Your imagery of crossing over has truth in teachings of the immortal Shankara (who crossed over at a mere age 33), and Plotinus, and Schopenhauer poeticized the image of The All temporarily using our mortal bodies (of water and earth) and shedding the body, with no change whatsoever in The All. As we live, we are bodies occupied by The All. Death releases The All that was in us to The All.
The poet Hölderlin wrote in "Hyperion":
Ich habe nichts, wovon ich sagen möchte, es sei mein eigen.
* * *
O selige Natur! Ich weiß nicht, wie mir geschiehet, wenn ich mein Auge erhebe vor deiner Schöne, aber alle Lust des Himmels ist in den Tränen, die ich weine vor dir, der Geliebte vor der Geliebten.
Mein ganzes Wesen verstummt und lauscht, wenn die zarte Welle der Luft mir um die Brust spielt. Verloren ins weite Blau, blick ich oft hinauf an den Aether und hinein ins heilige Meer, und mir ist, als öffnet' ein verwandter Geist mir die Arme, als löste der Schmerz der Einsamkeit sich auf ins Leben der Gottheit.
Eines zu sein mit Allem, das ist Leben der Gottheit, das ist der Himmel des Menschen.
Eines zu sein mit Allem, was lebt, in seliger Selbstvergessenheit wiederzukehren ins All der Natur, das ist der Gipfel der Gedanken und Freuden, das ist die heilige Bergeshöhe, der Ort der ewigen Ruhe, wo der Mittag seine Schwüle und der Donner seine Stimme verliert und das kochende Meer der Woge des Kornfelds gleicht.
Eines zu sein mit Allem, was lebt! Mit diesem Worte legt die Tugend den zürnenden Harnisch, der Geist des Menschen den Zepter weg, und alle Gedanken schwinden vor dem Bilde der ewigeinigen Welt, wie die Regeln des ringenden Künstlers vor seiner Urania, und das eherne Schicksal entsagt der Herrschaft, und aus dem Bunde der Wesen schwindet der Tod, und Unzertrennlichkeit und ewige Jugend beseliget, verschönert die Welt.
Or, in Armando's spontaneous translation:
I have nothing that I may call my own.
* * *
Oh, blessed Nature, I don't know how it comes to me when I lift my eyes to your Beauty, but all pleasures of Heaven are in my own tears that I weep, I the lover before you the Beloved.
My whole being becomes still and listens as the soft wave of air strokes my breast. I am lost in the vast Blue, often I look up to the Aether, and into the holy seas. Oh, it is so like a kin-Spirit opens her arms to embrace me, oh, it is as if lonesomeness lost itself in Life in the Divine.
Oh, to be One with the All, Life in the Divinity, that is the heaven of Humanity.
Oh, to be One with All that Lives! With these words, One leaves behind armor and scepter, only for all Thought to merge into the great Picture of the Eternal World, even as the fervent painter's mere practices pale before his (ineffable) Urania, and the former bond of Fate fails to maintain Mastery, and, in the Union of Essential-Being, Death disappears and gives the blessing of Inseparability and Eternal Youth and Transfigures the World in Beauty.
My translation from Hyperion is spontaneous and cannot yield the beauty of the very simple, Romantic, Beethoven-era German language of the ineffable poet, Hölderlin.
But Hölderlin, Shankara, Plotinus shape my deepest feelings of "crossing over", and it would certainly appear to me that the Zen, "Big Steve," has a vision of The All and our Merger into The All that is like this.
Chuang-tzu, that wonderful Tao Master (which is the meaning of the latinized appendix (-tzu)), whose writings are full of humor and make of spirituality fun, semi-comic, always deeply serious study -- Chuang-tzu believed that no one who is "dead" wants to come back.
That implies an awful lot.
To me the closest vision is that penned two hundred years ago by Hölderlin.
Two hundred years ago, as a student (I think in Stuttgart), Friedrich Hölderlin inspired Schelling and Hegel with a Stoic truth that bound the three in friendship -- Hölderlin wrote it in their "Stammbuch": Ἓν καὶ Πᾶν -- (hen kai pan) -- One in All.
From your narrative, I feel our loss, I cannot imagine YOUR LOSS, since Big Steve was a dear friend. You make me feel our loss.
But YOUR loss, with your happy photos, the happy, spiritual times you shared together.
YOU have a heartfelt loss that is deeper than anything we, at a distance, can feel.
That is a loss that stings. The loss of a loved one.
But you make me feel that Big Steve is IN -- Ἓν καὶ Πᾶν -- not only now, but during the time of his life before crossing over.
