is that death is like taking off a tightshoe. A basic inseparability preventsus from letting our feet touch the grass.I learned from him that meditationhas no reason. It is the first sign ofmadness. The silence of interminablechatter. What I learned from Ram Dass is to close your eyes and listen to the symbols. Listen to the hum of […]
Two Masters on the Great Expanse (A Collage Poem)
Why make so much of fragmentary blue1 What we call ‘mind’ is not something that exists elsewhere;2 in here and there a bird, or butterfly,1 so without being swept away and following wherever it leads,2 or flower, or wearing-stone, or open eye,1 look directly into its face, its very own essence—2 when heaven presents in sheets the solid hue?1 at that […]
Towards a Biology of God
Such a familiar sound.Black bear digging for pine cones.The folding of the earth’s crust, no onewas there to show them how to tie a knot orsew a pelt. Under extreme pressure, the edgesof eons rubbed against each other, the touch ofan earthquake on the elbow and a volcano inbetween the toes. Deep trenches keeping us fromseeing each other. […]
It’s Good to be Mediocre
From Peanuts LLC Master Jingzong; English translation by Foying, edited by Jingxing I’ve grown fond of the Chinese character Ping (平). To describe someone as Ping Yong (平庸) (mediocre) is rather unflattering, isn’t it? Not necessarily so. To be mediocre is fine: just ordinary and moderate. Being mediocre means of only average quality, but aren’t we all […]
Should I Keep Coming Back in the Same Form?
Last Saturday I went to see an evening screening of A Dog’s Journey. The cinematic sequel to A Dog’s Purpose, the film is unapologetically sappy and supernatural, with—to irreligious minds—an implausible premise of a dog returning in multiple canine bodies to try and find the same family. Having made a promise to its owner, Ethan, […]
Ushnishavijaya: A Victory Over Death
Ushnishavijaya with Amitayus and White Tara. From theyoginiproject.org Ushnishavijaya (Tib. Tsugtor Nampar Gyalma) is the Buddhist goddess of long life and purification. Her name means “Victorious Crown Protuberance” and it is related to the oval at the top of the head of the Buddha (Skt. ushnisha) which symbolises his attainment of enlightenment. She is often […]
Surrendering
(Inspired by Dr. Wayne Dyer) We must remember the good. So much of it is worth remembering. A garage where we park our souls. Weighing the life we live andwhat it leaves behind. We must get back into the meditation.A path that you can be on if you just let go of the need to go somewhere. Saying what you have […]
Grooving With the Eternal Now
Art by Mirek Just playing with the eardrums andgrooving with the eternal now, closeyour eyes. Listen to the hum of the world.Simply now. A beginning by listening.Just grooving with the eternal now, thatpeace with understanding. Simply now. George Cassidy Payne is a poet from Rochester, NY. His work has been included in such publications as the Hazmat […]
A Taizé Service
Two weeks ago I had an opportunity to attend a Christian Taizé service at night in a church close to where I’m living. As a Buddhist, I enjoy jumping into new environments to learn about the religious practices of others. In the course of my inter-religious exploration I encounter devotion that strikes a chord, or […]
The Devil of Omniscience
You always get what you want. Everythingcoming in must come out. Intimately. Moving together liketwo sides of the shark when it swims. Psychedelic inflation and the twosides of the universe moving together. Instead of. A mere assumption. Blownup. Holier than thou, Above human. Doing as you will. The whole systemfeeling lifted like a ground becoming light. Nothing making us do anything. The Dao doesn’t […]