Ben Black's Writings 1 | 2 | 3

Awakening

With great clarity and vision a balm of healing tone has embraced my senses and healed the ravages of this life journey. In our universal human condition we can connect to our needs of Autonomy, Celebration, Interdependence, Physical Nurturance, Spiritual Communion, and Integrity. It is a great gift to cultivate compassion and empathy for all beings. The powers of nature and the healing tribal tones experienced through flute, invites the air to circulates and creates sounds to heal, embrace, and comfort a genuine tender heart. The grief is then diffused, and given to the spirit of the wind. Warmth, strength, and comfort.
Dark days have come and passed, and will come again. The vision and truth of unity,peace,and light is becoming increasingly radiant one day at a time. Confronting my deepest, darkest, fears, and demons I heal and find peace. To walk in light is to walk through darkness. Acceptance, surrender, and meditation cultivate generosity and compassion . Wisdom then can pour from the sturdy goblet of emptiness. Connecting to the collective consciousness of all that has been, is, and continues. I know of no other way. The way of darkness has brought me here.



L O V E

Let it go that which cannot be captured or caught. Become, breathe, and accept what is. The leaves of The Tree intoxicate as they move sensuously through the breeze. The breeze has tenderly embraced the Tree. The truthful purity of love will never deceive. Quiet, assured, always gently flowing, purifying like Cool water. Simple Humanity, Freely and poetically experienced as a Universal truth. Like the grace of The Great Spirits, it is always there, without having to be captured or earned. My love is present. With Gladness and joy of heart I offer it to you. Open the Door. Willful withholding of love hurts. I will accept love in its ultimate spirit. The truth of love can be fleeting to the restless ego. Intrinsically releasing and beginning new journeys. Breathe; experience the beauty walk of Loves intoxicating Essence. A rhapsody of sensual delights. Constant, Steady, no boundaries of form or experience. As Familiar and knowing as the breathe of life. Love will not die, but change as the journey unfolds. An innate birth right love is passed through mysteries unknown. The spirit of endless time experienced not explained. The restless mind obsesses cowering over heavy shadows. Surrendering to the Eternity of a love that that never dies. The blessing of a child, filled with wonder and awe. Possessing the intrinsic wonder of isness, that which is love. Loving kindness, words will not give it justice. For it is in the expansiveness of the heart, the expansive Soothing balm of transformation. The nonduality of Divine life and death. Love releases outward and onward, the song and poems of Loves infinite voices only capture a breath of loves Beauty, It is not a Why, Love lives like the rose. Only for what is. Love is.
Summertime 2003

Meditation
I am of light and vibration. I am here because I am supposed to be here. Straying far from my spiritual center, numbing out my feelings through cravings, and thirst has caused suffering. On a breath I reconnect to authentic power of the heart. A breath journey, still, unsure, and needing plenty of guidance. In this short time of active healing I unblock and feel. Joy is a rested soul.
July 2002

WINTER

Evenings of gray drizzle. A stainless steel patchwork of looming gray sky. Salty mist floating in the air. The deep ache of winter is in my bones. Quiet, without the talk of the T.V. Just the spirits and I. A connection to those who have passed on. A collective spirit that sustains me in my darkest hour. Nirvana is beyond concepts. It is through the struggle that we become more authentic. The heart speaks and drinks from the well of love. Memories of blue skies, sun, and desert sustain the winter traveler. Deep into my soul I reflect, think, and weep. The joy of a smile. A beautiful child. Take care of him. Feed, clothe, comfort and love him. Surrender to the unknown. Gratitude for a spiritual path with no limitations and endless possibilities. A spirituality of compassion, self-love, tenderness, and humanity. Feb 5 2002

Music

Music is so important to me, yet it scares me. Music will give me everything. The world, life, connection, healing, love, challenge, adventure, and peace. Music is my friend, my love, and my true passion. It has me. I dot have it. To turn my back on my true love is very painful, and it hurts. Is like locking my heart. Music has never hurt me. Always healed me. I am part of a tradition that has been passed down through the generations. This little light of mine can shine, it doest have to be big and bold, but it can shine everywhere I go. October 2001

Gratitude

I am grateful for sight, sound, smell, taste, touch
A voice.
Basic Goodness
The Sacred Path of Warriorship
Shambhala
Acceptance and Gratitude
Songs of salvation that slowly, sweetly soothe the ravaged soul, opening into exuberant ecstasy.
the joy of a grief stricken heart finally breaking through the scars that have covered it for so long.
the liberation of a depressed mind that blooms into lightness as it dies into the heart.
a wellspring of abundant goodness and light.
The wind.
Emptiness
Healing
The Human condition
The Dharma
wondering and searching.

