Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
It was 32 years ago today...
Another good book on the “beginner’s mind” is Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki… And on a different topic, you may have heard about this one for activists who are also sports fans:
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=105&ItemID=8330
Posted by James on from Puerto Rico 07/20 at 08:23 AMThanks, James. I actually wrote a blurb for that sports book and just interviewed the author. It’ll be up on the Web (and here) very soon.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/20 at 09:06 AMI wonder what the reactions will be when another grown man, having ridden a trillion dollar program, bounces around on Mars…
Posted by sk on from 07/20 at 12:27 PMThat depends if the Mets or Yanks are playing that day, SK.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/20 at 12:39 PMNice little tribute to Bruce Lee, Mickey - thanks.
What a towering martial artist he was. (Great pic of him throwing a punch, too. He was “tight,” eh? His work-ethic was legendary.)
He, and also the guy who created Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, really worked and studied and pondered and experimented to such an extraordinary degree, that they transcended their particular arts. They sort of became “peaceful warriors,” though I’m not sure how one would define such a thing. (Perhaps like this - from Ueshiba: Seeing me before him, the enemy attacks. But by that time, I am already standing safely behind him… )Lee’s death was a great sadness - and a very odd, confusing case. Had he lived, he’d probably have reworked Jeet Koon Do three or four times by now, into something we’d not recognize as Karate, at all, as such, just as Aikido was not judo and jujutsu any more…
The world could use such beings right now. Thanks again, Mickey.
Posted by joe on from Oregon 07/20 at 02:20 PMThanks, Joe. Bruce was “ripped” before anyone used the word...and he sure put his stamp on the world of martial arts. I first began studying Wing Chun entirely because it was Bruce’s first style.
Although he was certainly not the first to use the “empty your cup” motif as a teaching tool, I like to read this passage often to remind myself to heed the lesson. I’m proud to say I’ve willingly emptied my cup and discovered I preferred another flavor of tea many, many times...but still not often enough.
At the moment, I am in the process of emptying my cup, scrubbing it clean, and maybe even tossing the damn thing in the back of the cabinet and finding a huge bucket instead. So much of what I believe (for lack of a better word) appears impotent at the moment.
Stay tuned (maybe) for a long post on this soon. I’m thinking about risking the slings and arrows to get some much-needed input from the cyberworld.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/20 at 02:29 PMThat sounds interesting, Mickey. I hope you go ahead and write something on that topic. I’m feeling the same way.
Maybe a vacation would help...my wife and I are going to Costa Rica next week. I hope the break and the excitement of visiting new places energizes me enough to try some new and different things when I get back.
Actually, we are going to stop in NYC first this weekend...any activities/events/etc that I should look out for?
Posted by James on from Puerto Rico 07/20 at 02:49 PMBy the way…
Joe, I like your writing style...or maybe it’s the way you think, or both. Do you happen to have a blog of your own?
Posted by James on from Puerto Rico 07/20 at 02:52 PMJames, the author of the sports you mentioned is speaking this weekend. More info here: http://www.edgeofsports.com/tour.html
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/20 at 02:57 PMI think we’re all feeling a bit impotent and lost, of late, Mickey: We’re watching as the government slowly but quite certainly “walls us into” this latest incarnation of the Warsaw Ghetto, and we just don’t know what to do. It seems to me that they’ve been preparing for these times for over two-hundred years. Every eventuality is covered by some constitutional or presidential “edict,” and fully sanctioned by the courts and the great fascist planners. We’re out-gunned, out-organized, out-manned, and we’re in more than a little bit of trouble… It might not be long before the first train-loads of dissidents begin to roll out of the stations toward some immense labor-camp in the desert SouthWest. We’d have to be insane not to be feeling a bit, shall we say - “off.” Any answer, however tentative or “partial,” would be welcome reading, Mr. Z.
James, thanks.
Nope, I have no blog. I very much like the atmosphere here at Mickey’s place. Over the years, people have often said: “Hey, Joe - you should write!” But I thought, well - I don’t really have anything to say, I’m just a pup. Now, however, I’m an old dog, and I’d like to write a book or two. (Mickey inspires us all, I guess.) However, I sit down at the computer and I’m only able to belch out a few platitudes. Don’t know how to approach research, don’t know how to organize information, don’t even know how to begin… Duh! I’ll keep slogging on, I hope, and maybe one day…Anyway, thanks. Be careful down there, James, eh? Post something, if you get the chance, while you’re on the road. Let us know how “America South” is looking. I’ve often wanted to ask you about what’s going on, now, in P.R. - a place with such an amazing history of courage and conflict. Maybe you could be “our” Latin American Correspondent…
Posted by joe on from Oregon 07/20 at 03:48 PMI’ll give it a try, Joe…
Blogging can be a good way of leading yourself up to writing a book, I would imagine. Something to think about, at least.
Posted by James on from Puerto Rico 07/20 at 03:59 PM
Next entry: How mad was the last cow you ate?
Previous entry: "The PATRIOT Act violates at least six amendments..."
Copyright © 2005-2007 Mickey Z.