Oh Armand. When I released this piece out to into the Aether, I fondly anticipated your comments. As expected, your words are deeply comforting and truly profound. You connected all the dots of my rambling metaphysical efforts. Love you much my friend.🥰
"Your imagery of crossing over has truth in teachings of the immortal Shankara (who crossed over at a mere age 33), and Plotinus, and Schopenhauer poeticized the image of The All temporarily using our mortal bodies (of water and earth) and shedding the body, with no change whatsoever in The All. As we live, we are bodies occupied by The All. Death releases The All that was in us to The All."
Lorraine Evanoff: You are in a high sphere of persons who inspire me in Oneness of Spirit, what Goethe called „Wahlverwandtschaften“ — usually too impersonally translated as „Elective Affinities,“ but in the powerful daily, colloquial speech of the great man from Frankfurt a.M., sounds to me more resonant with a looser translation, such as the affectionate Elizabethan term made familiar in plays of Shakespeare, „Cousin,“ meaning one whom we have chosen as a friend so close as an affectionate cousin. „Chosen“ and not of blood.
You are among my chosen Cousins, Wahlverwandtschaften.
Thank you for the deep person you are and all you do to powerfully promote core values!
Armand, this is so expressive of my own feelings about life, death, and everything. I have saved your post in a document to re-read and ponder. Thank you for your erudition, as always. xox Kate
Kate Morgan Reade: You are one of my Wahlverwandtschaften, and I blush that you are so moved by what I wrote.
This with Friedrich Hölderlin -- with Chuang-tzu, Shankara and, too, the Transcendentalists -- these are core convictions.
I could go a long time, including relating this to my Catholicism.
It has been a while, but there was a mediaeval "Cloud of Unknowing".
The secular and the original Christian are not so far apart, especially if the secular or Christian incorporates Plotinus, the Advaita (A-Dualism) of Shankara and the like.
Much more.
For example, this vision could be adopted by an atheist. For example, Percy Bysshe Shelley had a similar conviction, and he wrote a "Defense of Atheism."
(For sheer, raw power: Prometheus Unbound (Percy Bysshe Shelley.)
A Catholic?
Well, Plotinus and Origines had the same overarching philosophy, having the common Sage, Ammonias Saccas.
Origines ("Origen") was a critical thinker on the Trinity, and the views of Origines were largely adopted by the Councils of Nicaea and Chalcedon.
Plotinus had a Trinity: The One; The Intelligence; the Soul.
Plotinus was not Christian.
This is a theme that I love.
I think there can be a union between an uncompromising Atheism and Catholicism.
There are truly great theologians who, too, thought that, who themselves believed in the Nicaean orthodoxy: Karl Barth thought exactly the same.
More and more.
Armando can blab and blab. My wife yawns and looks at her iPhone messages; my Daughters start looking away and talking to their kids; my 18-year-old granddaughter starts drifting when I talk, and her two cats walk away. "There he goes again. Blab, blab, blab. He even talks, when it is abundantly clear that everybody is bored. Blah, blah!"
Almost 54 years of love and irrelevancy with a wondrous woman. I am deeply attracted to her spirituality and beauty. She finds me funny.
You have a breadth of knowledge which is astounding and which I cannot come close to touching. I envision you as a professor of philosophy and world faith traditions! In your spare time while in a distinguished legal career, that is. Do you hold a classic Salon? By the way, the cats ARE listening; they just don't let on. This is why they are so wise: they take everything in, but continue on as furry enigmas.
Thank you for the honor of being one of your Wahlverwandtschaften, and in such great company as Lorraine, too! I am verklempt.
I would look at myself as wise enough for a small village in the Rheinpfalz with my dear, dear village folk.
Louise Moscow and Lorraine Evanoff and The Big Steve are world class and immersed in French culture, the very depth and beauty of French culture and dangers in international finance!
Lolo, I'm so sorry for your loss. Leave it to our dear Armando to give us a dose of Germany poetry, Zen, and some beautiful Greek to tie it all together.
Wonderful tribute, Lorraine. Know that as much as his cherished friendship enriched your life, yours enriched his just as much and deeply. What more can anyone ask for from a friendship! You both were very, very lucky. Keep that hot in your heart and memory of Big Steve & speak of or to him every so often, even if alone.
Dorian, that means so much to me, knowing you have read one or two of my novels. That's such a beautiful message, I will continue to speak of him often, even when I'm alone. I keep finding myself speaking to him now. 🥰
Lorraine, my heart is with you. A love that is vast leaves a very empty place in our hearts when their physical presence is gone. I love how Big Steve showed you he is not gone. Thank you for sharing your beautiful friend with us. ♥
This is so sweet. I’m sorry for your loss, Lorraine. I love that we have similar beliefs when it comes to the next stage of life. I see signs frequently, and it brings me a lot of comfort, I hope it will always do the same for you.
