Japan – the beauty of Zen – Photos

There is a great serenity in the simplicity.

Buddhist Temple in Taiwan

I always find that religions buy in the best architects and artists. They want to make an impression. If the people think that it’s that impressive they have to believe. If it wasn’t true why go to so much trouble?

Temples, cathedrals and mosques are the ICBMs of religion.

I just love the art.

A Snapshot of the world we live in – 20 pictures (The Guardian pictures of the week).

Amazing shots that capture beauty, agony, fear, hope, nature’s power and inequality.

20 photographs of the week | Art and design | The Guardian

Today’s Walk along the Beck

The beautiful crystal clear water of the beck flows out of the mere in Nafferton to the old mill at Wansford. We walked along its bank to snakeholme nature reserve. The orchids were just pushing through the undergrowth. There was a heron and two egrets at the reserve.

The sun shone. It was warm. It felt like a spring day!!

Poetry – I have been here!

I have been here!

I am here!

What more can I say?

I exist!

I have breathed the air,

Watched the sky in wondrous thrall

As it mutated

Through all its shades

Of extroversion,

Loved

And felt the ecstasy!

My hands have touched

The holy bark,

The soft flesh

And the cold majestic granite

With equal wonder.

My ears have tuned

To the buzz and song

Of nature

And I have sniffed the wind

Of fertility.

My mind has soared and thrilled

To all the wonders

Of life;

The awe of a planet,

The mysteries of

Atoms and galaxies.

I am here!

I have lived!

And I have cherished every moment

With you.

Opher 22.4.2016

I have been here!

So short a visit. Already the terminal is in sight. But what a journey through landscape that is breath-taking. What passengers to share such a journey. Such variety. Such talent.

So fortunate to have the senses to take it in.

And how I’ve taken it in. It is deep within me. I have soaked it up like a sponge.

I want to experience every last taste, every colour, sound and touch. None of it is wasted.

Above all I want to share all these splendours with you. Every moment filled with love – the sauce that cooks the goose to perfection.

What a statement.

We are merely passing through, stopping to inhale.

By the end I will be sated.

Sated and replete, full.

So short a visit – too short by half.

But we have been.

We have left our mark.

Poetry – Each Moment

Each Moment

This is the one of my secular ritual poems; to give thanks for life and to be grateful that we have evolved eyes to see and senses with which to witness something of the majesty of the universe – to be thankful that the universe exists.

There are mysteries all around us and we use our senses and the instruments we devise with our intelligence to understand and marvel.

Each moment here is heaven. We have no need for more.

Intelligence is rare. Life might be so rare we will never contact another race. But we can imagine, feel and experience the enormity of infinite possibility.

That is exalting in itself.

We should have rituals for each and every sunset. They are precious.

Each Moment

Each moment is precious –

Each and every moment.

Each moment is a great gift from fate,

Born of chance.

We are thankful for this great opportunity to breathe,

This chance to soak

In the dreams of life.

For what we have is more precious

Than we can imagine.

We are thankful

For the opportunity

To see oceans,

Sunsets,

Mountains

And sky.

We are thankful

For plants, animals

Moors and forests.

We are fortunate;

We have the great fortune to live.

Opher 14.3.2016

A wonderful courtship dance by the lake. Newcastle Australia.

I was very fortunate to catch this wonderful courtship dance of these herons.

Sunset at sea – photos

Sunsets at sea can be very special! This one was off the coast of Australia.

Abu Dhabi – the interior of the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

The interior of the mosque was absolutely magnificent – intricate patterns, colours, shapes. Islamic abstract art is extremely beautiful. It is such a shame that religion becomes so intolerant, competitive and is propelled by a desire to convert and ‘save’.

Abu Dhabi – The incredible Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Religions build cathedrals, temples and mosques in order to impress. If someone is prepared to invest so much time and effort it must be true.

They employ the best architects and artisans.

Ceratinly the The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque  is impressive. I think the name says it all. Someone wanted their name to be recognised. In past times Trump might well have built a cathedral, temple or mosque. Instead he built Trump Tower.

The beauty of this mosque was breath-taking.