Amber Dorrian, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; Wiki edit; Sister Vajira, Francis Story (DN 16)
The Rite of Spring, the ballet and orchestral concert by the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, was written for the 1913 Paris season of Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes company, with choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky plus stage designs and costumes by Nicholas Roerich.
The ballet nearly caused an audience riot when first performed on May 29th, 1913 at Paris' Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.
But it rapidly achieved success as a concert piece and was later recognized as one of the most influential musical works of the
20th Century. The score has many novel features, including experiments
in tonality, meter, rhythm, stress, and dissonance.
The scenario is the celebration of spring by various primitive rituals, at the end of which a sacrificial victim dances herself to death.
After its explosive
premiere the ballet was not performed until the 1920s, when Léonide Massine's
re-choreographed version was the first of many innovative productions
directed by the world's leading ballet-masters.
Providing "endless stimulation for performers and listeners" alike, The Rite is among the most recorded works in the classical repertoire. More
The Buddha's Final Rest
Sister Vajira, Francis Story (Last Days of the Buddha, Chp. 5, DN 16) Wisdom Quarterly edit
1. Then the Buddha addressed Venerable Ananda: "Come, Ananda, let us cross to the farther shore of the river Hiraññavati and go to the Malla Clan's Sal-tree Grove, in the vicinity of Kusinara [Kushinagar]" - "So be it, venerable sir."
2. The Blessed One, together with a large company of monastics, went to the farther shore, and there he spoke:
3. "Please, Ananda, prepare for me a resting spot between the twin sal trees, with the head to the north. I am weary, Ananda, and want to lie down."
Nectar-gathering pollinator on brilliant spring flower (smart-kit.com/WQ) |
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Green glass Buddha (spring.org.uk) |
The ballet nearly caused an audience riot when first performed on May 29th, 1913 at Paris' Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.
Springtime for Occupy Los Angeles |
The scenario is the celebration of spring by various primitive rituals, at the end of which a sacrificial victim dances herself to death.
Arab Spring women's protest |
Providing "endless stimulation for performers and listeners" alike, The Rite is among the most recorded works in the classical repertoire. More
The Buddha's Final Rest
Sister Vajira, Francis Story (Last Days of the Buddha, Chp. 5, DN 16) Wisdom Quarterly edit
Buddha draped in flowers, Sri Lanka (Original Nomad/simonmonk/flickr.com) |
1. Then the Buddha addressed Venerable Ananda: "Come, Ananda, let us cross to the farther shore of the river Hiraññavati and go to the Malla Clan's Sal-tree Grove, in the vicinity of Kusinara [Kushinagar]" - "So be it, venerable sir."
2. The Blessed One, together with a large company of monastics, went to the farther shore, and there he spoke:
3. "Please, Ananda, prepare for me a resting spot between the twin sal trees, with the head to the north. I am weary, Ananda, and want to lie down."
- COMMENTARY: "From the town of Pava it is three leagues (gavutas) to Kusinara. Walking that distance with great effort and sitting down at 25 places along the way, the Blessed One reached the Sal tree Grove at dusk after the sun had already set. Thus illness befalls humans, crushing all our health. As if one wanted to point to this fact, the Blessed One spoke those words which deeply moved the world: 'I am weary, Ananda, and want to lie down.'"
Flowers from the devas (NancyMargaret/flickr) |
5. The Blessed One spoke: "Ananda, the twin sala trees are in full
bloom, though it is not the flowering season. And the blossoms rain
upon the body of the Tathagata; They drop and scatter, strewn upon
it... in honor of the Tathagata.
6. "Yet it is not thus, Ananda,
that the Tathagata is respected, venerated, esteemed, revered, and
honored in the highest degree.
"But, Ananda, any male or female monastic or layperson who abides by the Dharma, lives uprightly by
the Dharma, walks in the way of the Dharma, it is by such a one that the
Tathagata is respected, venerated, esteemed, revered, and honored in
the highest degree.
"Therefore, Ananda, train thus: 'We shall abide by the Dharma, live uprightly by the Dharma,
walk in the way of the Dharma.'" More
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