God, Love, Rock & Roll
I wonder if this is how Charlie Brown felt, that rush of adrenaline, to imagine a perfect kick of the ball and then, – well nothing. Or almost nothing.
Charlie is seen to fall on his head.
Finishing up a difficult and satisfying book, The Self-Overcoming of Nihilism by Nishitani Keiji, I anticipated a remaining chapter that would reveal the author’s characterization of “a way forward”. Then I noticed the twenty to thirty pages left within the covers of the book, were filled with footnotes and the index. The conclusion of Nishitani amounted to the recommendation that I craft or better put, forge the way forward for myself. That is – to settle in for the work-of-discovery, the likelihood that no one formula, no “aha I’ve got it now” kernel of revelation is going to come. Just one day at a time work.
The book ended without a nice bow. You must figure “it” out for yourself… Upon further reflection should I expect any less from a Buddhist writer?
Time enough for a song, a tune, that maybe, just maybe will aid us in our quest to define ourselves in relation to all else, to those here in the room with me, the Fox River and every bit of flora and life that uses the river, to this fucked-up-nation, to Europe, to the countries in the East, to dead ancestors too. Nothing ought to be discounted or left out. Do you think this song will help?
