Happy Birthday Great Abbot

what is required

to see your way through?

a strong center

and only go straight

don’t know mind.

there is no doubt

that our abbot

embodies

the Buddhadharma,

he is forthright

and true.

just do it

is the way of the Buddha’s,

but Buddha

never had a wife;

he left that all behind,

so finding

husband mind,

and father

mind,

and student mind,

and teacher mind,

and mentor mind,

and therapist mind,

are all realms the Buddha

approved of,

yet did not endure.

our path on the Dao

isn’t as easy as a Monk’s,

so watch your step

and dance in the middle

of the fire.

three bows from

your teacher

on your magic forty.

an age younger than

your years,

and older than

time immemorial.

stop—and pay attention

to each fleeting moment

you give

and today

allow others

to shower you

with the recognition

you so deserve.