Leonard Cohen's "Book Of Longing"

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Leonard Cohen's "Book Of Longing"

I’ve been reading Leonard Cohen’s latest collection of poems, “Book Of Longing“, and I am really enjoying it. Here’s one I thought you might enjoy:

“What Did It”

An acquaintance told me
that the great sage
Nisargadatta Maharaj
once offered him a cigarette,
“Thank you, sir, but I don’t smoke.”
“Don’t smoke?” said the master,
“What’s life for?”

If you are a fan of Cohen’s songs or poetry, I highly recommend the book. Many of the poems in this collection were written during his ten year retreat at the Zen Center on Mount Baldy. They focus mostly on zen studies and erotic relationships, two subjects which always go together in my mind.

4 Comments

  1. Richard says:

    The important question came up of whether Alice fell down a hole or walked through a mirror. The answer is both. Down a hole in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and through a mirror in the sequel “Through the Looking-Glass”.

  2. Richard says:

    The above is in response to a question on the “Can Advaita Get You Laid” show.

  3. laspark says:

    You are right on about Secret. It is total BS.

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