[Byzantine Bindings]

Sunday 24 June 2018

Paths Through the Forest


insight
mind’s true nature
revealed in silences
experienced when slowing down
daily

Asking my mind; 
‘Dear Mind, show me what you are thinking.’ 

Nothing is there, 
spotless mirror, 
still pond, 
clear light, 
peacefulness - 
emptiness.

thoughts arise
pebbles
disturb the pond
mind chases ripples 
leaping 
from
attachment 
to 
aversion
offering themselves
as possibilities
mind's true nature
sees the truth
and is set free.

Monday 18 June 2018

Mid Terms

solstice
year’s turning
looking forward or back
trying to stay in the moment
resting


disturbed by enthusiasm
surety
angry at the lack of good grace
envious perhaps
something comes
with advancing years 
catching me unawares
long silences
punctuated with 
insights revealing
jewels
glowing within

there is only none thing worse 
than wrestling with the notion of self
wrestling with the notion of no-self

and the people said,
“Amen!”






Wednesday 13 June 2018

Discovering

Always
seeking something
looking everywhere else
all the time it is in my heart
weeping.

Tuesday 12 June 2018

They said...

It was nothing like
they said
but they had to
say something
or say nothing

I still haven’t seen it
full face
empty mirrored
glimpses perhaps fragments -
YES!

now at least I know
it wasn’t what I was looking for
I can start again
as always
in the darkness.

Friday 8 June 2018

Not Knowing What to Say...

Sometimes
it's good
not knowing
what to say

letting the words
trickle out
of the fingers
one at a time

letter by letter
it seems to happen automatically when the springs-wheels-weights-pulleys-muscles-bones-nerves-sinew-internal-organs-brain-mind-ancestors-descendants
all seem to align

but really
it's all a matter

... it's best to say nothing
sit in the garden
waiting for the rain to stop.



Monday 4 June 2018

Soul Gardening

"Inside every one of us is a garden, and every
practitioner has to go back to their garden and take care
of it. Maybe in the past, you left it untended for a long
time. You should know exactly what is going on in 
your own garden, and try to put everything in order.
Restore the beauty; restore the harmony in your 
garden. If it is well tended, many people 
will enjoy your garden."*





*Hanh, T. N. (2005). Taming the Tiger within by Thich Nhat Hanh. The Berkley Publishing Group, New York. (p.93)

Saturday 2 June 2018

No Self


Today
a miracle
looking at the anger
trying to locate it within me
failing.

I said, “Hello anger, I recognise you my dear friend, thank you for coming to me today. 
I see your pain and suffering and I am sorry for any part I have played in it.
I will help transform you into endless compassion for the good of everything and everyone.

Breathing in I asked,
Dear toes is the anger in you?
Breathing out  they replied,
“There is no anger here.”
Dear toe nail is the anger in you
“There is no anger here.”
Dear ankles is the anger in you?
“There is no anger here.”
Dear shins is the anger in you?
“There is no anger here.”
Dear knees is the anger in you?
“There is no anger here.”
I worked through my skeletal system
my skin, muscles, organs, hair, teeth
no part of me was left out
and nowhere could I find the anger.

By now I was now calm.
Continuing to be aware of each in and out breath
I became peaceful
noticing the bee and the foxglove
the blue tit and the drainpipe.

For the first time
I put the teachings into practice
walked the path
towards Right Views
smiling as I asked my hairy beard,
"Dear hairy beard is the anger in you?"
“There is no anger here.”


I asked anger, “Dear anger where are you?’
There was no answer.