David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


06 July 2010

Dalai Lama is 75 today

.
Today is the 75th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.


For a brief biography
click here

The favorite prayer of the Dalai Lama is by Shantideva
For as long as space endures
And for as long as living beings remain
Until then may I too abide
To dispel the misery of the world.

Long Life Prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama
In the land encircled by snow mountains
You are the source of all happiness and good
All powerful Chenrezig, Tenzin Gyatso
Please remain until samsara ends.


click image to enlarge
His Holiness the Dalai Lama receives a special scroll from a senior Korean monk in Yokohama, Japan on June 27, 2010.
Photo: Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL

detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA