Category: 2024 spiritual

Ambrosia
Food of gods
The perfume
Of the divine
Immortality
In the midst
Life and love
Impermanence
Ever in this world
Comings going
Continually
Here now
Woke up
Alive again
This morning
Who knows
If still also
Tomorrow
When time
Then it will
Be as it is
Always
Harmony
Of existence
Called Dharma
My teacher
In everyone
And all.

“Bodhicitta contemplation” — ༀ་ཨཱཿ་ཧཱུྃ – Ōṃ āḥ hūṃ – again

Ambrosia, the elixir of life, and impermanence

I have found a Dharma like ambrosia
Deep, peaceful, simple, uncompounded, radiant.
If I explain it no-one will understand,
So I shall stay here silent in the forest.

Impermanence is everywhere, yet I still think things will last.
I have reached the gates of old age, yet I still pretend I am young.
Bless me and misguided beings like me,
That we may truly understand impermanence.

— Words of my perfect teacher by Patrul Rinpoche, translated by the Padmakara Translation Group, pp. 27 & 59

One of the last roses of the year

Let go
of self
and all
be free
you are
and all is
what is
for real
no fiction
clean out
it’s gone
for good
has served
its purpose
in teachings
and masters
as made up
more or less
by wishes
centered
on self
discard
step out
into light
and sound
the divine
moment now
and embrace
the present
life and love.

“Wake and ready for a new day” — let go…

How to dispel adverse circumstances

Think about death and impermanence for a log time. Once you are certain that you are going to die, you will no longer find it hard to put aside harmful actions, nor difficult to do what is right.
After that, meditate for a long time on love and compassion. Once love fills your heart you will no longer find it hard to act for the benefit of others.
Then meditate for a long time on emptiness, the natural state of all phenomena. Once you fully understand emptiness, you will no longer find it hard to dispel all your delusions.

— Geshe Potowa, quoted in Words of my perfect teacher by Patrul Rinpoche, translated by the Padmakara Translation Group, p. 58

Wake and ready for the next generation

No arrogance
Be the best
Sometimes
Rather worst
Not aiming
But being
Condescending
To everything
But oneself
Individually
Or collectively
This had to end
With a clear no
Not any more
Participating
In rat racing
Competition
Let the ball
Pass by free
Where it goes
All by itself
In peace
Of heart
And soul
Harmony
Of love.

“Humble bumble dumble” — homecoming blues

Conceit of views, some blessings, and a raft

“To be attached to a certain view and look down upon other views as inferior — this the wise call a fetter.”
— from the Sutta Nipata, translated by K. R. Norman in The Group of Discourses

“The greatest gain is to give to others; the greatest loss is to receive without gratitude.”
“Neither fire, nor moisture, nor wind can destroy the blessing of a good deed, and blessings benefit the whole world.”
— from The gospel of the Buddha, by Paul Carus

“When [one] has crossed over to the beyond, he [better] leave the raft [that got him there] and proceed on his journey… The raft [is] for getting across, not for retaining.”
— adapted from the Majjhima Nikāya, translated by Christmas Humphreys

“Do not follow the ideas of others, but learn to listen to the voice within yourself. Your body and mind will become clear and you will realize the unity of all things.”
— adapted from the Fukanzazengi, by Zen Master Dogen, translated by Senzaki and McCandless

— Teachings of the Buddha, edited by Jack Kornfield, pp. 86-87, 91, 101, and 150

Beautiful autumn blue — no arrogance

Home, sweet home
It is what it is
Here now
At long last
Or just briefly
Cruising through life
In perfect harmony
One way or another
Chasing the moment
Present is best
Conscious
And silent
With heart
In a world
Of being
A teardrop
Overflowing
From the eye
To a hot stone
Evaporating
As if it never
Ever so was
But we see
Saw for real
And remember
However colored
Letting go is free
Always in spirit
Or even God
The divine.

May we all find refuge in the divine, in the harmony of life, and in our community of heart!

“Remembering Boudhanath“

Conclusions from an enlightened vagabond

No matter if a person’s station in life was high or low, Patrul gave them all the same advice. “Have a good heart and act with kindness. There is no higher teaching.”

Patrul said: “You are confused about ‘faith’ and ‘wrong view’. As to ‘faith’, place your faith in the dharma [the harmony of life]. As to ‘wrong view’, for example, that would be when you place your faith in a particular individual rather than having faith in the dharma [the harmony of life] itself.”

About this time [1886, before he passed on in 1887], Patrul’s behavior started to shift. When he was asked for advice, he no longer made any suggestions, but again and again just said, “It’s up to you. Do whatever you think is best.”

— Enlightened vagabond, the life and teaching of Patrul Rinpoche, Matthieu Ricard, pp. 163 & 157

Home, sweet home — from above