Kozi Wolf
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. -anonymous note found in Old Saint Paul church dated 1692
Friday, September 28, 2007
Sweeping
Gold dawn disk edges purple cliffs.
Old woman bends to sweep temple steps.
She bathes each stone with loving care.
How many worshippers think of her work?
I went at dawn to a magnificent temple. Its architecture was such a supreme expression of the human spirit that it was a treasure. Generations of worshipers had left offerings at the shrines, hundreds of monks had reached their enlightenment on the consecrated grounds, and thousands had been blessed in life and death in the venerable halls.
Yet my most moving observation was an old woman silently sweeping the steps. Her concentration was perfect. Her devotion was palpable. Her thoroughness was complete. Her uncelebrated act showed a true holy spirit.
Later in the day, wealthy people came to worship. Children with brightly coloured toys ran over the gray stones. The abbot walked to his ceremonies. Monks passed in silent prayer. Of all who passed, how many were aware of the saintly service that had made their own devotion possible?
When the way is all we have to walk, those who prepare the way should be truly honoured.
-Deng Ming-Dao
from "365 Tao"
-each day of the calendar corresponds with a passage in the text, passages vary from north to south hemisphere
Monday, September 24, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
only awareness here
no good or bad
just aware
breathing in
then out
the situation
no clogging
no hang ups
just a clear filter
clear view
clear mind
clear body
just awareness
breathing in then out
through another reed
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
the universe expressing itself through this body
a reality flowing
floating by
never starting
never ending
expressed as the water
touching all it sees
expressed as the mother
humming a distant tune
expressed as the weed
swaying with the breeze
expressed as the stone
sitting cool
just another corner
another fragment
another thread
still connected
the same one
conscious energy
putting on a different
hat
getting all the experiences
seeing every angle
from different eyes
from different skin
and at the end of the line
the hat is put down
and the costume melts
back
into the reality
never starting
never ending
only expanding
a reality flowing
floating by
never starting
never ending
expressed as the water
touching all it sees
expressed as the mother
humming a distant tune
expressed as the weed
swaying with the breeze
expressed as the stone
sitting cool
just another corner
another fragment
another thread
still connected
the same one
conscious energy
putting on a different
hat
getting all the experiences
seeing every angle
from different eyes
from different skin
and at the end of the line
the hat is put down
and the costume melts
back
into the reality
never starting
never ending
only expanding