There is a great beauty in this world, untouched by the mind; the beauty of living. It lingers, barely a moment away and is always just beyond the reach of thought.
We try to see it, but eyes fail.
We try to hear it, but deafness roars.
We try to take it, but hands are broken.
We try and fail.
But it is always there like a sprite; the spiritus. The lively bit of the breath that moves us, loves us.
It is our trying to attain that makes it difficult to breathe, difficult to move, difficult to love.
We try and we chase, then curse the maliciousness of the pursuit, as if it were cast upon us from the outside. But we do all of this to ourselves.
This beauty of living is lively, jumping from beyond the veil, trying to get our attention. It loves us, cares for us, and lives for us. But you can’t try to see it, hear it, or take it.
You cannot try to live. You can only live.
Do not desire to be free. Instead, be free.
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful words, Takuin. The last two lines… yeah… good stuff.
I always get a sense of deep peace from your words, and I can’t figure that out. Maybe you should be a monk or something
. Seriously, though, I love to read your posts. The timing is always perfect, too. WTH?
Thanks for that, Takuin!
Thanks, Mike.
Just let it be and roll with it. Let the coolness seep down into your vertebrae.
“You cannot try to live. You can only live.
Do not desire to be free. Instead, be free.”
I keep coming back to these points… your words tell me to sit out the storm, to take a deep breath and just Be.
Thank You Takuin.
And thank you, Masi…
… you have talent for capturing the essence.
For some reason Akiko came to mind, like you were describing her
Thanks you.
Thanks, Davidya.
This post wasn’t about her, but I can now see that possibility. Sometimes I do have, for lack of a better word, ‘targets’ in my writing. But it is not always an actual person.
Have you had a chance to see any of the Olympic games? It must be quite an interesting time for the city…
hmm – those we love or the things that inspire us can serve as muse, even indirectly. It was just an impression that arose.
The Olympics – well, the view is better on TV, no 4 hour lineups to get in through security, etc. Not a big fan of massive crowds. But there is a background buzz of excitement and happiness here. Events are spoken of and televised everywhere. People have group viewings, like for big games. The Canada-Swiss mens hockey game on Thurs. night had everyone at the airport glued to the big screens (shootout win). Tons of musical performances, light shows and fireworks. Not to mention closed roads, no parking, full buses, etc. All sorts of languages being spoken on the street.
It’s kind of like having a huge event like a concert or game in town x 3 for over 2 weeks straight.
Vancouver won worlds most liveable city award for the upteenth year and the Olympic Village has won Platinum LEEDS as an example of a sustainable community. A relief as it was actually watered down a little when the economy shifted. And it’s apparently drawn a massive fund to finance more similar locally.
It remains to be seen what the results will be. But it’s certainly a unique time in the city.
I miss Vancouver so much
and I miss I was there now. I’ll be there in the Summer and I can’t wait! Maybe we can meet and I can thank you in person 
Vancouver’s great but it is popular so the most expensive real estate in Canada. Hopefully the Olympics won’t make it more popular for migrants.
But you are welcome to visit (laughs) and I do expect to be here this summer at this point. It would be fun to say hello. You can contact me through my blog.
I’m a Vancouverite too (I don’t own an umberella
and my belongings and business are all still there just life has me in the Middle East staying with dad at the moment. I hear you on the real estate prices, half a million for a 800 sqft leaky condo in coal harbour is crazy. And the worst, in my opinion, is that the prices hurt locals most. I always thought they should have different home prices based on length of residency.
I think it would be fun too, will let you know when I’m there. Though I’m hardly on the net when there’s the english bay to enjoy! I hear the beautiful weather is melting the Olympics snow.
To quote Takuin, “There is a great beauty in this world”, even with Vancouver real estate prices. (laughs) Actually, I’ve done very well in the local real estate market. But you have to be able to find a way in and filter out the nice facades from good construction. That can take a bit of work and timing.
Yep, Cherry Blossom Festival is underway. Cypress (snowboarding) is a slush pit but they did get one night below freezing so they could snow-blow rather than fly snow in… Whistler (the main site) is doing fine.
The Sakura have not quite hit here in Tokyo…not yet. But I’ll be out there taking pictures – along with everyone else – same as last year.
I’ll make it to Vancouver someday. (I’ve also heard it is a great place for American filmmakers to shoot. It saves quite a bit of money. Don’t know if that is true, though.)
The US $ is worth slightly more than the Canadian. This gives budget films an advantage shooting here. Also subsidies and tax advantages, etc. The advantage is less these days, but still there. Some big budget things too – always amusing to see US post boxes on a Vancouver street for a shoot. (ours are red) And the ever present sea of trucks.
Several large studios and experienced crews have developed here since the ’70′s. They call us Hollywood North. Third largest for features in N America, behind LA and NY. 2nd in TV.
These days, much of the obvious action is Olympic. Saw a Russian crew interviewing team members in front of the totems in Stanley Park today. And had to go around another interview underway earlier. And some very fancy dual camera shoot by the water.
It is obvious you do not try to write. You just write. Or, perhaps, you allow writing to happen. Either way the result is transcendent.
The “thanks” echo within me as well.
Thank you, Eric.
Thanks takuin. Was not at your side for a long time. I looked in at the right time and so I got the answer I already know but did not answer myself in words but in daily doing it, so the circle ist closed. Tanks again.
iamasimpelman
Thank you very much, iamasimpelman.
It certainly has been awhile… It is always wonderful to hear from you, and I hope you’ve been well.
Hey Takuin
This is so true and beautiful. I often feel it, othertimes I try to feel it. Its good to know the difference. Its good to feel the beauty. To live and to be. Thank u for the lovely poetry. God bless
Thank you, Uzma.
It is a subtle – or even ‘invisible’ – difference when one is numb. But the difference is obvious as you move delicately. Maybe sensitive is a good word for that movement…
Nice to see you again, Uzma. I hope you’ve been well.
Beautiful words. At first, we don’t know there is a simpler way, and when we do, we chase the complexities of spirituality and beliefs. When we stop chasing, there it is!
Thank you, Kaushik.
It is always nice to receive your feedback…
It’s beautiful the way you expressed it. The spiritual path is about trying to attain the truth, trying to seek it, trying to see it and it finally ends when we realize there is nothing to grasp or seek. It’s always here.
You are so simple in your expression, and you have a way with words. Really appreciate it.
Thank you, Senthil.
Ah, you’ve said it wonderfully. The Path is about attainment and what we can get for ourselves, while liberation is beyond that self-centered movement.
And by the way, thank you for your continued involvement in the comments. It is great to have you here.