PEACE

The peace that we seek is available. I connect to breath, life force, and the spiritual energy fields in and around me. The creation is vast and limitless. A door unlocks and brings untold treasures to the mind, body, and spirit. This provides spiritual, mental, and emotional release. Feed, nurture, cultivate the rich soil of the spirit, and simple abundance will shower upon you. Release offers a glimpse of the limitless freedom from the bondage of self, personality, and ego. Multisensory experiences of breathe; harmony, and space offer clarity and quiet. Life difficulties and world stress will subside. My own piece of heaven doesnt cost a dime. Just willingness to slowly explore space and emptiness. I am of atoms, connected to and created by karma. No one has a corner on this path to spiritual freedom. There are many ways. Finding what works, we evolve and change on the journey, this passing through, this visit. For some a very long one, others short and on to something else. I know not allot. I understand in the least, yet I feel and appreciate softness and the balance of healing that restores a wounded spirit.


Reunion

The light of Truth is everywhere. I see, hear and experience this in everything, with little understanding but much feeling. Everyday blessings. My eye is on the sparrow and inspiration is watching me. I am in love with this cold cruel and beautiful world. The sweetness and sanctity of tones have sustained and protected me in my life. The struggles, questions, doubts, and insecurities ground me in humanity. The questions, answers, resistance, persistence, and obstinate outrageousness, unite as one bringing blooming brilliance, and balance. An even keel on a rocky road. High to low, to middle firm. Terra Firma. Solid structures supporting serene salvation. Liberation, Liberation, Freedom! Freedom! The body. The Brain. All moving outward, onward. Nothing collapses. Death is far luckier than one could imagine. I toast to the song of myself, and my reunion with the spirit. Love and Compassion in, Fear out. Breathe. I love you Walt Whitman.

La Push

I am the wind of one thousand windstorms blowing through your hair. The Pale sun is setting in the west. Crashing on the beach, the waves of the Pacific breathe life and movement into my spirit. All that has come and gone has brought us to this point, this hour, this second in time. The young gray seagull-dripping wet sits on the deck railing looking with a question. Taking a piece of food off the picnic table the seagull flies away. I hear they sit on the rooftops. The sky is light pink and lavender with clouds here and there. September 1995.

Visitation

Taking my walk tonight I sensed spirit. It is the waves, surf, driftwood, and moon. It is the spirits of those who walked these beaches hundreds of years ago. I have come for healing. La push

Good Times

Back to the days of childhood on the ranch, in the sun with my Grandmother. Flowers, woodstoves, bunkhouses, old church, family burial in the country, huckle berries, blueberry picking in the mountains, homemade ice cream, quilts on a summer lawn, fish fries, beer drinking, crazy family, hikes, adventures in the barn, and discovering life and myself. Love. Jan 18, 1999

Healing

Take me to green pastures where the cool night air blows over my weeping face. Spirits and light fuse with nature offering nurture . Grief flows out through my pores, leaving me peace , love, light, and happiness.

Revelation

A spirit is burning bright. Many have died today and made the transition into another realm. Many die right now. I think my life has been in much denial about death until up to now. It is hard to make sense out of all of the pain. I stopped counting after 52.... 52 of my brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends, dead from AIDS related complications. My community is changing, dying... This new feeling of having a purpose is good. Together I share a deeper understanding, and connection with my fellows. In my young life I am radically experiencing the natural ebb and flow of death, loss, life. Life was constantly being depleted through my addictions with much denial of the impermanence of life. Not knowing life/death were one. Living out a suicidal existence, yet fearful of death. Joining the human race has been joyous and painful. Admitting we dont do it alone and that it happens to everyone. Our community links us together, and our differences bring color, depth, and connection. The forces of aggression tear us down. The spiritual life is not a theory. It must be lived. I have survived, struggled, and surrendered many times to a new way of life. Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. Wanting to make some sort of sense out of it all, but knowing it just is. Acceptance is the answer. Its a good place to be right now. I know it will change. It always does. I am one person, in a world of billions, poor, rich, all colors, languages, and cultures, living on this planet earth. My little light is burning. I finally discovered that it has always been there. I just didnt know it. I know now. I must take care of the vessel it burns in. And give beauty back by singing. One day at a time.

