Neil Cowley - Radio Silence

Having recently acquired a 32gb iPod Touch, I decided to make use of its iTunes Store feature, where I purchased Neil Cowley's new album, Radio Silence. I was introduced to Neil Cowley's music a year or so ago, and I haven't stopped listening to his trio. If I had to categorise his style, I'd call it something vague, like contemporary jazz, but he really does have a style all of his own. There are fast, complex piano lines and phrases, played by Cowley, all backed up by double bass and drums.

His other two albums that I own, Displaced and Loud Louder Stop, are both great, and those plus Radio Silence really sum up what is so special about Neil Cowley Trio. His fast, methodical and intelligent style are unique. The chord sequences, the phrasing, the piano lines, they are all unexpected. And yet they are still catchy. Perhaps it is a love or hate style, but I thoroughly recommend listening to at least some of his stuff.

Thanks for reading, please send any suggestions for future blog topics to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and any comments below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Exams

Just to let you know, I had my Spanish Speaking GCSE yesterday. Could have gone better, by which I mean it couldn't have gone much worse. I spent the last two years learning verbs, activities, enough so that I'd nearly be fluent. But when I get into the exam, and I'm asked what I did yesterday with my family, what do I say? The best that my brain could come up with was that I went to Scarborough and played tennis. I haven't been to Scarborough in over a year, and haven't played tennis for much longer. At least I've got six days free of exams, my next one is RE on Tuesday, that'll be a fun two hours.

On another note, I have now watched both Alien and Predator, having rented them from LoveFilm. Conclusion: Alien pretty good, Predator appallingly bad.

Thanks for reading, please send any suggestions for future blogs to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.a~

Quantum Entanglement

Quantum Entanglement is based on the theory of quantum physics. When any two particles are in contact, no matter how far they may then be separated, even light years away, causing one to react will cause the other to do the same. So, any particles can be linked, even if they are separated by meters, miles, or light years. Now suppose that all particles were once all in contact with each other, all matter condensed. Sound familiar? Should the big bang theory be correct, all of known matter is linked by the 'quantum field', the energy that is everywhere. This links in quite nicely with Buddhism's view of interconnectedness, stating that all being are linked. Sorry that I can't really explain quantum entanglement properly, it really is complicated. I recommend researching quantum physics, it's a fascinating subject, if you can tolerate it.

Thanks for reading, please send any suggestions for future blog topics to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and any comments below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

DofE

Just finished my three day Duke Of Edinburgh walk and camp, and feeling more exhausted than I thought I would. Perhaps it's because I only got two hours of sleep per night. I really should be catching up on sleep now that I'm back, but I'm just not that tired right now. After three days of walking, the first thing I did was take a long bath, get changed, put Spotify on, and write this. That's how dedicated I am to this blog (this post is really to make up for a long gap in posts, I think about a five day gap). So, I'm back, feet and legs aching, but still awake. Just.

Thanks for reading, please give me any future blog suggestions at jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and feel free to comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Monkey Mind

Monkey Mind is the term given to someone whose mind's always running, thinking, always going from one thought to the next, like a monkey. 'Just as a monkey swinging through the trees grabs one branch and lets it go only to seize another, so too that which is called thought, mind or consciousness arises and disappears continually both day and night,' said Siddhartha Guatama. If you spend a short time simply noticing what your mind is doing, you will probably find, to a certain extent, that many thoughts will pop up, no matter how much you try and stop them. Worth a try.

Jack Kornfield's Buddhist Psychology

I'm currently reading Jack Kornfield's book The Wise Heart, subtitled Buddhist Psychology For The West. It contains explanations of Buddhist psychological beliefs, and they are summed up in concise points. I've tried to find these concise points in a list, both in the book itself and on the internet, but no luck. So I thought I'd compile them here. I'd first like to stress that these points are intended to be coupled with Jack Kornfield's invaluable detailed explanations, so don't expect to fully understand them straight off. If you want to learn more, please find a copy of The Wise Heart, this is only to a) give people who've read the book a single list, and b) give people who haven't read the book a flavour of the book as a whole.

1. See the inner nobility and beauty of all human beings.
2. Compassion is our deepest nature. It arises from our interconnection with all things.
3. When we shift attention from experience to the spacious consciousness that knows, wisdom arises.
4. Recognise the mental states that fill consciousness. Shift from unhealthy states to healthy ones.
5. Our ideas of self are created by identification. The less we cling to ideas of self, the freer and happier we will be.
6. Our life has a universal and personal nature. Both dimensions must be respected if we are to be happy and free.
7. Mindful attention to any experience is liberating. Mindfulness brings perspective, balance and freedom.
8. Mindfulness of the body allows us to live fully. It brings healing, wisdom and freedom.
9. Wisdom knows what feelings are present without being lost in them.
10. Thoughts are often one-sided and untrue. Learn to be mindful of thought instead of being lost in it.
11. There is a personal and a universal consciousness. Turning awareness to the unconsciousness brings understanding and freedom.
12. The unhealthy patterns of our personality can be recognised and transformed into a healthy expressions of our natural temperament.
13. There are both healthy and unhealthy desires. Know the difference. Then find freedom in their midst.
14. If we cling to anger or hatred, we will suffer. It is possible to respond strongly, wisely, and compassionately, without hatred.
15. Delusion misunderstands the world and forgets who we are. Delusion gives rise to all unhealthy states. Free yourself from delusion and see with wisdom.
16. Pain is inevitable. Suffering is not. Suffering arises from grasping. Release grasping and be free of suffering.
17. Be mindful of intention. Intention is the seed that creates the future.
18. What we repeatedly visualise changes our body and consciousness. Visualise freedom and compassion.
19. What we repeatedly think shapes our world. Out of compassion, substitute healthy thoughts for unhealthy ones.
20. The power of concentration can be developed through inner training. Concentration opens consciousness to profound dimensions of healing and understanding.
21. Virtue and integrity are necessary for genuine happiness. Guard your integrity with care.
22. Forgiveness is both necessary and possible. It is never too late to find forgiveness and start again.
23. There is no separation between inner and outer, self and other. Tending ourselves, we tend the world. Tending the world, we tend ourselves.
24. The middle way is found between all opposites. Rest in the middle and find well-being wherever you are.
25. Release opinions, free yourself from views. Be open to mystery.
26. A peaceful heart gives birth to live. When love meets suffering, it turns to compassion. When love meets happiness, it turns to joy.

I'd like to thank Jack Kornfield for this collection, all credit goes to him. Hope they've changed something for the better!

Thanks for reading, please send any suggestions for future blogs to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, comment below, and you can see my Twitter page somewhere on the right of the page.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Daily Buddhism

A friend recently recommended that I should follow other peoples blogs, as a way of becoming more involved in the online community. With that in mind, I found many new blogs and websites, mostly relating to Buddhism, so I thought I'd draw attention to one in particular.

It is called Daily Buddhism, and it's, in my opinion, one of the more well rounded websites on the internet. There are short podcasts (along with written text to accompany them), blog posts and links to other great websites. Everything communicated is done so in a friendly, easy to approach way, while Brian Schell (the website's owner, poster, etc.) goes in to more detailed explanations and approaches to some of Buddhism's more complex or larger issues. All in all, I thoroughly recommend having a look at this website, a great way to make trawling the internet that little less monotonous!

Thanks for reading, please send any and all suggestions for future blogs to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~