Nothing Works-Meditations on Aikido, Buddhism, the Tao, Zen, and other inconsequential things...

by James Sawer

2011

Description

Nothing Works is a book of blending, similar to the practices and philosophies that are the subject of the poems. The poems reflect personal study, thought, and practice in Aikido, Buddhism, meditation, yoga, the Tao, and Zen, combined with a Western overview. The poems are heavily influenced by the styles of classical Chinese and Japanese poetry, particularly the landscape tradition of Chinese poetry of Mountains-and-Rivers, which emphasizes the wilder aspects of landscape, and with Fields-and-Gardens,representing the more domestic aspects of landscape. The author has added a third category he calls Concrete-and-Steel, based on a more modern, urban perspective, but still inspired by and honoring the prior Chinese poetic traditions.

Library's review

Nothing Works is a book of blending, similar to the practices and philosophies that are the subject of the poems. The poems reflect personal study, thought, and practice in Aikido, Buddhism, meditation, yoga, the Tao, and Zen, combined with a Western overview. The poems are heavily influenced by
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the styles of classical Chinese and Japanese poetry, particularly the landscape tradition of Chinese poetry of Mountains-and-Rivers, which empasizes the wilder aspects of landscape, and with Fields-and-Gardens, representing the more domestic aspects of landscape. The author has added a third category he calls Concrete-and-Steel, based on a more modern, urban perspective, but still inspired by and honoring the prior Chinese poetic traditions.

In real life Jim currently works oas a grant manager and has many years prior experience working in the social service field. Jim has a long-term interest in the martial arts and has been studying and practicing Aikido for fourteen years, in which he holds a dan ranking. Jim also has interests in meditation, yoga, and Eastern philosophies, in general. He has a Master's Degree in Management, with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Jim is also a former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. Jim was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Jim presently resides in the Chicago area.

Contents

Introduction
Battlefield
City streets
Aikido journey
Delusion of words
Hypercosmic God
A little more
Basho
Confusion
Agonies
Nothing works
Who is left?
Enduring
Just do it
Dojo bell
Ecstasy of practice
Path?
I do
Hobo kore dojo
Life's jar
Aikido moon
Home
Scotch & sake
Grunt
Going back
Dead and gone
Nitten soji
A flying bird
No end
Drifting
Night
Boulder of aikido
Morning mist
Legacy
Ainuke
Passing world
Shadow
Sight
Struggle
Testing
Rei
The view
Unplanned complexity
What is left?
Monkey brain
Clouds
Blade's edge
Gateless
Ryome
Sad wonder
Song of aikido
Polishing the tile
Reflection
What is
Stinking
True nature
The other side
Bow wave
My only companion
Painless aikido
Bright moon
Wisdom
The gateless gate
Embrace the moon
Gentle leaves
Glimpses
Heron
Just you
The path
Moon on the water
Training
Yin and yang
Glossary
Notes
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ISBN

9781465371140

Publication

Xlibris Corporation
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