Krishnamurti, The Book Of Life.

Today has been very quiet. I didn’t get up till 10.00 to discover the garden covered in about six inches of snow. I felt sorrow for the birds so I swept some snow off a step and put down some food. I watched the birds for about an hour from my warm vantage point of the kitchen while listening to music. I couldn’t be bothered doing anything this afternoon, so I went back to bed. This evening I had a look at a book that I bought yesterday in a charity shop. 

The Book Of Life by Jiddu Krishnamurti. I have liked Krishnamurti since the early 1980’s. A friend of mine had some books by him which I used to read. We went to see him give a talk at a place called Brockwood Park near Winchester. I was really impressed with him and was pleased that I saw him while he was still alive. We saw him in 83 and he died in 1986 aged 90. I must admit that I forgot about 80% of what he said within an hour. What I liked about him though is that he wasn’t a sect or a religion. I don’t like organised religions because they tell you what to think. They have no right to say what people should think or believe. Krishnamurti said it is up to the individual to think for themselves in order to discover truth. I was really pleased when in 1986 I discovered that Van Morrison was also influenced by Krishnamurti. The title of his album No Guru, No Method, No Teacher was taken directly from a talk given by Krishnamurti.  Van said this in an interview.

‘I heard him speak once, at Masonic Hall in San Francisco. As far back as I can remember I have been influenced by religious and philosophical works and I had a big change in my state of mind just prior to discovering Krishnamurti's books. His philosophy corresponded to what I myself was going through on an inward level. I feel the meaning of Krishnamurti for our time is that one has to think for oneself and not be swayed by any outside religions or spiritual authorities’.

I haven’t read any of Krishnamurti’s words for years. What I like about this book is that it a collection of 365 meditations by Krishnamurti. One for every day of the year. You can read a little bit every day which should make it easier to understand. I read the thought for February 1st today. I will have to venture out tomorrow snow or no snow to get some provisions, but I don’t think I’ll be going far.

No Guru, no method, no teacher

Just you and I and nature 

And the Father in the garden

Sidney Bechet On Thursday Afternoon In Winter.

It’s January 31^st, the last day of dry January. I could have bought a bottle of wine in the supermarket to open at midnight tonight to celebrate, but I didn’t and I wonder why?. I think it is because I have enjoyed my alcohol-free January. I feel much better for it. When I get up in the morning, I’m immediately wide awake and alert. Not sitting in the kitchen, staring out of the window and feeling depressed. I have been much more active and creative and positive. I think I’ll try and go another few days without drinking. I’ll be into the unknown then. It will be the longest I have been without alcohol since the swinging sixties. Harold Wilson was Prime Minister; The Beatles were still together, and man hadn’t yet set foot on the moon the last time I went more than a month without booze. It is only when I am around other people that I feel the need to drink. I haven’t had much of a social life the last month, but I don’t feel that I have missed out on anything.

When I was up town, I had a quick look in the charity shops because I can’t walk past them without checking to see what they’ve got. In the Dorothy House shop they had cd’s 50 pence each. I bought Killers, Alanis Morissette and Artic Monkeys. I haven’t played them yet, but I also bought Sidney Bechet, The Creole Cavalier and I have played that twice now and I love it. It’s got that swing! , it’s upbeat and puts you in a happy mood. I first heard of Sidney Bechet when he was mentioned on a Van Morrison album. I have discovered lots of great music through Van. This album even has a great track on it called Really The Blues written by Sidney’s friend Mezz Mezzrow and as any Van fan will tell you that is also the title of Mezz’s autobiography. If you scroll down, I have posted a video of Sidney Bechet and Really The Blues.
See me through days of wine and roses
By and by when the morning comes
Jazz and blues and folk, poetry and jazz
Voice and music, music and no music
Silence and then voice
Music and writing, words
Memories, memories way back
Take me way back, Hyndford Street and Hank Williams
Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet on Sunday afternoons in winter.

See you in February.

Really the Blues -- Bechet 1938

No Smoking.

As well as being Dry January Day 28, It is also one year ago today since I last smoked a cigarette. I am still a nicotine addict but these days I use the electronic e-cigs. The benefits to me have been enormous. My fingers used to be stained yellow with tobacco and my clothes stank. It was disgusting. Also, I had a terrible cough, especially in the mornings. If somebody phoned me up I used to be coughing down the phone at them. The cough has completely disappeared. I have got a lot more energy as well. These days I can go for a walk without getting out of breath. I think I feel about ten years younger. Another benefit is that I am financially better off. When I couldn’t get roll-up tobacco, I used to be buying two packets of cigarettes a day. That is almost £20 a day spent on something that kills you, which is insane. I still have to buy the e-cigs but they are much, much cheaper. I am pockets a jingle with money I used to waste on ciggies.

I have noticed other little benefits as well. When I was smoking if I had to go on a long train journey, I wasn’t allowed to smoke which was quite stressful. I would arrive at my destination in a very irritable mood. With the e-cigs though you can have a crafty puff and nobody notices. The same applies to pubs, you don’t have to go outside and stand in the rain with the other sad cases anymore. Another benefit is that I have a better appetite for food, and I can actually taste it. When I was working a few years ago, at tea-break I would smoke three cigarettes one after another and not bother eating my sandwiches. I would rather smoke than eat. It was pathetic.

I’d like to give up the e-cigs as well if I could, but I don’t know if that will ever happen. I don’t think the drug nicotine in itself is harmful although it is addictive obviously. Anyway, I think stopping smoking cigarettes is one of the best things I have ever done and I would advise anyone who smokes to try vaping for a couple of weeks until you get used to it. You won’t regret it.

Bird-watching.

I took part in the RSPB survey today. I’m sure thousands of others did as well. You had to see how many birds you spotted in your garden in an hour. It was quite easy for me because I am almost on first name terms with all my feathered visitors. Apart from that it has been a very quiet lazy Sunday. I’m going out tomorrow so I might have more to report.