Oh, my sweet friend, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Steve sounds like a person whose heart was overfilled with love to the degree we all aspire to in this life. I am grateful that the beautiful mysteries and connections of nature and the Universe are of some comfort to you while the pain is still so fresh. Thank you for sharing with us. Reach out any time. With love and toe beans💖🐾🐾 ~Kate katemorganreade@gmail.com
That's the worst part about getting old. Burying your friends. My sympathies go out to you. Big Steve left a piece of his soul in you. Take care, and hug Floofles for me.😘
Beautiful story!
You're so understanding, Stanley. I know it was rambling but that's the only way I can explain this. Thank you dear friend.
Anytime. That’s the best way we explain things: in stories.
I'm glad it came across as a story. Good observation 🥰
Not only do you “tell” the story but you tell about it.
Lorraine Evanoff: Idus Martii MMXXV A.D.
Big Steve, a Zen master, was, and is at peace.
Your imagery of crossing over has truth in teachings of the immortal Shankara (who crossed over at a mere age 33), and Plotinus, and Schopenhauer poeticized the image of The All temporarily using our mortal bodies (of water and earth) and shedding the body, with no change whatsoever in The All. As we live, we are bodies occupied by The All. Death releases The All that was in us to The All.
The poet Hölderlin wrote in "Hyperion":
Ich habe nichts, wovon ich sagen möchte, es sei mein eigen.
* * *
O selige Natur! Ich weiß nicht, wie mir geschiehet, wenn ich mein Auge erhebe vor deiner Schöne, aber alle Lust des Himmels ist in den Tränen, die ich weine vor dir, der Geliebte vor der Geliebten.
Mein ganzes Wesen verstummt und lauscht, wenn die zarte Welle der Luft mir um die Brust spielt. Verloren ins weite Blau, blick ich oft hinauf an den Aether und hinein ins heilige Meer, und mir ist, als öffnet' ein verwandter Geist mir die Arme, als löste der Schmerz der Einsamkeit sich auf ins Leben der Gottheit.
Eines zu sein mit Allem, das ist Leben der Gottheit, das ist der Himmel des Menschen.
Eines zu sein mit Allem, was lebt, in seliger Selbstvergessenheit wiederzukehren ins All der Natur, das ist der Gipfel der Gedanken und Freuden, das ist die heilige Bergeshöhe, der Ort der ewigen Ruhe, wo der Mittag seine Schwüle und der Donner seine Stimme verliert und das kochende Meer der Woge des Kornfelds gleicht.
Eines zu sein mit Allem, was lebt! Mit diesem Worte legt die Tugend den zürnenden Harnisch, der Geist des Menschen den Zepter weg, und alle Gedanken schwinden vor dem Bilde der ewigeinigen Welt, wie die Regeln des ringenden Künstlers vor seiner Urania, und das eherne Schicksal entsagt der Herrschaft, und aus dem Bunde der Wesen schwindet der Tod, und Unzertrennlichkeit und ewige Jugend beseliget, verschönert die Welt.
Or, in Armando's spontaneous translation:
I have nothing that I may call my own.
* * *
Oh, blessed Nature, I don't know how it comes to me when I lift my eyes to your Beauty, but all pleasures of Heaven are in my own tears that I weep, I the lover before you the Beloved.
My whole being becomes still and listens as the soft wave of air strokes my breast. I am lost in the vast Blue, often I look up to the Aether, and into the holy seas. Oh, it is so like a kin-Spirit opens her arms to embrace me, oh, it is as if lonesomeness lost itself in Life in the Divine.
Oh, to be One with the All, Life in the Divinity, that is the heaven of Humanity.
Oh, to be One with All that Lives! With these words, One leaves behind armor and scepter, only for all Thought to merge into the great Picture of the Eternal World, even as the fervent painter's mere practices pale before his (ineffable) Urania, and the former bond of Fate fails to maintain Mastery, and, in the Union of Essential-Being, Death disappears and gives the blessing of Inseparability and Eternal Youth and Transfigures the World in Beauty.
________________________________________________________________________
My translation from Hyperion is spontaneous and cannot yield the beauty of the very simple, Romantic, Beethoven-era German language of the ineffable poet, Hölderlin.
But Hölderlin, Shankara, Plotinus shape my deepest feelings of "crossing over", and it would certainly appear to me that the Zen, "Big Steve," has a vision of The All and our Merger into The All that is like this.
