EASTBEAT  - for peace, truth & non-violence

tall-lighthouse

first thursday  poetry and music at the poetry cafe

Eastbeat grew out of discussions at The Spotted Dog Tavern in Forest Gate during the Balkan conflict in 1996.  It has evolved into a small literary magazine publishing occasionally and fronting concerts and events.

""Sages speak of the immutable ashvattha tree, The Tree of Life, with its taproot above and its branches below.  On this tree grow the scriptures; seeing their source, one knows their essence. Nourished by the gunas, the limbs of this tree spread above and below.  Sense objects grow on the limbs as buds; the roots hanging down bind us to action in this world.  The true form of this tree- its essence, beginning and end - is not perceived on this earth.  Cut down this strong-rooted tree with the sharp axe of detachment; then find the path which does not come back again.  Seek That, the First Cause, from which the universe came long ago."

Most of the Tree of Life, we should remember, lies in the world within.  Sri Krishna is telling us to get beneath the surface and trace our way back to the source.

   One  school of thought speaks of this tree as an illusion, because separateness is an illusion.  But I would say each leaf is precious. Each individual creature deserves our respect, love and protection. So instead of talking about cutting down trees, I would rather talk about digging to the root, deep in the soil of the consciousness.  Meditation is the tool for digging.""  (click on coloured text for link to Blue Mountain Centre site)

Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living  p. 182 -chapter 15 1-4 - by Eknath Easwaran

 ""Above and below its branches spread, blossoming because of the gunas, having for their shoots the sense-objects; deep down in the world of men are ramified its roots, in the shape of the consequences of action.(ch 2)  In the first verse, Sri Krishna shows the means of going beyond this world. In this verse, he has described the world from another point of view, that of the ignorant man.

Its form as such is not here percieved, neither is its end, nor beginnning, nor basis.  Let men first hew down this deep-rooted Ashvattha with the sure weapon of detachment:  Let him pray to win to that haven from which there is no return and seek to find refuge in the Primal Being from whom has emanated this ancient world of action.

We shall remain apart from this world, while working in it, when we no longer look upon it as God's sport but, regarding it as the sphere in which people run after enjoyments, cut it off at the root with the weapon of non-cooperation.  In no other way is it possible to cut it off at the roots, for it is without beginning and without end. That is why Shri Krishna has advised non-cooperation.

To that imperishable haven those enlightened souls go - who are without pride and delusion, who have triumphed over the taints of attachment, who are ever in tune with the Supreme, whose passions have died, who are exempt from the pairs of opposites, such as pleasure and pain.

They who crave to win that haven are indifferent to honour or insult.  They are absolutely free from delusion. They have scored triumph over the taints of attachment. Those who are always atmarthi (that is, who are aware every moment that they are not their physical bodies but are the atman), whose cravings for objects of senses have subsided (who look not fear-struck but serene at the moment of death) are the enlightened souls that go to that imperishable haven.

     On every leaf of the banyan tree are inscribed the Vedas,  which means that Ramanama is inscribed on its every leaf.  The world is a holy gift made by God out of His grace; the tree of the world grows from the navel of Brahma.   But there is another world with its root below, whose leaves are the various objects of sense pleasure; that world is the world of desire.   Adhyatmanityah means those whose thoughts dwell with love on Rama, who repeat His name and who do his work. (pp252/253

    from  M.K. Gandhi Interprets The Bhagavadgita Orient Paperbacks   "discourses which he gave at the Satyagraha  Ashram, Ahmedabad, during morning prayers over a period of nine months from February 24 to November 27, 1926. 

Eastbeat 

at The White Bear 

Sunday 25th  July 2010

8.00pm

David Kessel

Dinah Livingstone

Spider Evans

David Amery

Mike Parsons

with music from Paul Moss & Francois Moreau

A New Day

A new day, a new way
Time to find something new to say.

To chase the fear away
All I have to do is survive another day.

So the aim for today                                                       is to be brave enough!                                      (Funny cause even that seems scary).

K.T.

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  TABLET ARTICLE CRITICISES LIBERATION THEOLOGY 12/12/09

In his article, Robert Micken describes Pope Benedict as critical of a Brazilian University:  He, Pope Benedict,  refers us back to his 1984 instruction; Libertatis Nuntius. The Instruction "Libertatis Nuntius" - "Certain Aspects of the Theology of Liberation", stated the intention of the Congregation to publish a second document which would highlight the main elements of the Christian doctrine on freedom and liberation. "Between the two documents there exists an organic relationship. They are to be read in the light of each other.

"Visit The World Forum On Theology And Liberation site.

MURDERED SALVADOREAN PRIESTS HONOURED

The six priests murdered in 1989 in El Salvador have been given the state's highest honours. Read the CAFOD report:  click here

Jon Sobrino  on the "crucified poor! " 

visit The Archbishop Romero Trust

 From 1975 Yolocamba-Ita sang of the struggle in El Salvador. 

Hear their Homage to St Romero: and visit their website.

 In December 1989, Baricada, Nelson, Paul Moss and Quilombo Expontaneo, Sambatucada and Manu Ventura & Talvin Singh played two nights of concerts in London in commemoration.

Hear Nelson's Song for El Salvador

Barricada play Los Yankees,   Cadenas,  

 http://www.stopwar.org.uk/Troops out of AFGHANISTAN.