Life with Music (PART 1 OF 3)

Hi Diane,

Are you still enjoying meditation with the Indian guru?
I hope you are.

I'm also enjoying Zen meditation, though mine is solitary---all alone as if sitting at the very bottom of the abyss. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ...
During sitting meditation, I assume a position such as the lotus position while sitting on a square cushion placed on a padded mat.

To regulate the mind, awareness is directed towards counting or watching the breath or put in the energy center below the navel.
This practice is simply called sitting dhyāna, which is zuòchán (坐禅) in Chinese, and zazen (坐禅) in Japanese.

In the Soto school of Zen, meditation with no objects, anchors, or content, is the primary form of practice.
I strive to be aware of the stream of thoughts, allowing them to arise and pass away without interference.
So much for Zen medittion.

Now, talking about the Canadian politics, I've just written an article about careless spending.


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■"Royal Couple"

When I happened to view "Sicko"---a 2007 documentary directed by Michael Moore, however,
I would feel much happier living in Canada than in the States, although the Canadian politicians spend a great deal of our tax money carelessly and foolishly.


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The film investigates health care in the United States, focusing on its health insurance and the pharmaceutical industry.
The movie compares the for-profit, non-universal U.S. system with the non-profit universal health care systems of Canada,
the United Kingdom, France and Cuba.
Fifty million Americans are uninsured while the remainder, who are covered, are often victims of insurance company fraud and red tape.
It's so amazing!

Then I viewed "The Chorus"---a 2004 French drama directed by Christophe Barratier.


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Unemployed music teacher Clément Mathieu becomes the supervisor at a boarding school for the rehabilitation of minors.

Dismayed by the repressive administration, he works to positively transform the students' lives through music.

But Mathieu is unprepared for its harsh discipline and depressing atmosphere.

With passion and unconventional teaching method, however, he is able to spark his students' interest in music and bring them a newfound joy.

It is an enchantingly fascinating, somewhat heart-wrenching yet profoundly moving drama.
I'd say it is one of the best French movies.
Diane, I'm pretty sure you would cry for joy while viewing.



Let me know how you feel after viewing the movie.

In any case, enjoy the sunshine!


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Your smiling Bohemian, Kato
with a lot of love as always