All Points South, Here to Beaufort, SC

It's this summer's roadtrip for me. I'm off in an hour (hopefully less) to Asheville to begin a slightly less-than-a-week, driving around in South Carolina, savoring up soaking in local culture. So, on the itinerary are BBQ joints, farmers' markets, watermelon and boiled-peanuts stands, antique stores, lazing on some beach, a visit to the only tea plantation in the US (Charleston Tea Plantation), checking out Mepkin Abbey - a Trappist monastery that I have been wanting to visit and perhaps plan seeds for future retreat at - and gardens, lots of southern gardens.

We'll (Kevin's - Nandi the Cow's daddy - coming along) be taking lots of notes and visuals. So, stay tuned and hopefully we'll have some good blog-entries.

p.s. No, there won't be any "Dude... where's my car?" moments. No.

Nandi - My "Godcow"

Above. She's the latest acquisition at Raven Ridge Farm - Geoff and Kevin's farm over in Marshall, NC.

"How to Make It in the Afterlife"

I came across this opinion piece (you might have to register to read it - registration is free though) on the New York Times this morning where Simon Critchley, "chair of philosophy at the New School of Social Research (in NYC) and the author of several books" offers a meditation on "the afterlife." The title sounded interesting enough and since he's obviously a well-educated guy with a bunch of books in his name and "a philosophy teacher" at a hip place... I thought maybe the article would be interesting.

Well... it is interesting. But interesting in the sense that when I finished reading it (it's short, easy to read), I said, "What? That's it? You get an opinion piece on the NYT writing that?" Maybe it's worth some space on the NYT because in general Americans think very little and very superficially about death? Or conversely, Buddhists are so thoroughly soaked in teachings and reflections about death that what's said in this opinion piece is.... *yawn*... *yawn*...?

Or perhaps Mr. Critchley simply has to "dumb it down" for a newspaper, even the New York Times.

Nature of the Cycle

'Tis a matter not of
Can or cannot,
But more a problem of
want to or not.

Thus samsara churns
And churns,
Not because of can or cannot
But thanks to is or is not.

- words that came one morning while reading graffiti on "My Wall" on Facebook.

End Words, Second Verse

Another translation on these first few days of summer.

絕句二首

江碧鳥逾白 山青花欲燃
今春看又過 何日是歸年

- 杜甫

(Rhododendrons blooming in the Smoky Mountains, North Carolina)

End Words - Second Verse

Upon the azure of the river birds are marvelously clear,
In the greenness of the mountains flowers are desirously fiery.
Sure seems this Spring has come to pass,
On what day will the return be?

- by Du Fu (712-770)