Shivpreet Singh
Shivpreet Singh
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Woman In Red Coat
Jane Hirshfield

Some questions cannot be answered.
They become familiar weights in the hand,
round stones pulled from the pocket,
unyielding and cool.
Your fingers travel their surfaces,
lose themselves finally
in the braille of the durable world.
Look out of any window, it's the same --
the yellow leaves, the wintering light.
A truck passes, piled deep in cut wood.
A woman, in a red wool coat,
sees you watching and quickly looks away.
             
Jane Hirshfield
Woman In Red Coat
Marveling at the astonishing mysteries with Mary Oliver, while reading this today ... 




Mysteries, Yes
Mary Oliver

Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
   to be understood.

How grass can be nourishing in the
   mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
   in allegiance with gravity
      while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds will
   never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
   scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.

Let me keep my distance, always, from those
   who think they have the answers.

Let me keep company always with those who say
   “Look!” and laugh in astonishment,
   and bow their heads.
"Those who know her, know her less." - Emily Dickinson on Nature.  

In "What mystery pervades a well," Emily talks about three strange and mysterious things: well, the sea and nature.  Their limits are unknown. Even to the ones who get near them.  In fact the ones who are nearer actually even more perplexed by its beauty.  

The ones who are truly near, are not afraid. Like the grass next to the well. Or the sedge next to the sea.  They are fearless.  Nirbhau says Guru Nanak in Mool Mantra.  Bold, not afraid, not timid in Emily's words.  

I found it interesting that the grass and the sedge are male.  They don't understand. Even when they get near, and they try to know, they don't.  They might be talking about her all the time, citing her the the most. But they have never really visited her house, the haunted house.  They have not understood her invisible ghost.  Not understood. Not known.  Perhaps knowing is impossible.  And they should be focusing on loving, and not knowing. 

This poem reminds me of Guru Nanak's Aarti: "You have thousands of eyes, but none is yours. you have thousands of shapes, yet not one is yours. Thousands of pure scented paths are yours. I am amazed at how many scents you have." It also reminds me that he says, "As big you are, as big are your gifts."

What mystery pervades a well!

- Emily Dickinson

What mystery pervades a well!
That water lives so far --
A neighbor from another world
Residing in a jar

Whose limit none have ever seen,
But just his lid of glass --
Like looking every time you please
In an abyss's face!

The grass does not appear afraid,
I often wonder he
Can stand so close and look so bold
At what is awe to me.

Related somehow they may be,
The sedge stands next the sea --
Where he is floorless
And does no timidity betray

But nature is a stranger yet;
The ones that cite her most
Have never passed her haunted house,
Nor simplified her ghost.

To pity those that know her not
Is helped by the regret
That those who know her, know her less
The nearer her they get.

- Emily Dickinson


Another Emily Dickinson poem about how innumerable nature is:

Bring me the sunset in a cup


Bring me the sunset in a cup,
Reckon the morning’s flagons up
And say how many Dew,
Tell me how far the morning leaps
Tell me what time the weaver sleeps
Who spun the breadth of blue!

Write me how many notes there be
In the new Robin’s ecstasy
Among astonished boughs
How many trips the Tortoise makes
How many cups the Bee partakes,
The Debauchee of Dews!

Also, who laid the Rainbow’s piers,
Also, who leads the docile spheres
By withes of supple blue?
Whose fingers string the stalactite
Who counts the wampum of the night
To see that none is due?

Who built this little Alban House
And shut the windows down so close
My spirit cannot see?
Who’ll let me out some gala day
With implements to fly away,
Passing Pomposity?

- Emily Dickinson


More on this: http://nebo-lit.com/poetry/dickinson/What-mystery-pervades-a-well.html




I was listening to this Ted talk today and thinking about unanswerable questions. The human pursuit of knowledge is an ongoing journey, and these unanswerable questions remind us of the boundless depths of the universe and the complexities of human existence. We may never have concrete answers to these inquiries, but that should not deter our exploration and contemplation. As we seek understanding, we engage with the mysteries of life through mathematics, art, music, and the profound expressions of the human spirit, creating rich responses to these enduring mysteries. 

This reminds me of Guru Nanak's phrase from Japji Sahib: "Aape Janai Soyi" - "Only He Knows"

Ten Unanswerable Questions: Exploring Life's Mysteries


Life is full of mysteries, and as human beings, we are naturally curious creatures, always seeking to understand the world around us. However, there are questions that seem to elude our grasp, leaving us in a perpetual state of wonder. This essay will delve into ten such unanswerable questions, touching upon the human pursuit of knowledge, the role of mathematics and art in addressing these mysteries, and the philosophical implications that arise from contemplating the unknowable.

1. When did the universe begin?

The question of the universe's origin has puzzled scientists, philosophers, and theologians for centuries. While the Big Bang theory provides a compelling scientific explanation for the universe's birth, it cannot answer what caused the singularity or what existed before it.

2. What is the purpose of life?

This question has provoked countless debates and philosophical inquiries. Some seek answers in religion, while others find purpose in personal goals and relationships. The search for life's purpose remains deeply subjective.

3. Why do we sing?

Singing is a universal human behavior, but the reasons behind it vary widely. Some sing for joy, others for catharsis, and some even for survival, as seen in traditional work songs. The meaning of singing is as diverse as human culture itself.

4. What is the purpose of death?

Death is an inevitable part of the human experience, but its ultimate purpose remains elusive. While various philosophical, religious, and scientific perspectives offer insights, they can't fully quench our curiosity about the profound mystery of life's end.

5. What is the end of the universe?

The fate of the universe is a subject of intense scientific speculation. Theories like the "Big Freeze," "Big Crunch," or "Big Rip" present potential scenarios, but we are yet to determine the universe's ultimate destiny.

6. When was the beginning of time?

Time is a fundamental concept in human existence, yet the origin of time itself remains a conundrum. Modern physics has brought us closer to understanding time, but its ultimate genesis remains a tantalizing mystery.

7. When will time end?

Just as the beginning of time baffles us, so does the concept of time's end. Is time infinite, or will it one day cease to exist? These questions challenge our understanding of reality.

8. What happens if molecules stop moving?

This question delves into the fundamental nature of matter. In the realm of classical physics, if molecules were to stop moving entirely, it would imply absolute zero temperature. However, the implications in the quantum realm, where uncertainty prevails, remain a subject of speculation.

9. What is the smallest particle?

The search for the smallest particle has driven the field of particle physics for decades. As technology advances, we've discovered subatomic particles like quarks and leptons, but the ultimate smallest building block of the universe remains a subject of ongoing exploration.

10. What is infinity?

Infinity, as a concept, challenges human comprehension. Mathematicians tackle this by exploring limits, and in the realm of philosophy, it often serves as a symbol of boundless possibilities and the limits of human understanding.

Art and Human Expression


While these questions may lack definitive answers, human creativity and expression offer alternative ways to engage with the mysteries of life. Poets use words, and singers use their voices to express the inexpressible. Through art, we can explore the emotional, spiritual, and philosophical dimensions of these unanswerable questions. Art serves as a bridge between the known and the unknown, allowing us to grapple with the mysteries of existence in deeply personal ways.


Two Better theories than Big Bang

In the beginning there was light.
Everything went downhill from there.

In the beginning it was dark.
Now there is a song.

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SHIVPREET SINGH

Singing oneness!
- Shivpreet Singh

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