The self is only made of non-self elements.
But before we can truly understand our nature of non-self
we must understand ourself, first. ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Since beginning-less time
impelling energies & matter
interchanging
from form to emptiness
and back again
through space, including earth
to ancestors
who photosynthesized, swam, crawled,
flew, walked, then stood up,
until co-arising as a self
for the sake of argument
we can call me,
in this moment’s configuration.
quick, get a selfie!
as this self will die
and be reborn
in each new moment.
non-selfie with non-tree
Five streams flowing, eternally.
First, body: who’s physiology burns calories to fuel it’s movement, bearing new cells as old ones age, and die.
Second, perception: streams in a feast of images, sounds and contact through eye, ear, nose, tongue and touch.
Third, feelings: experienced as pleasures, pains, comfort, and discomfort in heart, mind and body.
Forth, thoughts: appear, interpreting, analyzing, judging, valuing what is happening, has happened and may or may not happen.
Fifth, consciousness: colors all physical and mental formations
mystically owing from individual and collective karma impressions.
flowing 2
still water
flowing
rooted together
An ever-changing self
energetically flowing
as a drop in the river
of humanity.
And at least for now
humanity flows,
interbeing,
among every transcendent river
past, present and future.
Love the non-selfies – especially of the non-tree. Yes indeed – these moments will pass and we will be totally remade in the next instance. Impermanence is all we have – at least for now humanity flows. Love that.
Deep and soothing, thank you for making me smile as I realise I the me I was yesterday so longer exists and today is a whole new set of possibilities…for my non-self:-) With gratitude, Harula xxxxxxx
you’re very kind to express it that way, Genie. Thinking I was listening to my heart, which wanted to by-pass both sides of the brain, mind ultimately offered creative assistance 🙂
So serene. Can’t help but wonder though: if we are all that is and all that is is us given interdependence, is not the picture of a tree and stream and rock, ironically, a selfie? 🙂
These words were great not because they conveyed a concept of non-self, but they created the feeling of watching the performance of non-selfness. We got to see the verb instead of the noun. Sometimes poetry can use metaphysical language and abstract us into our own heads. These simple and to the point words, here rendered poetry, draws us into a portrait of non-self. I can’t help but appreciate the directness of this!
This is surely the post that makes me want to follow your blog. Next, you’ll have to tell me how you manage to accept compliments on wordpress, but remain in a state of detachment, unaffected by longing, delusion, or dejection! How can one write to others on this medium with true non-selfness?
“Here, I’m not!
Look, i’m not here!
Listen, I don’t have anything to say!
Today, I want to blog about the non-blog
Featuring, me, the non-self!”
thanks for your kind insight!
i’m grateful to share
my successes and failures
living mindfully every day
teachings on love and understanding.
guidance for moving towards the moon.
but should I be mistaken for the moon
please, kill me
and continue your sojourn, happily 🙂
Reblogged this on litebeing chronicles and commented:
Thank you David for this stunning mystical marriage of image and text.
I know my readers will love this so much!
Your reflection is a fitting response to a question I asked myself this week: What am I within the grand scheme of the web of life? With all of our scientific knowledge, we-humans think we have all the answers to the mysteries of ‘self.’ The day we as a species are able to collectively unleash our “fifth stream of consciousness,” we would come to realize our oneness like a “transcendent river / past, present and future.”
hello smilecalm its dennis the vizsla dog hay i hav never tayken a selfie on akkownt of i do not hav thums so i like this non selfie thing yoo hav got going on heer!!! espeshly with the byootiful seenery ware they wer tayken!!! i cud go for that kind of non selfie!!! ok bye
Some beautiful non-selfies, David. Your words and images remind me of all that I am not, and all that I am, too. I am savoring a memory of sharing a moment with some of those tall and majestic trees, waving in stillness in time’s wind…
I do appreciate your narratives and non selfies too…and this quote too David 🤓 have a fun day! smiles hedy
The self is only made of non-self elements.
But before we can truly understand our nature of non-self
we must understand ourself, first. ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Like a rolling stone or river flow, the non-selfie is gathering questions that my selfie will want answers… and such is life… the engagement of selfie and non-selfie in the filed of time. Beautifully written and photographed.
While away on vacation I saw many taking selfies, it seems to be the self obsessed trend these days..
I am happy you reposted this one David, as I had not seen it before.. And yes, Humanity needs to transcend and learn to flow within Natures own Self, and learn to respect Nature more.
While I am nurturing my own self more.. We need to be mindful of nurturing others and especially respecting our Earth Mother. We are each part of the whole-Self.. But sadly many have disconnected to see themselves as separate..
Love those Trees David.. ❤
Have a beautiful weekend.. 💚💚
smilecalm 
Beautifully expressed and a very creative poem… such deep thinking! 🙂
you’re kindness makes me smile 🙂
Love the non-selfies – especially of the non-tree. Yes indeed – these moments will pass and we will be totally remade in the next instance. Impermanence is all we have – at least for now humanity flows. Love that.
wonderful to read your words
flowing along with me, Francis!
🙂
Delightful!
