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Wasteland Words
The Heart of Wonder
Nicholas Czernin
168pp, Price: £10 ($19.95)
ISBN: 978-0-9558290-1-7
Hardback with dust jacket.
*Available (from Friday the 30th May) in limited numbers only from this website and from Watkins Books, Charing Cross Road, London.
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Wasteland Words by
Nicholas Czernin is a beautiful collection of poetry and verse written
from the vastness. Outpourings of awe and wonder with an often zen-like
twist.
Tony
Parsons, author of The Open Secret, All There Is and Nothing
Being Everything, writes
“Sometimes, in music or nature, or for no particular reason, there can be
a feeling of something other, something beyond . . . like a deeper, fuller
sense that is both fascinating and different.
Poetry
often holds that whispered wonder that happens through the words in the
way that they sing together and point to something unspoken. I have found
this with many kinds of poets, including some of the so-called 'spiritual'
poets when they aren't being sanctimonious or prescriptive. There is no
chance of that with Nick Czernin's work which is joyfully irreverent
whilst also being richly profound.
The
clarity of the communication is unwavering, and every poem has its own
particular take which can illuminate, sometimes with a gentle chuckle.
I am
very happy to recommend such a rich expression of passionate wonder.”
About the author:
Nicholas Czernin lives in Asia where he
has been based for most of his life. An old-hand traveller, he frequently
goes to Africa, India and Nepal, but lives in Thailand. He studied and
made long solitary retreats within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. He now
lives with his family in the centre of Bangkok where he says "even the
apparent distractions and desires in the country of beautiful women can
easily be reduced to nothingness by simply seeing what is not, but if you
want distractions, there are plenty." He also says "living surrounded by
Vastness, we are already home".
Excerpts
Introduction
At the instant of perceiving, there is nothing –
empty virginal space, but almost immediately the mind gets to work and
fills in that space with all sorts of ideas about what is perceived, and
so the original empty space is constantly filled up with thoughts,
discriminations and emotions. Plus anything else the mind can get its
hands on to keep control of the originally pure beingness. And so, all
through our waking lives the vast, original empty untamed space is
suffocated by the ever-busy mind. Suffocated but still quietly brilliant
and ever-vast. This, I guess one could call the jewel buried in the mud!
And so imagine the joy when this empty space can just be … But it’s not
freedom from anything because it always was and is there, but ignored like
a wasteland. And suddenly we become aware of life without the vice-like
grip of the mind. And yet this newly found space or nothingness simply is
– it needs no embellishment and is not accompanied by pride because it is
simply nothing and no mind to make it into something! Still, we are in
continual wonder and awe at this space that does not need to be filled!!
And this, our first glimpse into a world without a central ‘I’, brings
with it an as-yet-untapped source of continual joy at seeing everything is
allright as it is. And the mind, at this point, has no role to play and so
collapses, disappears. And all this happens by itself as the mind is no
longer watching itself, its progress, its mistakes and its apparent
threats. And suddenly we are no longer a person with a name, a history and
a path to follow. We are no one! Staggering in its simplicity? Yes, yes,
and yes again! And, as we no longer make nothing into something, it very
simply just is …
This book of verses written as if by itself – the whole period of writing
is like a forgotten dream somehow – comes from that space – the
ever-pristine vastness – the realm of pure beauty and love that has no
bounds. And this is love – liberated love which is the heart of wonder! So
please enjoy these words from the vastness, a wasteland that nobody wants
or even notices, but is truly the raw, open heart, laid before us
ceaselessly and seamlessly, brilliantly and beautifully, as a gift, the
gift of all gifts. And these are her words….
Because it’s
endless wonder
that the vastness is love
& that the wasteland,
though appearing useless
is endlessly giving birth to
what is & what is not –
this!
This presence is all encompassing
& total plenitude.
no path to follow, no footsteps to tread,
all is here & no one knows!
Sameness.
eternal gratitude.
Overwhelming love.
silence. grace. infinity. this.
The all-seeing eye opens & closes
for the first time every time.
Nowhere to put your knowledge?
doesn’t that sound bleak
& rather frightening?
you’re left empty, alone,
everywhere is infinity,
suckling at her bosom.
Nothing needs to make sense.
all is devoured
as soon as
it arises!
Empty words
sound beautiful
like the ringing of a bell
dissolving into nothing.
Being attracted to form or sound
is a lovely game to play,
but the fly gets stuck to the flypaper.
One is being led through life
like a dog without choice
do you know this?
But really no dog, no chain
no choice – what to do?
who & where is the doer?
The little stream
running through the fields,
can you see the wind?
leaves fall unattended.
All the greatest volumes of wisdom
fall into silence
at the death of the king.
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