Sunday, July 20, 2008

Half and Half is Good

Our life is half natural and half technological. Half-and-half is good. You cannot deny that high-tech is progress. We need it for jobs. Yet if you make only high-tech, you make war. So we must have a strong human element to keep modesty and natural life.
Nam June Paik

10 comments:

Unknown said...

I rather agree with that fine sentiment. I love the image, too.

I hope you're having a good Sunday.

susan said...

“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis
on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without
rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment.
Only this moment is life.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

That is a wonderful image. I've been meditating daily for more than 20 years and I'm still trying to get it right. I think quieting the mind is the most difficult thing anyone can undertake.. at least mine. Mine will not shut up no matter how many cups of tea I drink.. and it just natters on about nothing at all.

Fran said...

Oh that image! And I like the quote as well.

And you - well, you I think the world of. No half - just a whole good person.

DivaJood said...

Pagan, do you know Paik's work? I loved his work - Bhuddist technology in a chaotic world. He died in 2006.

Susan, sometimes washing the dishes is a meditation. Sometimes walking the dog is a meditation. It's about being present in your life.

FranIAm, isn't that an incredible image? Paik was talking about balance, though - seeking the happy middle ground.

susan said...

I do my best to approach everything as a meditation and seem to do better with the walking, working ones than the sitting. There are moments of profound magic waiting for all of us and I've experienced a few. That really is a lovely image and I'm happy we've made a connection.

robin andrea said...

That is such a fantastic image, and I love the quote.

okjimm said...

half & half? I like it in my coffee. But if I were to mix technology with a more relaxed, natural world.... I think I would pick a 80/20 mix. 20% tech. Much more gets to noisy and intrusive.

DivaJood said...

Susan, I like the active meditations too - sitting is just so hard.

Robin, I love the quote too. I loved Paik's work.

okjimm, I prefer skim milk in my tea, but that's why they print menus in restaurants, right? As for noisy and intrusive, I was blasted out of my car today by some dude playing his hip-hop so loud, my windows rattled.

xJane said...

*awesome* pic! Where did you get it? Did you create it? Is it an installation somewhere? (Where?)

My father-in-law goes annually to a Buddhist retreat where they are asked to volunteer for chores throughout the week. He always says he signs up for dishwashing because it's so meditative! (I haven't gotten there, myself...)

DivaJood said...

xjane, it is an installation that was created by the Korean artist, Nam June Paik. Paik was a video artist, died in 2006. His work combined elegance, technology, humor, concept, and grace.

And yes, dishwashing is quite medatative.