it happens all the time in heaven.

It happens all the time in heaven,
And some day

It will begin to happen
Again on earth -

That men and women who are married,
And men and men who are
Lovers,
And women and women
Who give each other
Light,

Often will get down on their knees

And while so tenderly
Holding their lover's hand,

With tears in their eyes,
Will sincerely speak, saying,

"My dear,
How can I be more loving to you;

How can I be more
Kind?"

- Hafiz

radiant presence

However young,
the seeker who sets out upon the Way,
shines bright over the world.

But day and night,
the person who is awake,
shines in the radiance of the Spirit.

Meditate.
Live purely.
Be quiet.
Do your work, with mastery.
Like the moon,
come out from behind the clouds!
Shine.


- from the Dhammapada, translated by Thomas Byrom

Spiritual Journey

And the world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles,
no matter how long,
but only by a spiritual journey,
a journey of one inch,
very arduous and humbling and joyful,
by which we arrive at the ground at our feet,
and learn to be at home.

- Wendell Berry

oh, holy ineffable. for i am in love with your shadow, and i will always love your mystery.

Lousy at Math


Once a group of thieves stole a rare diamond
Larger than a goose egg.

Its value could have easily bought
One thousand horses

And two thousand acres
Of the most fertile land in Shiraz.

The thieves got drunk that night
To celebrate their great haul,

But during the course of the evening
The effects of the liquor
And their mistrust of each other grew to such
An extent

They decided to divide the stone into pieces.
Of course then the Priceless became lost.

Most everyone is lousy at math
And does that to God -

Dissects the Indivisible One,

By thinking, saying,
"This is my Beloved, he looks like this
And acts like that,

How could that moron over there
Really
Be
God."


- Hafiz
from "The Gift" translated by Daniel Ladinsky.


[image created by filipe-ps]

to all yet to risk, i say, yes.

Prospective Immigrants Please Note


Either you will
go through this door
or you will not go through.

If you go through
there is always the risk
of remembering your name.

Things look at you doubly
and you must look back
and let them happen.

If you do not go through
it is possible
to live worthily

to maintain your attitudes
to hold your position
to die bravely

but much will blind you,
much will evade you,
at what cost who knows?

The door itself
makes no promises.
It is only a door.


- Adrienne Rich

le bon mot du jour: connected.

"An individual is a separate
entity without connection.
A person is an individual
connected."

- Swami Prajnanpad

how is it?

the heart continues to beat?
the lungs pump?
involuntary air
when
we ourselves
are not the greatest caretakers
are not so faithful stewards
still

fate
unbidden favor
a reckless grace
brings us endless days
until

lights fade