Resting here, for a while :-)

[donq]

Hi everyone,

Our forum is a bit quiet, let me post something here. It's about our forum in general. 

I've just recalled about two things that impressed my around 30 years ago. The first one was the sign in front of one of my favorite bookstores. It wrote, "Only you come visiting us, we already admire you."
The second one was about the following song. I'll try to translate it here. (Please forgive my bad English.)

Resting here

It's better to rest here.
To relieve from your tiredness.
Here the wind is blowing very softly.
You will gain your strength back, so soon.
As the way ahead is still so far;
you don't know how long you have to walk.
There are so many things waiting for you.
Here, there are lots of trees and shades,
for comfortably laying under.
The wind blows softly, so soft;
the sun shines smoothly, not too hot;
the sky will be your blanket;
and with true loves and real friendships.
It's better to rest here.
You've been tired of confusion for a long time.
Sleep, my friends, sleep well.
And continuing your journey,
after you wake up.
And after you wake up,
your strength will come back;
you will be ready to stand up,
and continue your further journey.

Well, I cannot say something like the commercial sign on that of my favorite bookstore, but I must say, I (we) already admire whenever you come here and click to read any posts you like. That way, you are helping this forum to be continued. Thank you for your contribution/participation this way.

[sparklekaz]

Lovely words Monty. My idea of heaven would be to rest in a library. I might never come out again though.

Thank you for sharing
Love and light
Kaz

[donq]

Karen, you are a woman after my own heart!
(Thanks for helping me learn this phrase.)

As Mark Twain said “In a good bookroom you feel in some mysterious way that you are absorbing the wisdom contained in all the books through your skin, without even opening them.”

I used to read the article about the most beautiful libraries in the world (and saw their beautiful photos), but somehow they made me feel a little bit uncomfortable. (Maybe because my personal habits are careless and untidy?)
Anyway, I’m kind of like the personal library of Professor Richard Maskey, as the photo below:

[sparklekaz]

Ha ha Monty, mine too. If you could see the table I use to hold my netbook, there is currently ten books there, having been forced to tidy up. Before there was at least twenty five. In the living room I currently have three bookshelves with probably in excess of 400 books. I have another room for study and there are over fifty in there, plus boxes under the bed in excess of 50 and probably 50 again in the attic. I keep saying, I must donate some to the local charity shops, and I will get around to it. But, I am so attached to many of them. I will have to go through them all and sift out those which I can bear to part with. I have collections by favourite authors. Different gentre's, and books connected to different healing modalities and spiritual growth.

I've noticed those who keep their books pristine, and in extremely tidy order, rarely read them One of my favourite books is over twenty years old, and is well thumbed. I've been told off for it's dog eared state. But to me a well fingered book, shows a book that is well loved.

Love and light
Kaz

[donq]

Hahaha, I don’t mind about dog eared state of books (again, thanks for this word.) Some of my books has aged more than me. Somehow I don’t like most new books that are bond papers. Its white color reflects the light and make me not feel cozy to read. Besides, I could not shake a feeling that wisdom comes with age, even about book.
I always love second hand bookstore. I came across so many great books there. And its price is so good to be true (yep! cheap ) Though I never minded about a good book’s price, but if it’s good AND cheap, too, that is more than wonderful, right?
In my country, we still lack so many good (English) books. I went to almost every libraries and bookstores here, I knew. So, whenever I got a great book from a second hand book store (by a fluke), that day I was in heaven. Some books were very rare book, even in USA etc. Sometimes (long time ago), I had to order them from (international) second hand bookstores like Aibris, Abebook etc. (Amazon doesn’t have many rare books.) Once I ordered a book which cost me about 200 pounds! Frankly speak, I didn’t mind (much) about the book price, because I really need it for my research, but its postage cost me another 100 pounds! Oh! my!

[donq]

There is a sad but funny story to share.

A few years after my first divorce, when I was in one of my favorite second hand bookstores, I was very surprised to find one of a great books there (about I Ching.) I knew that there was such a book in my country that time (even today), though it was not a rare book, and that was why I had to order it once from abroad. Asyou already knew, I lost it (with my whole personal library) after my divorce. Anyway, while I was opening it, I came to startle as I found my handwriting in it!?! hahaha!
Yes, it was my own book! My ex sold it there among many of my books (I found it later that day.)
And you can guess, I bought it again, with very low price.
(But I didn't dare to tell them that it was my book. lol)
It's still on my desk, even now.

[sparklekaz]

I am a great believer in the old adage, 'what is mean't for you, will come back to you'. I'm so happy your book found it's way home.

[donq]

I used to say that you reminded me of my (school) English teacher. Though it was just my teasing but I really felt that way, didn’t know why. And you really are now. I’ve leant some new words from you all the time (mostly I only familiar with certain group of words from nonfiction books.) So, thanks Karen. You (and our friends here) are my teachers, indeed. More than that, you are my friend. (Its’ better to have a teacher as a friend than having a friend as a teacher, isn’t it?)

Hmm…when it comes to a book, I could not stop myself. So, please don’t mind what I’m going to say, ok?


(Photo from the internet)
I used to have these kind of very small books (dictionary etc.) but lost them all, as you already knew why. I really miss them! Anyway, if I still had them, I’m not sure I could read them any more. Farsightedness that comes with old age. hahaha.

