentations,

Palomas and fries nourish 

The thirsty and hungry hearted congregation.

It is on the sacred ground , leaving behind the world,

Where the one sublime transformational moment

Of the authentic consecrating unconditional love

Washes down every aspect of the universe,

Leaving all to kneel in the deepest chamber

Of their hearts with humility to the light.

- JF Sobecki


The Poems:

( Poetry Reflections on the inspiration)


Where Many Rivers Meet

All the water below came from above

All the clouds living in the mountains

gave it to the rivers

who gave it to the sea, which is their dying.


And so I float on the cloud become water

central sea surrounded by white mountains,

the water salt, once fresh

cloud fall and steam , tree root and tide bank

leading to the river' mouths

and the mouth of the rivers sing to the sea,

the stories buried in the mountains

give out to the sea

and the sea remembers

and sings back 

from the depths

where nothing is forgotten.

- David Whyte


The Holy Longing - Goethe ( From the Favorite Poem Project)

https://youtu.be/8YWoOj5mJMo

Song of Myself - W. Whitman ( From the Favorite Poem Project)
https://youtu.be/hPLHVQpm1JA

For The Children - Gary Snyder



The Music:
(Musical reflections on the inspiration)

Transcendental Reunion - Mary Chapin Carpenter
https://youtu.be/1GUFJquA6bc

Heavenly Father - Bon Iver
https://youtu.be/vAoADCSpD-8

Live Forever - Drew Holcombe
https://youtu.be/ntbNQk2Tk7Q

Wash Me Down - Jim Cuddy
https://youtu.be/V6KxemuVYMU

Windfall - Son Volt
https://youtu.be/f1XrTzVzbJY

California Stars - Wilco


Tower of Song - Leonard Cohen (w U2)
https://youtu.be/OpLBtWG3JR4

No Hard Feelings - The Avett Brothers
https://youtu.be/aaU2HvRhCPw

Seasons of Love - Rent
https://youtu.be/UvyHuse6buY


Coda:

A Time to Say Goodbye - Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman
https://youtu.be/4L_yCwFD6Jo


Remembering:

R.I.P. and Music,Skip !
                                                             















Marybeth Lifting or Spirits Higher

https://youtu.be/k9aDOGoPvW8

Tbird and a Redhead - Jimmy Smith Band ( Skip on Harp)

https://youtu.be/LY2BP6IoRwg



admit

Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved JF Sobecki LLC