The crickets are singing the breeze. I notice the teasing poke and then flow of energy across my skin that is cooled after, by the breeze. I have peace. The crickets are singing the breeze.–e
meditation
Morning Trip (113)
“The Zen disciple sits for long hours silent and motionless. Presently he enters a state of impassivity, free from all ideas and all thoughts. He departs from the self and enters the realm of nothingness. This is not the nothingness or the emptiness of the West. It is rather the reverse, a universe of the spirit in which everything communicates freely with everything, transcending bounds, limitless. There are of course masters of Zen, and the disciple is brought toward enlightenment by exchanging questions and answers with his master, and he studies the scriptures. The disciple must, however, always be lord of his own thoughts, and must attain enlightenment through his own efforts. And the emphasis is less upon reason and argument than upon intuition, immediate feeling. Enlightenment comes not from teaching but through the eye awakened inwardly. Truth is in the discarding of words, it lies outside words.”
– Yasunari Kawabata
Morning Trip (91)
Sanctum and other Images can be seen on Purple Shoe Photography
Something Different, The Path, and A Work in Progress
I am writing this one as I move through it. I yelled at myself and stated the question…Whyyyy would anyone want to read a post before it was done, and why might they come back over and over, without getting annoyed??
Another part laughed and thought that the selection: The Path, was a great one. If I am waking up, what will I do with it. Have I been ‘lost’ and off of my ‘path’? I feel like it. The laughing part says..shhhh, listen to the dew on each blade of grass as you move through the sound and move through the tree place with your mind. Remember, you can do that!!
The sun is coming up. Trees are moving in their slow tree ways. Heavier drops fall through greenery to the floor of the praying circle near the Tree of Many Faces. Morning birds and butterflies flit from hidden leaf to hidden stem of weed and plant. All, spin and turn and each do their job, as created to do.
I wonder, do they wonder if they have a path, is it right or wrong?
Shush, keep moving, now stand still listen and feel the waking space of ground.
Follow swaying root down, reaching limb up, light and air and water sparkle touch each and all.
God is Moving!
Off to listen for a bit. Maybe I’ll come back. 🙂
Radiant Resolve
Radiant Resolve
Images are the property of Elisabeth Connelley and Purple Shoe Photography. They are offered in limited numbered prints.
Please send inquiries to: elisa58t2sugarless@yahoo.com with Purple Shoe Photography in the subject line.
Enlightenment is a Bitch
Enlightenment Is A Bitch
by Dane Cervine
At first it isn’t so bad — a taste of ecstasy,
the world covered in honey. Even snails
scrawl the names of buddhas with their silvery trails.
But then, too much. Pears become unbearable,
wet white flesh so tender one could perish
contemplating the first taste.
Meditation becomes oddly redundant,
attention now like water, absorbed in tree root,
plumbing; even fire hydrants with their red
stubby arms become mandalas, and, worse,
the police siren revving its wail behind
my slow-moving car sounds like a mantra.
Even my wife’s complaints about me finally
sound true. I just bow. Kiss her slender hands.
Carry the garbage outside, but, damn! The moon!
Morning Trip (26)
Meditation on Affliction
Assailed by afflictions, we discover dharma and find the way to liberation. Thank you, evil forces!
When sorrows invade the mind, we discover dharma and find lasting happiness. Thank you, sorrows!
Through harm caused by spirits we discover dharma and find fearlessness. Thank you, ghosts and demons!
Through people’s hate we discover dharma and find benefits and happiness. Thank you, those who hate us!
Through cruel adversity, we discover dharma and find the unchanging way. Thank you, adversity!
Through being impelled to by others, we discover dharma and find the essential meaning. Thank you, all who drive us on!
We dedicate our merit to you all, to repay your kindness.
— Gyalwa Longchenpa
I felt moved by the above quote today. I am grateful it was posted on Secret Notebooks Wild Pages
Morning Trip (15)
“One of the most difficult things to learn is that mindfulness is not dependent on any emotional or mental state. We have certain images of meditation. Meditation is something done in quiet caves by tranquil people who move slowly. Those are training conditions. They are set up to foster concentration and to learn the skill of mindfulness. Once you have learned that skill, however, you can dispense with the training restrictions, and you should. You don’t need to move at a snail’s pace to be mindful. You don’t even need to be calm. You can be mindful while solving problems in intensive calculus. You can be mindful in the middle of a football scrimmage. You can even be mindful in the midst of a raging fury.”
Mindfulness Versus Concentration
– Henepola Gunaratana
Mindfulness in Plain English
and/or
Mindfulness in Plain English
Elisa's Spot 