[donq]

Ok, I saved these two photos from the internet and combined them together.
Hope it work this time. :-)



Yeh!

[sparklekaz]

I thank you Monty, I take it as a sincere compliment. I love words, and the richness of the English language. I am not clever enough to teach english. But, just like you I've always been a prolific reader, and love reading books of different genre's, and have done so from a very young age.

There was a time when I was passionate about reading historical novels. Particularly the classics by Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters. The language they used was a purer English and old fashioned, and I loved that their vocabulary was much more extensive then the words used today in modern literature. I was enchanted by that world of old age courtesy. When men acted like Gentlemen, and women as proper young ladies.

There are so many different words that can be used to describe the same thing. And I quickly fell into the habit of using the less common ones to describe something. Simply because to me they were nicer, or brought a more visually colourful mental image to mind. It's a habit, I've never got out of. When I was younger I used to get teased about it. My friends thought I was a snob lol. Or trying to act superior. When all I was doing was saying outloud the lovely words I'd read in my books. Now those words are part of my vocabulary. I really feel sorry for young people today who rarely read, or only do so when forced to as part of their studies. They write as they text, and I think what a shame. Is that how the English is evolving. As a language of slang and abbreviations.

What I wanted to say to you was. How much I admire your skill with languages. How proficient you are at it. I am a 'linguistic ignoramus'. I learnt French at school, and have some Spanish. But nothing sticks. Only the very basic words. I lived in Wales for over 35 years and only have a smattering of the language, when I should have become fluent. Your knowledge and philosophy of Buddhism and your sharing of your time when you went to live in isolation at the temple in the forest, has been wonderful to read. The I Ching bewilders me, it is so complex, and you have written a book on it!!! How amazing is that. I gain as much if not far more in more important ways from you. If I can help you to expand your English language vocabulary, then I am honoured to do so. As you say this is a wonderful place for sharing and learning from each other.

Love and light
Kaz

[cyberangel]

Hi Monty...believe it or not but I actually have one of those miniature dictionaries. ..complete with case...although the one I have is missing its front cover. It does not belong to me but my brother and it was left to him by our grand uncle. I have it in my care for my brother. It is truly a wonder to behold and you use the tiny window on the front of the tin as a magnifier to read the tiny text within the pages. I will upload some photos later tonight from my pc as unfortunately I cant do it from my mobile. Thanks for sharing and for reminding me Love and Light

[cyberangel]

Hi Monty,
Here it is as promised The Worlds Tiniest Dictionary This little ‘tinned’ book allegedly accompanied my Grand Uncle during WWII...while many soldiers kept Bibles with them we were told my grand Uncle kept this little book with him.






In this next photo I looked up ‘FRIENDSHIP’ and pointed to it with a needle

[cyberangel]

Dear Karen,

Don't underestimate yourself...I could not think of a better teacher than you In my opinion, I believe that 'teaching' has nothing to do with being clever...Teaching is a longing to share with fellow 'students'...

Happy the teacher who can learn from the student and happy the student who can teach the teacher

Love and Light

PS. The only thing that holds us back from our dreams is our minds!!! Why don't you do a little research into what is involved in teaching English...it might not be as difficult as you may 'THINK'

[donq]

Hi Lorraine,

Are you killing me?
I envy you!



P.S. Thanks for sharing your photos.
Ok, ok, even just looking their photos (but cannot touch) still make me feel good somehow. 

[donq]

Dear Karen,

Wow! You are a language expert, indeed!

Yes, I used to heard about axiom, apothegm, catchword, maxim, motto, proverb, saying, truism etc. (sure I looked at one of my Thesaurus dictionaries, to make sure, before I could write all these words ) but adage? I was not familiar with it at all.
That was why I made that clip to thank you. It was the first clip I ever made in my life. Making (cut from some video and embedded subtitle) was not the hard part, trying to upload and linked it to our forum was a really tough one!

Let me add something personal here. Though I studied English when I was in primary and high school, but I was never good at it. And when I went to my university I never used it. I've just leaned in by heart, by myself from so many years of my reading later. I meant I didn’t want to be good at language but I had to. Because I wanted to understand the book, mostly spiritual ones I was reading (in English.) So, I’ve known myself all the time that my English is still far from good. It suffices to say that my English is still under average.
So, when I thanked you about this, I really meant it, about what I said. Besides, when it comes to a friend I never lie. If I didn't really feel that way, the best I can do would be trying not to say anything.

Yes, I more than agree about the richness of the richness of the English language. And this was the reason why a great (classic) writer like Henry James fell in love with the English language until changed the nationality to English, right?

Yes, I also agree about a prolific reader. I started one of my careers because of this very reason. Once my older friend gave me a job, to edit a translated book. It was “Meditation” by Alan Watt. Though that time my English was still so bad, and the translator of this book was a professional translator, I still could see that he misunderstood so many things (he never meditated at all). When I pointed this out to my friend, he just told me to translate it instead. So it was a fluke, and it was one of my first translated book (that was around 28 years ago.)

Anyway, my point is I think language is an art, not a science. Always. So, you are so good at this art, Karen.
But yes, reading a lot would help us handle it better, both in the literary world and spiritual world. We can understand others better via the way they use their language. More than that, we can express ourselves better, too.

Hmm…I think I will start a new thread about this and about what you said on another thread.

All in all, I always mean what I way, Karen.