Comments on: Denise Levertov – Looking, Walking, Being

By: Therese Monaghan O.P.

Therese Monaghan O.P. — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:32:27 +0000

Thank you, Ivan, for your beautiful reflection on Denise Lervertov’s provocative
poem. I thought of Seamus Heaney’s poem Digging. Like his father who dug the turf in a bog in Northern Ireland, he digs,too, with his pen between his two fingers…I also thought of Cesloz Miloz’s
poem: Conversation with Jeanne–He starts off with saying–no more words and ends with: “I roll on a wave and look at the white clouds…the sea will breathe from its depths..I disappear in the immense more and more free” to see words as action in the world and the power of breathing undeneath all.

By: ebrahim

ebrahim — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:54:26 +0000

what is she doing with eyes closed?
listening, sensing, feeling, thinking, dreaming…. just looking – in another way?
can we say that she is not participating in life?
basically what Rudman is saying, is that instead of observing life, be part and parcel of it. that is, life is meant to be lived. knowledge and looking, in a way, a barriers to living.
and loving is in itself an act that love denies.
look, when you approach your love, more than intimately, how could you your love see.
when the eyes reach the face of god – what can they than know?

the past three thoughts of the day are truly excellent, Ivan.

By: jag

jag — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:26:01 +0000

Breath also known as ‘praan’ in Hindi and perhaps Sanskrit, literaly means life. Life starts and ends with breathing. It is so natural that generally one does’nt even think about it and takes it for granted. However if done with awareness and knowledge the intake of breath can draw in large ammounts of positive energy and exahalation can take out negativity. The subject is vast. Perhaps more later.

Looking is one thing seeing is another.

By: Aparrna (Sonam Chodron)

Aparrna (Sonam Chodron) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 04:59:24 +0000

possible that Mark Rudman was practicing walking meditation at that time
and possible that Denise Levertov was practicing walking meditation at that time!!

By: Stephanie Dowrick

Stephanie Dowrick — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:08:18 +0000

Deep appreciation for today’s post, Ivan. Some readers may like to explore “deep looking” further in John O’Donohue’s Divine Beauty, a book I used on a recent writing retreat I gave in Kyoto, Japan. Whenever I teach writing I am really teaching “deep looking” and of course it need not be solemn! You capture that so well also. Thank you for all your faithful attendance to life and hope and beauty. Blessings.