This morning, the world wet from last night’s rain…vibrant with autumn’s rusty colors and still much late summer green. I have a few moments of solitude and silence–a welcome reprieve from the busy-ness of the week. I watch leaves tremble, quiver, dance, let go with what looks like grace and ease. I find myself focusing [...]
Archive for the ‘Zen’ Category
“The inner space…”
Posted in Nature, Photo Canvases, Photography, Poems, Poetry, Spirituality, Wholeness, Zen on October 16, 2010 | 3 Comments »
“How many autumns…”
Posted in Gary Snyder, Inspiration, Nature, Photo Canvases, Photography, Poems, Poetry, Spirituality, Wholeness, Zen on October 9, 2010 | 3 Comments »
Today, reading again Cold Mountain Poems by Gary Snyder. Remembering reading them so long ago, backpacking in the Gila Wilderness with my dear friend Tom. Day one, a twelve mile hike scrambling up and down through canyon after canyon. Early fall, rocks still radiant with summer heat; the smell of Ponderosa pines–tall, straight, cinnamon-colored bark; [...]
“The virtuous quality of repetition…”
Posted in Gary Snyder, Inspiration, Instructions, Photo Canvases, Photography, Spirituality, Wholeness, Zen on October 7, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Suddenly it’s October. Life has been on fast forward…full work schedule, full family schedule and, well, full time job reconstructing my hard drive. There are twinges of fall…small pockets of leafy color, air that is sharp and well-cleansed from torrential rains. Coming back to blogging, I am edgy…impatient for words to flow…wondering where to start. [...]
“What we notice…”
Posted in Nature, Photo Canvases, Photography, Poems, Poetry, Spirituality, Wholeness, Zen on October 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
life is a garden, not a road we enter and exit through the same gate wandering, where we go matters less than what we notice – BOKONON -
“Deep in silence…”
Posted in Listening, Photography, Poems, Poetry, Rumi, Spirituality, Wholeness, Zen on October 25, 2009 | 3 Comments »
It is 5:20 in the morning. A slight mist, cloudy sky, balmy moist air. I am climbing the path to the Chan Hall. I have no idea what to expect. We gather outside in lamplight and silence. We awaken our bodies with movement. The Dharma teacher gives a short talk. We are savoring the question, [...]
“Turning yellow–Part Two…”
Posted in Inspiration, Instructions, Nature, Photo Canvases, Photography, Spirituality, Yoga, Zen on October 27, 2008 | 1 Comment »
CASE 19–NANSEN’S “ORDINARY MIND IS THE WAY” Joshu asked Nansen, “What is the Way?” “Ordinary mind is the Way.” Nansen replied. “Shall I try to seek after it?” Joshu asked. “If you try for it, you will become separated from it,” responded Nansen. “How can I know the Way unless I try for it?” persisted [...]
“These coming crests…”
Posted in Dad, Family, Gary Snyder, Nature, Photo Canvases, Photography, Poems, Poetry, Wholeness, Zen on July 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Yesterday, at least eight phone calls from my Dad. Running the gamut from distraught, confused, irritated, lonely, delusional to grateful. I make the trip across the county, thinking of how he looks smaller each time I see him. His skin like translucent parchment, veins bulging in his wrists and hands, his childlike delight when he [...]
“In flight…”
Posted in Giac Thanh, Nature, Photo Canvases, Photography, Poems, Poetry, Spirituality, Wholeness, Writing, Zen on February 25, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Another beautiful day. Sun. Snow melting. Tastes like a hint of spring. Forecast predicts winter’s return. When there’s snow, I carry this poem deep in my bones. LIGHT OF WINTER Facing white snow Suddenly Oneself fading away The whole universe Turning into a great lamp – GIAC THANH -
“Raw edge of the inevitable…”
Posted in Dad, Family, Pema Chodron, Photo Canvases, Photography, Spirituality, Wholeness, Writing, Yoga, Zen on January 28, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Tonight we do a rigorous Hatha practice…designed to strengthen HARA. Our hour of Hatha practice is followed by an hour of Raja yoga…walking meditation, pranayama and sitting meditation. I sit blissfully on my cushion, momentarily thought-less; empty; following the instruction to “be nobody and do nothing,” Suddenly, there are tears streaming down my cheeks. Two [...]
“Rather than harden…”
Posted in Listening, Pema Chodron, Photo Canvases, Photography, Spirituality, Wholeness, Writing, Yoga, Zen on January 24, 2008 | 5 Comments »
Compassion practice is daring. It involves learning to relax and allowing ourselves to move gently toward what scares us. The trick to doing this is to stay with emotional distress without tightening into aversion; to let fear soften us rather than harden into resistance. – PEMA CHODRON -