Chuang-tzu, that wonderful Tao Master (which is the meaning of the latinized appendix (-tzu)), whose writings are full of humor and make of spirituality fun, semi-comic, always deeply serious study -- Chuang-tzu believed that no one who is "dead" wants to come back.
That implies an awful lot.
To me the closest vision is that penned two hundred years ago by Hölderlin.
Two hundred years ago, as a student (I think in Stuttgart), Friedrich Hölderlin inspired Schelling and Hegel with a Stoic truth that bound the three in friendship -- Hölderlin wrote it in their "Stammbuch": Ἓν καὶ Πᾶν -- (hen kai pan) -- One in All.
From your narrative, I feel our loss, I cannot imagine YOUR LOSS, since Big Steve was a dear friend. You make me feel our loss.
But YOUR loss, with your happy photos, the happy, spiritual times you shared together.
YOU have a heartfelt loss that is deeper than anything we, at a distance, can feel.
That is a loss that stings. The loss of a loved one.
But you make me feel that Big Steve is IN -- Ἓν καὶ Πᾶν -- not only now, but during the time of his life before crossing over.
Zen.
Ἓν καὶ Πᾶν
Oh Armand. When I released this piece out to into the Aether, I fondly anticipated your comments. As expected, your words are deeply comforting and truly profound. You connected all the dots of my rambling metaphysical efforts. Love you much my friend.🥰
"Your imagery of crossing over has truth in teachings of the immortal Shankara (who crossed over at a mere age 33), and Plotinus, and Schopenhauer poeticized the image of The All temporarily using our mortal bodies (of water and earth) and shedding the body, with no change whatsoever in The All. As we live, we are bodies occupied by The All. Death releases The All that was in us to The All."
Lorraine Evanoff: You are in a high sphere of persons who inspire me in Oneness of Spirit, what Goethe called „Wahlverwandtschaften“ — usually too impersonally translated as „Elective Affinities,“ but in the powerful daily, colloquial speech of the great man from Frankfurt a.M., sounds to me more resonant with a looser translation, such as the affectionate Elizabethan term made familiar in plays of Shakespeare, „Cousin,“ meaning one whom we have chosen as a friend so close as an affectionate cousin. „Chosen“ and not of blood.
You are among my chosen Cousins, Wahlverwandtschaften.
Thank you for the deep person you are and all you do to powerfully promote core values!
Armand, this is so expressive of my own feelings about life, death, and everything. I have saved your post in a document to re-read and ponder. Thank you for your erudition, as always. xox Kate
Great idea, Kate. I have saved it too. So many great quotes and spiritual leaders for future reference too. 🙏🏻💙
Kate Morgan Reade: You are one of my Wahlverwandtschaften, and I blush that you are so moved by what I wrote.
This with Friedrich Hölderlin -- with Chuang-tzu, Shankara and, too, the Transcendentalists -- these are core convictions.
I could go a long time, including relating this to my Catholicism.
It has been a while, but there was a mediaeval "Cloud of Unknowing".
The secular and the original Christian are not so far apart, especially if the secular or Christian incorporates Plotinus, the Advaita (A-Dualism) of Shankara and the like.
Much more.
For example, this vision could be adopted by an atheist. For example, Percy Bysshe Shelley had a similar conviction, and he wrote a "Defense of Atheism."
(For sheer, raw power: Prometheus Unbound (Percy Bysshe Shelley.)
A Catholic?
Well, Plotinus and Origines had the same overarching philosophy, having the common Sage, Ammonias Saccas.
Origines ("Origen") was a critical thinker on the Trinity, and the views of Origines were largely adopted by the Councils of Nicaea and Chalcedon.
Plotinus had a Trinity: The One; The Intelligence; the Soul.
Plotinus was not Christian.
This is a theme that I love.
I think there can be a union between an uncompromising Atheism and Catholicism.
There are truly great theologians who, too, thought that, who themselves believed in the Nicaean orthodoxy: Karl Barth thought exactly the same.
More and more.
Armando can blab and blab. My wife yawns and looks at her iPhone messages; my Daughters start looking away and talking to their kids; my 18-year-old granddaughter starts drifting when I talk, and her two cats walk away. "There he goes again. Blab, blab, blab. He even talks, when it is abundantly clear that everybody is bored. Blah, blah!"
Almost 54 years of love and irrelevancy with a wondrous woman. I am deeply attracted to her spirituality and beauty. She finds me funny.
You guys must have amazing discussions, Armand. What a wonderful gift you give each other.