Made me smile
how wonderful
it worked 🙂
Yay! Thank you, friend! 🙂
you’re a kind
smiler,
Polly 🙂
beautiful, resonates, thx
🙂 Burt
Deep and soothing, thank you for making me smile as I realise I the me I was yesterday so longer exists and today is a whole new set of possibilities…for my non-self:-) With gratitude, Harula xxxxxxx
how wonderful
that potential
for new kindnesses
can arise
with each new you 🙂
So enjoyed this, thank you! The concept of non-permanence is alive and vital in this piece, it’s a reminder I truly needed.
Lucy 🙂
may your compassionate
actions continue blooming beautifully
into the future 🙂
Best Selfie ever -the mirror of words, a man, window, ah! tree, rocks, reflecting water, forest, light. Thank you!
you’re very kind to say so, Marga! now I can go back to photographing others 🙂
I love how you make your poem visually alive with the first photo; its composition is: Left Brain, Right Brain, adds tremendously to your post.
you’re very kind to express it that way, Genie. Thinking I was listening to my heart, which wanted to by-pass both sides of the brain, mind ultimately offered creative assistance 🙂
This is beautiful! Thank you for sharing it with the world!
you’re very kind. to feel free and share with the world is healing 🙂
So serene. Can’t help but wonder though: if we are all that is and all that is is us given interdependence, is not the picture of a tree and stream and rock, ironically, a selfie? 🙂
I guess you’re right. They are selfies.
Even if there is no separate self
in the ultimate dimension 🙂
Loving the forest shot at the bottom!!
you’re very kind.
that one kind of grows on me, too. 🙂
love it. very awesome.
These words were great not because they conveyed a concept of non-self, but they created the feeling of watching the performance of non-selfness. We got to see the verb instead of the noun. Sometimes poetry can use metaphysical language and abstract us into our own heads. These simple and to the point words, here rendered poetry, draws us into a portrait of non-self. I can’t help but appreciate the directness of this!
This is surely the post that makes me want to follow your blog. Next, you’ll have to tell me how you manage to accept compliments on wordpress, but remain in a state of detachment, unaffected by longing, delusion, or dejection! How can one write to others on this medium with true non-selfness?
“Here, I’m not!
Look, i’m not here!
Listen, I don’t have anything to say!
Today, I want to blog about the non-blog
Featuring, me, the non-self!”
thanks for your kind insight!
i’m grateful to share
my successes and failures
living mindfully every day
teachings on love and understanding.
guidance for moving towards the moon.
but should I be mistaken for the moon
please, kill me
and continue your sojourn, happily 🙂
A very thought provoking blog space here. Wonderful post. I can sense your character. Beautiful.
I smile to your kind feedback. May we all feel beautiful 🙂
nice photo ——> rooted together 🙂
Reblogged this on litebeing chronicles and commented:
Thank you David for this stunning mystical marriage of image and text.
I know my readers will love this so much!
smiling to your kind
words & sharing, Linda!
how wonderful we can
share non-selfies
together 🙂
Wonderful indeed. It is my pleasure to share your
blog with my readers. 🙂
Excellent! Oh, and is it really possible to share a non-selfie? What exists which isn’t part of us?
you’re on to something, dear one!
capturing our non-separate selves
is to touch our shared,
collective essence.
each one a group shot 🙂
Photos of nature and non self are captivating. Your reflections are beautiful. Thank you David 🙏
smiling along with you
in this group shot, Val 🙂
Your reflection is a fitting response to a question I asked myself this week: What am I within the grand scheme of the web of life? With all of our scientific knowledge, we-humans think we have all the answers to the mysteries of ‘self.’ The day we as a species are able to collectively unleash our “fifth stream of consciousness,” we would come to realize our oneness like a “transcendent river / past, present and future.”
Thank you for sharing ❤
Excellent work David with words and images.
Teaming with life! 🙂
hello smilecalm its dennis the vizsla dog hay i hav never tayken a selfie on akkownt of i do not hav thums so i like this non selfie thing yoo hav got going on heer!!! espeshly with the byootiful seenery ware they wer tayken!!! i cud go for that kind of non selfie!!! ok bye
hehe. That is cool 🙂
Some beautiful non-selfies, David. Your words and images remind me of all that I am not, and all that I am, too. I am savoring a memory of sharing a moment with some of those tall and majestic trees, waving in stillness in time’s wind…
Peace
Michael
I do appreciate your narratives and non selfies too…and this quote too David 🤓 have a fun day! smiles hedy
The self is only made of non-self elements.
But before we can truly understand our nature of non-self
we must understand ourself, first. ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Like a rolling stone or river flow, the non-selfie is gathering questions that my selfie will want answers… and such is life… the engagement of selfie and non-selfie in the filed of time. Beautifully written and photographed.
❤
Love this one ! Great post 🙂
Aw, I look forward to changing for the better.
While away on vacation I saw many taking selfies, it seems to be the self obsessed trend these days..
I am happy you reposted this one David, as I had not seen it before.. And yes, Humanity needs to transcend and learn to flow within Natures own Self, and learn to respect Nature more.
While I am nurturing my own self more.. We need to be mindful of nurturing others and especially respecting our Earth Mother. We are each part of the whole-Self.. But sadly many have disconnected to see themselves as separate..
Love those Trees David.. ❤
Have a beautiful weekend.. 💚💚