PEACE LOVE YOGA: Icelandic Music

Burnt To Ash

"All Inquiry is meant for one purpose; to take you experientially into the unknown as efficiently as possible. Once you get there, simply be still because inquiry has delivered you to its destination. The rest is up to Grace. Do not hold onto any knowledge that comes your way. Even the greatest revelations much not be clung to, or you will end up with a head full of memories and a heart empty of substance. The truth is ever new, existing only in the now. The highest truth is beyond knowledge and experience. It is beyond time and space, and beyond beingness, consciousness, and oneness. Just remember that all direct path techniques are meant simply to undermine, to cut away, the one who is performing them. No matter what spiritual path you've walked or what teachings you've followed, they must lead you back to no path and no teaching. A true teaching is like a blazing fire that consumes the itself. The teaching must not only consume you, but consume itself as well. All must be burned to ash, and then the ash must be burned. The, and only then, is the Ultimate realized. True Enlightenment destroys enlightenment. As long as you can refer back to yourself and say, 'I'm enlightened', you not. Enlightenment is authentic only when there is no one left to be enlightened. Even to say 'I am nobody', is one too many. There's a point when you intuitively realize that to be Free you have to give up your attachment to Freedom. You have to quit asking yourself: Is it still there? Am I okay? You have to decide to never look over your shoulder again to see if you're free or if others know you're free. You just have to let yourself burn there - no matter what. This isn't something I can help you with. I can tell you what you need to do, but you have to do it. In the beginning, teachers can help a lot. But the deeper you go, all they can do is point, and clarify, and tell you what you need to do. Only you can take this step. Nobody can push you in to this place."

- Adyashanti

No Expectations

A spirit that lives in this world

and does not wear the shirt of love,

such an existence is a deep disgrace.

Be foolishly in love,

because love is all there is.

There is no way into presence

except through a love exchange.

If someone asks, But what is love?

answer, Dissolving the will.

True freedom comes to those

who have escaped the questions

of freewill and fate.

Love is an emperor.

The two worlds play across him.

He barely notices their tumbling game.

Love and lover live in eternity.

Other desires are substitutes

for that way of being.

How long do you lay embracing a corpse?

Love rather the soul, which cannot be held.

Anything born in spring dies in the fall,

but love is not seasonal.

With wine pressed from grapes,

expect a hangover.

But this love path has no expectations.

You are uneasy riding the body?

Dismount. Travel lighter.

Wings will be given.

Be clear like a mirror

reflecting nothing.

Be clean of pictures and the worry

that comes with images.

Gaze into what is not ashamed

or afraid of any truth.

Contain all human faces in your own

without any judgement of them.

Be pure emptiness.

What is inside that? you ask.

Silence is all I can say.

Lovers have some secrets

that they keep.

(Rumi)

27.5.10

Somehow my yoga blog has turned into an all great things about Iceland travel blog, lol. Bear with me. I have one more thing to rave about and that's Iceland's music scene. I don't exaggerate when I say Iceland has the highest percentage of talented artists and musicians anywhere in the world. For a country this small it pumps out some pretty amazing stuff. It's unreal.

Today I found myself at a local music store in downtown Reykjavik desiring to find a few additions to my music collection, which is pretty pathetic by the way. I've been so unimpressed with what's been released in the mainstream lately that once I heard some of the Icelandic music acts I felt like finally my music thirst was quenched. I bought 7 Cds, and I never do that. Ever. And, there's more I want to get but I didn't have time! Let's just say I was more than impressed. What fun. I was like a kid in a candy store.

One of my favorites is Emilíana Torrini. Absolutely wonderful.

Emilíana Torrini

Of course I picked up a few Sigor Rós Cds, because you just have too, and I thought I would try something a bit different like Seabear, but believe me, there's so much more. So, so, so much more.

Mugison

4 Insightful Comments:

1. StEvE said...: I totally sympathise with your 'Icelandicitis'. I moved to Thailand, from the cold & wet UK, a couple of years ago, and I am continuously learning about the nuances of it's culture & people. It's an amazing experience; despite what the media is hanging it's great big hat on in the current climate.

I hope everyone that ever gets the chance to cross a cultural barrier, leaps at it, just in case we do only have one life.; May 27, 2010 at 3:37 AM
2. peaceloveyoga said...: Very well said, Steve. I'd have to agree. Getting a feel for the 'nuances' is what it's all about. Putting a real face to the culture versus only reading through media outlets.

Thank you!; May 27, 2010 at 9:39 AM
3. Amy said...: Hi there! My friend Danielle Rante directed me to your blog. I am headed to Reykjavik on Monday (arrive on the first) for the month of June for an artist residency. Are you still there? I really appreciate your tips on Icelandic music. I'll keep checking in...
Thanks!
Amy; May 28, 2010 at 6:27 PM
4. peaceloveyoga said...: Hello Amy!

Wonderful to hear that you'll be traveling to Iceland in June! Too bad I won't be able to run into you, for I'm leaving this Tuesday. Anyhow, you're in for a treat, and daylight 24 hours a day!

I'll go ahead and post some more music acts I've found interesting, and, the music shop I went to. Reykjavik is teaming with creativity. You'll just love it.

Take care. XOXO; May 28, 2010 at 9:04 PM

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Icelandic Music

27.5.10

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