No need to do Buddhist meditation. Just gazing at a calm sea can bring a sense of inner peace. Look long enough and your mind begins to mirror the sea—quiet, well ordered, and unperturbed by all the noise of the workaday world.
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The L.A. wildfires: 12 powerful quotes to ponder
Pain and anguish attend all disasters. However, people react to them in different ways. Some may attribute such events to man’s folly and start pointing fingers at those they believe are responsible. Others may see them as a form of Divine retribution for man’s wrongdoings. The following are some thoughts to ponder in the wake of the wildfires that struck the Los Angeles area in early January 2025.
Seeing the spectacle of sunsets minus the colours
What crazy photographer would take pictures of a sunset in black and white? Colours delight and even mesmerise the viewer. They are addictive. Some photographers, though, have gone off the beaten path to make unforgettable images of sunsets sans the colours everyone is used to.
Tales from the sea: A terrific trio of seashell poems
According to scientists, the sound you hear when you place a seashell next to your ear is not the sound of the ocean. It is the ambient noise from the immediate surroundings which is amplified in the cavity of the shell. No matter, listening to the sound is a delightful experience for many. It has even inspired some poets…
Fire or ice? Robert Frost on how the world will end
The torrid temperatures this April reminded me of a 1920 poem by Robert Frost titled ‘Fire and Ice’. Using the contrasting images of fire and ice, the beloved American poet muses on how the world will end. He speaks of the cataclysmic event in a colloquial tone, which makes the poem somehow more chilling.
‘Meditation by the Sea’: Thoughts on a mindful painting
It may not be dramatic like J.M.W. Turner’s famous Fighting Temeraire, but ‘Meditation by the Sea’ is my favourite marine painting. As a writer and observer of the shipping world, I can identify with this work. I even see myself in it.
Humans on hot days: Refreshing vintage photographs
On sweltering days, humans are instinctively drawn to water. The mere sight of it evokes a feeling of delight and even joy. The following vintage photos may not bring surcease to those suffering from the current heat wave that is gripping many countries. Nonetheless, they should be refreshing to the eyes, if not to the spirit.
Frozen sea: Frank Hurley’s amazing Antarctic photos
The world owes a debt of gratitude to James Francis “Frank” Hurley. The Australian photographer and adventurer took part in a number of expeditions to Antarctica, documenting with his camera a place that most of humanity will never get to see or set foot on.
Old harbour photos: A brief reflection on ships and men
A harbour is often thought of as a place bustling with maritime commerce. The Britannica definition of the term reminds us of its primary function: “any part of a body of water and the manmade structures surrounding it that sufficiently shelters a vessel from wind, waves, and currents, enabling safe anchorage or the discharge and loading of cargo and passengers.”
Still waters: Serenity in traditional Japanese art
The spirit of serenity, which Zen Buddhism seeks to cultivate, is a key aspect of Japan’s tea ceremony as it is of traditional Japanese art. In his iconic The Book of Tea, art critic Okakura Kakuzo drew a connection between the world of art and the world of tea :
“The tea-masters held that real appreciation of art is only possible to those who make of it a living influence. Thus they sought to regulate their daily life by the high standard of refinement which obtained in the tea-room. In all circumstances serenity of mind should be maintained, and conversation should be conducted as never to mar the harmony of the surroundings.”
Sunless days at the beach in vintage photographs
Who would go to the beach when the weather is cold, damp and dreary? People go there to bask in the glory of the sun. Yet, there is something special — even beautiful — about a beach on a sunless day. Far from the motley crowd of sunbathers and alone near the mist-covered sea, one may come to realise the complex and perplexing nature, not only of the sea, but of life itself.
Seven sounds more meaningful than maritime slogans
Why listen to the slogans blaring out of the IMO and its global maritime chorus? These incessant tributes to seafarers are not music to the ears. They are hackneyed and shopworn. They don’t mean a thing. It is more pleasant to hear the wonderful beat of commerce on the waterfront and the enchanting sounds of the sea and seagulls.