Emancipation

100 years is a short time in the history of the world. We move in spiritual lines. Cross connecting with many others brought into our journeys. It is in the clinging, grasping, and trying to control that brings pain and heartache. Letting go, setting free, and saying goodbye liberates and allows motion to move forward. Emancipation will liberate the soul.

Life

Mixed up mess, Moral Confusion. Wondering, Searching, Constant Fusion. Success, Fame, Constant Pain. Trying your best to be smashed by the rest. The futures a secret that no one knows. Happy go lucky? Get married? Who knows? Fate Staring through your soul. Edging up your nose. Help them all to do their best. Be careful or end up like the rest. Happy and content, peace surrounding. Life is a search. A constant hounding. Ben Black 1986

Forgiveness

I cant write about how beautiful it is, since` I am so overwhelmed. It is a field of flowers ten football fields long and smelling of carnations and honeysuckle. All the colors of the rainbow, with a blue sky and cool breeze blowing over. If I could paint this picture it would be the color of life. Summer 1988


The Bus

(11:50 pm on Metro) There is a woman on the bus who is opening a bottle of Heinz vinegar. Pouring it on her hand and rubbing it on her clothes. The whole back of the bus is fumigated with the rancid smell of vinegar. Every time someone tries to open a window, she says If you got a problem, dont sit back her. Earlier today I winked at her. She is strange. I told her that I respect her. My window is open.

Freezing my ass off waiting for the bus. Listening to two women swear about the bus. A guy next to me is smoking cloves. That smell takes me back to High school. A guy at the bus stop says that he is in love. He hast eaten anything for the past three days and barely slept, and he feels great . "Its Love", he says. 1989


I like these Quotes

Succeeding

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

My message is that on stage, safety lies in the very thing that seems most dangerous. And that is -- your vulnerability, your ability to allow people to see the pain and all the life stuff. But very few have been given the gift to communicate. And when somebody can really communicate boy, it resonates out there to the ends of the earth."
-- Barbara Cook

You call on your craft, and you go searching for it, and hopefully what makes people listen is that over the years yove been serious and honest. Thas where your creative authority comes from. Thas how people know your not just taking a ride
Bruce Springsteen
In the end perseverance and honesty combined are better than brilliance
Tim Robbins (actor)

You must live with the songs, they must become part of you. Ben Black

Each generation informs the dance Judith Jamison. (Dancer, choreographer)

The songs that take too long to record usually aret the right ones
Boys II Men
The work you do speaks well of you, but most often speaks very accurately
Sidney Pointier
If you slow down, they forget about you,
Loretta Lynn

My heart over flows with gratitude, for the music which has consoled me, through some of the hardest times of my life Martin Luther

Sing jubilant voices of inspiration!
Song is my salvation!
Music my inspiration

In my end is my beginning T.S. Eliot

Poverty is the worst form of violence. Gandhi

The way of truth and love has always won. Gandhi

There is no other God than truth. I worship God as truth only, and to me in its largest
sense, religion means self realization or knowledge of self. Gandhi

The way to God is to free yourself of possessions and passion. Hindu philosophy

The more you open to life, the less death becomes the enemy. When you start using death as a means of focusing on life, then everything becomes just as it is, just this moment, an extraordinary opportunity to be really alive. Stephen Levine

Lift ourselves up and light the way for each other,
The struggle is not over,
You can stumble and fall and rise,
Go from darkness into darknes,
Love somebody and have the unmitigated gall to let someone love you,
I rise, I Rise, All from Dr, Maya Angelou

Its possible to be too spiritual beyond any worldly use. Jim M

The first thing you lose on a diet is brain mass. Margaret Chow

Anyone who takes the sure road, is as good as dead.
Carl Jung

I hear and behold god in every object, yet I understand God not in the least. Nor do I understand who there can be more wonderful than myself. Walt Whitman

Wherever there is a fight so hungry people can eat, Ill be there
John Stein beck
Dont live up to your stereotypes. Sherman Alexie

Beauty has always been dangerous. Marti said that everyone who is the bearer of light remains alone. I would say that anyone who takes part in certain acts of beauty is eventually destroyed. Humanity in general does not tolerate beauty. Perhaps, because we cannot live without it, the horror of ugliness advances day by day at an ever-increasing pace.
Reynaldo Arenas (Cuban Author)

Who will receive me into death? Who will be waiting for me? Where will I go?
Bill T. Jones (dancer, choreographer)

Ben Black's Writings 1 | 2 | 3