we go from blue to green

and then from

brown to saffron, red and gold.

by natural process this essence unfurls.

yet from gold to green

is a renewing of dharma

in fresh and vibrant ways

and this has always found its way.

from apparent end to a beginning

never understood

and from beginning to end

always understood.

why is it we breathe in and breathe out?

is it for my consumption of food and pleasure,

or is it to assist me in an aspiration to help others on this path?

does it matter if others recognize these efforts,

or do the efforts themselves result in our intended effort?

awakening is the only aspiration of our practicing,

if our directions deviates from this aspiration,

then we have totally lost our way.

is this life our own?

or is it just a passing thought

that we substitute for our lives?

these thoughts come and go

as well as our experiences

of the unfolding of reality.

do we live our existence?

or do we live a life

that has been handed to us?

this may not make sense to you right now,

and if it does not

please try to concentrate on why,

as our lives are so short

that even the slightest distraction

steals most, if not all of our unfolding life

from us and leaves us with

the expectations of others.

labyrinth

we weave our way

through a labyrinth of delusion

only to find that our thinking

has led us astray,

it is then

in that very moment

we see the ineffable truth

manifest

in the rising sun

or a floating cloud

or even a busy moment

on our way to start the day.

why is this so difficult,

when life and existence

is so simple?

it is because we love

our stories

and our opinions

and our logic

and our accomplishments

and our life

that we delude ourselves

into thinking we are living.

take back your life

and see this moment

outside of thought,

outside of time

and outside of space,

then what is left

is the only reality

we will ever know.

rev yuanzhi

3/7/2012

These Spiritual Window Shoppers

These spiritual window-shoppers,
who idly ask, 'How much is that?'
Oh, I'm just looking.
They handle a hundred items and put them down,
shadows with no capital.

What is spent is love and two eyes wet with weeping.
But these walk into a shop,
and their whole lives pass suddenly in that moment,
in that shop.

Where did you go? "Nowhere."
What did you have to eat? "Nothing much."

Even if you don't know what you want,
buy _something,_ to be part of the exchanging flow.
Start a huge, foolish project,
like Noah.

It makes absolutely no difference
what people think of you.

Rumi,

A few people have posted DESIDERTA on Facebook today and I couldn't resist posting this Video on my blog. I will probably get some shit for it, but lighten up and eat a bagel with loads of cream cheese. I first heard this on the National Lampoon 'Radio Dinner' album when Desiderata was making the rounds of my local High School back in 1971.


the original

desiderata -

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

 Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser

 persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.

 But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

 Be yourself.

 Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

 Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

 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.

Therefore be at peace with God,

 whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,

 it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

 Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann c.     1920

the door

A man went to the door
of the Beloved and knocked.
A voice replied, 'Who is there?'
The man answered, 'It is I.'
The voice said,
'There is no room for 'I' and 'Thou.''
The door remained closed.
After a year of solitude
and deprivation he returned
and knocked again.
A voice from within asked,
'Who is there?'
The man said, 'It is Thou.'
The door was finally open.

 Jelaluddin Rumi