THE XIV DALAI LAMA ADDRESSES IMPORTANT QUESTIONS WITH SCHOLARS AND ARTISTS

Among my many great presents this year was the opportunity to photograph and attend a talk by HH the Dalai Lama at Hunter College on October 19. HH the Dalai Lama is a renowned peacemaker and scholar, who, until recently was Tibet's political leader in exile. He has turned over that role to a notable Harvard scholar, but remains the undisputed spiritual leader of Tibet and an inspiration to millions around the globe. Addressing a special congregation of Chinese artists, activists, scholars and friends, he posed the following challenge in his own inimitably diplomatic and direct way: "It is time for 1.3 billion Chinese to see the realities. Let them see the realities and decide for themselves what is right and wrong." By realities, he was of course referring to the oppression within China by its own government and the Chinese government's ongoing persecution of Tibetans and imposition of oppressive policies in Tibet.

The discussion with HH the Dalai Lama involved scholars in a panel as well as members of the audience. HH the Dalai Lama reiterated the importance of Tibet's maintaining a middle way approach with China, one in which the neighboring countries see themselves as interdependent rather than separate from one another. But he also challenged all people to practice ethics and humanity, stating what he has said often--that he respects those of all religions and even those who have no religion. Religions are institutions that are fallible and often corrupt, he said. Even so, we can all be warm-hearted with one another. "Even animals appreciate warm-heartedness," he noted.

An audience member asked: "How can we practice compassion in our society, which is so cutthroat and competitive?" HH the Dalai Lama was quick to answer, "I don't see millions of Americans as being cutthroat."

In his usual warm, positive and all-inclusive fashion, HH the Dalai Lama embraced panel members and artists and warmed up to the audience with his incisive remarks and humor. A Chinese artist gave him a painting at the end of the panel, and afterward, HH the Dalai Lama received an honorary degree from Hunter College, adding to his collection of honors from around the world.

COLD SPRING'S FALL DELIGHTS

My idea of a great weekend is driving to Cold Spring, New York, walking along Main Street, enjoying a meal at Cathyrn's Tuscan Grill and an espresso afterwards at Cup-o-ccino's. At the end of Main Street is a grand view of the Hudson.

Main Street, Cold Spring, is chock full of great antique shops and galleries. One of the coolest galleries and a recent find is Marina Gallery at 153 Main Street. It's small and intimate, and the current exhibit, "Drawn Together," features dramatic and original works in charcoal by several of those who belong to the cooperative space. The show runs until the end of October.

Maria Pia Marrella, one of the artists and designers whose work is being featured at the gallery, is a member of the cooperative, which includes artists Flavia Bacarella, Monica Bernier, Abby Goldstein, Lynn Kotula, Martee Levi and Maria. Maria works in a wide range of styles and in various media. Her oils on linen in an exhibit titled "Pentimenti" that ran last year at the gallery, recalled the work of Giorgio de Chirico's. In another exhibit titled "{mis} appropriation, the artist played with religious symbols and allegory, for example, creating her own version of the "Visitation."

If you feel like taking a drive and enjoying the gorgeous fall foliage in the Hudson Valley, check out Cold Spring. To get there from Fort Lee, take  9W to the Bear Mountain Bridge, make a left on 9A and follow to Main Street, Cold Spring.

WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP!

Ani Drubgyudma, a Western Buddhist nun who has been a contemplative practitioner since 1973, has written a beautiful, bold and necessary book, Wake Up in the Forest, that is a gem for those wanting to or already practicing contemplation or meditation in nature. And it offers hope for those who long for more than what daily life has to offer.

How many of us, bogged down by routine in suburbia or cities, do not dream of escaping into nature for peace and serenity? I often find when I'm alone in nature that the sight and scent of flowers, trees and earth, the sound of streams and rivers, the view of lakes, hold profound and special significance, particularly because those experiences are so rare.

My experience is also that nature not only enlivens the senses and refreshes the mind, but takes me deeper into myself, to who I really am. It is increasingly a brave venture--to go into the woods, to find one's inner way in silence--not unlike the way Thoreau and even Jack Kerouac did--because it is increasingly hard to do.

Ani is a poet, writer, photographer and artist, and the images, poems, reflections and deep insight that comprise Wake Up in the Forest make for both important and compelling reading.

Take the time to read, reflect, and review this work of words and images that are like a vast and profound blessing.

http://www.blurb.com/books/3346848

BANGA

I listened to seven songs from Patti Smith's new Banga CD tonight, all of them on YouTube, so I had the full experience of imagery, along with the sounds of the album. The songs are every bit as interesting, thoughtful, original, intelligent and gutsy as you would expect, and more. As is true with jazz, Patti Smith moves me to think in different ways. And to view music and even the world in different ways.

Here's the order of songs I listened to: "Amerigo," "This is the Girl," "After the Gold Rush," "Constantine's Dream," "Nine," "Seneca," and "Banga," the latter on none other than The David Letterman Show. A sign of Patti Smith's genius is that she can rock 'n roll her originality on a show like David Letterman's and treats him and everyone with respect. This is a very beautiful and rare quality. To this day I am struck with the utter lack of malice in Just Kids, her fine memoir about her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe, in which she relates stories about so many people--and not once does she say a nasty thing about anyone. That's amazing, very hard to do. She can roar about a cause, but behind what she does is always kindness.

I could say a lot about each of the Patti Smith songs I listened to on this rainy night, but I'm going to be brief because I'd rather keep the experience of these songs to myself. My only real point in sharing these few words is to get you to listen to the songs as well, really listen, because they are worth it. You will be in art. And you will learn something new.

I like getting lost in the world of a song and Patti Smith makes this easy. I loved "Amerigo," about the discovery of America, and "This is the Girl," a song poem about Amy Winehouse. "After the Gold Rush," is the Neil Young song, whose poetry Patti Smith makes fresh in her inimitable way. She and Young have been friends a long time and I believe they are or will be touring. "Banga," which is a town in the Punjab district of India," is a very cool and wild song in the way "Horses" is.

Banga is very international, covers time and space, poetry, spirituality and art. Another punk original from the master herself. Check it out.

JAZZ SHORT STORIES

Jerry Jazz Musician, a jazz website founded by Joe Maita, was praised by

critic Nat Hentoff of The Wall Street Journal and nominated by the Jazz
Journalists Association for "Best Website Concentrating on Jazz," 2006
and 2007. It recently selected my jazz short story, "So What," out of more
than 100 entries for top prize in a contest. The story, which actually won
$100-dollars, can be read at www.jerryjazz.com.

In this era of painfully few literary outlets for jazz fiction, I am sincerely

grateful for the presence of Jerry Jazz Musician and its gallery of readers.
As everyone knows who knows me or my writing on this site or
beboptimes.blogspot.com, I am a diehard fan of jazz, particularly
hard bop. And I support jazz poetry and fiction. My sister Marcela
Breton edited a lovely compilation of the latter, titled, Hot and Cool,
published by Plume, in which you can read stories by, among others,
the great James Baldwin.

Today's breaking news is that I intend to continue listening to and

appreciating bebop, searching out themes related to the music and
breathing it into language.

Thanks for reading!