8 - 10 - 12

march 8 ~ 

sallie's death day..
'tis 7 years  since my mama's passing -
every single day not a wee moment goes by
without her gracious presence adorning my life..

all i am or ever hope to be,
i owe to my darling mother..
        ~ abe lincoln

alone again,
i will go on with my head bent down ~
knowing that love has become eternal
and on the long and difficult road,
the light of the sun and the moon
is still there to guide my way...
           ~thich nhat hanh

in the end, all you want 
is someone to long for you
when it comes time
to put you in the ground..
               ~ tea obreht - the tiger's wife

who would say the heart of a tiny blade of grass
could repay the sun for all the warmth of spring?
                  ~ meng chiao

march 10 ~

peace walk...
10 years it has been since i stepped out
to walk to california for peace and love..
o how i wanted to step by step traverse the
american soil..all the way across..
for the open hearted freedom of peace ..
the peace that passeth all understanding...

walking 107 to join scenic 101 
along the chehalis river 
put me on the edge
with many a lumber truck..
trucks/trees going forward
trees/trucks going back!

..i composed.. 
a walking tree song
which i sung to the hillsides 
that were shaved off and logged..
the land IS being re-forested
yet it looks/feels a bit of a mess..
there is an emptiness 
somewhere in my mid-heaven!

for earth day..22nd april..
it actually has a bit more bark to it
when one foot goes in front of the other..

o you trees; trees without trees..
o you trees; birds without trees..
o you trees; squirrels without trees..
o you trees; 'coons without trees..
o you trees; deer without trees..
o you trees; cougar without trees..
o you trees; elk without trees..
o you trees; fox without trees..
o you trees; cats without trees..
o you trees; humans without trees..
o you trees; trucks without trees..
o you trees; trees without trees..

it does get one down the road..
chanting as i walk..the river beside me..
sun and breeze..robin hopping in front to the tune..
quince blooming..strong smell of cedar.

always like to look back to the present moment..
remembering the expanse
of the explosion and implosion of my heart..
it was the time of my life..
yet..
i could go no further than i went..

we may become aware
that worldly concerns and distractions
keep us trapped in samsara -
we may feel an intense desire to be liberated from it...
then we find ourselves at the meeting point of two paths:
one leads to liberation,
and the other to the lesser destinies...
   ~dilgo khyentse rinpoche

SOLVITUR AMBULANDO
it is solved by walking
 ~ st. augustine

march 12 ~

buddha's day of miracles....
also known as chotul duchen ..

the story goes that many moons ago..
in the land of great compassion..
6 esteemed hindu sages  challenged
the buddha to a miracle duel..
or rather, a miracle sextet!

though the buddha was a humble
teacher of simplicity and austerity..
he thought it might be a good idea to let
a few miracles fly..to inspire, encourage and awaken
the great many that had arrived on the scene..
so indeed ..he let miracle after miracle..
fly, fly away..
and lo! he hit the jackpot..

it is said that the karmic affect of positive actions
are multiplied 100 million times on this most auspicious day!

do not run around after fame and gain
in the realm of sound and form.
not to run around is the continuous practice that 
has been transmitted person to person
by buddha ancestors.
mature hermits, beginning hermits, 
one person or half a person, 
i ask you to throw away myriad matters and conditions
and continuously practice the continuous practice of buddha ancestors.

continuous practice, day after day,
is the most appropriate way of expressing gratitude.
            ~ dogen zenji

much obliged i am ..
for mothers & movement & miracles...