Lorraine Evanoff -- Louise Moscow -- Big Steve: There is a human, inspiring trinity!
Oh my goodness, this is magic, Armand. I need to meditate on this. 🥰
You have a breadth of knowledge which is astounding and which I cannot come close to touching. I envision you as a professor of philosophy and world faith traditions! In your spare time while in a distinguished legal career, that is. Do you hold a classic Salon? By the way, the cats ARE listening; they just don't let on. This is why they are so wise: they take everything in, but continue on as furry enigmas.
Thank you for the honor of being one of your Wahlverwandtschaften, and in such great company as Lorraine, too! I am verklempt.
Right Kate? We have a modern-day world class philosopher in Armand among us. It's an honor.
Lorraine Evanoff: I am a follower.
Literature, philosophy, the arts move me.
I would look at myself as wise enough for a small village in the Rheinpfalz with my dear, dear village folk.
Louise Moscow and Lorraine Evanoff and The Big Steve are world class and immersed in French culture, the very depth and beauty of French culture and dangers in international finance!
Lolo, I'm so sorry for your loss. Leave it to our dear Armando to give us a dose of Germany poetry, Zen, and some beautiful Greek to tie it all together.
It's all interconnected, that's the beauty, Lolo! 💕🌺
A truly beautiful eulogy. As much about the future as it is what has passed…
I felt for you with every word.😢
Kindly, cuddle and kiss Floofles for me!
Oh thank you so much for connecting with my rambling metaphysical eulogy, Mandolius.
Cuddles all around. 😻
Big Steve sounds like a remarkable human being. Sad for your loss. Glad you found comfort in the maple leaves.
It is a loss, as you can imagine. Thank you for the kindness. 🥰
Wonderful tribute, Lorraine. Know that as much as his cherished friendship enriched your life, yours enriched his just as much and deeply. What more can anyone ask for from a friendship! You both were very, very lucky. Keep that hot in your heart and memory of Big Steve & speak of or to him every so often, even if alone.
Dorian, that means so much to me, knowing you have read one or two of my novels. That's such a beautiful message, I will continue to speak of him often, even when I'm alone. I keep finding myself speaking to him now. 🥰
You're a good human being!
I am sorry of your loss, Lorraine. Remembrances are treasures.
Thank you, Carl, I treasure your words. 💙
I'm so very sorry for the loss of your friend and muse, Lorraine. One more gentle soul, passed over.
Bless you, Jonji 🥰
What a lovely way to remember a dear friend. Especially the photos! Lynne
Thank you Lynne, that means so much coming from you, one of my favorite Zen masters 🥰
Really touching. It’s sad that he died so early on life’s journey. Maple leaves are a beautiful sign.
The maple leaves hold so much meaning, thank you Susan!
Peace to you, Lorraine, and Steve's circle. 🙏🏻
Always a pleasure, Manuel.
Beloved you too, toots! 🫵😇🙏❤️
🥰
Lorraine, my heart is with you. A love that is vast leaves a very empty place in our hearts when their physical presence is gone. I love how Big Steve showed you he is not gone. Thank you for sharing your beautiful friend with us. ♥
Your understanding words are a comfort to me. Thank you Tizz.🥰
This is so sweet. I’m sorry for your loss, Lorraine. I love that we have similar beliefs when it comes to the next stage of life. I see signs frequently, and it brings me a lot of comfort, I hope it will always do the same for you.
Reda it's amazing we have connected here with like minds. Your understanding means everything. 🥰
Sorry for your loss. I have a Japanese Maple across the street from me that is quite communicative!! Loved this story!
Thank you, Lisa.
I love Japanese maple trees. Do they communicate for you through color? They are beautiful to see around here too.
In this case, it was a giant Midwestern maple leaf, which is why I'm sure Steve sent it to me, knowing I'd recognize it.
Oh, my sweet friend, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Steve sounds like a person whose heart was overfilled with love to the degree we all aspire to in this life. I am grateful that the beautiful mysteries and connections of nature and the Universe are of some comfort to you while the pain is still so fresh. Thank you for sharing with us. Reach out any time. With love and toe beans💖🐾🐾 ~Kate katemorganreade@gmail.com
Thank you for the contact info. I'll try to reply via email too. Toe bean rubs to you!🐾😻
That's the worst part about getting old. Burying your friends. My sympathies go out to you. Big Steve left a piece of his soul in you. Take care, and hug Floofles for me.😘
Agreed. There have been several lately and it just doesn't seem fair, all the good ones are taken first. Hugs from Floofles and me, Charlies. 😻🥰