Waking up in the morning
I vow with all beings
to listen to those whom I love,
especially to things they don't say.
Lighting a candle for Buddha
I vow with all beings
to honor your clear affirmation:
"Forget yourself and you're free."
When I stroll around in the city
I vow with all beings
to notice how lichen and grasses
never give up in despair
Watching a spider at work
I vow with all beings
to cherish the web of the universe:
touch one point and everything moves.
When the racket can't be avoided
I vow with all beings
to close my eyes for a moment
and find my treasure right here.
With tropical forests in danger
and slash my consumption of trees.
Watching gardeners label their plants
I vow with all beings
to practice the old horticulture
and let plants identify me.
On reading the words of Thoreau
I vow with all beings
to cherish our home-grown sages
who discern the perennial Way.
Falling asleep at last
I vow with all beings
to enjoy the dark and the silence
and rest in the vast unknown.
I vow with all beings
to listen to those whom I love,
especially to things they don't say.
Lighting a candle for Buddha
I vow with all beings
to honor your clear affirmation:
"Forget yourself and you're free."
When I stroll around in the city
I vow with all beings
to notice how lichen and grasses
never give up in despair
Watching a spider at work
I vow with all beings
to cherish the web of the universe:
touch one point and everything moves.
When the racket can't be avoided
I vow with all beings
to close my eyes for a moment
and find my treasure right here.
With tropical forests in danger
I vow with all beings
to raise hell with the people responsible
and slash my consumption of trees.
Watching gardeners label their plants
I vow with all beings
to practice the old horticulture
and let plants identify me.
On reading the words of Thoreau
I vow with all beings
to cherish our home-grown sages
who discern the perennial Way.
Falling asleep at last
I vow with all beings
to enjoy the dark and the silence
and rest in the vast unknown.
Taken from: The Dragon Who Never Sleeps: Verses for Buddhist Practice
by Robert Aitken.
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| Growing on the rocks - June 2011 |
First two versus resonated deeply with me. Lovely post to read today. Thanks for sharing, Jan!
ReplyDeleteJudy, South Africa
pretty freaken nice;)
ReplyDeletexo
erin
I was lulled and comforted by you post and photo. Lovely indeed.
ReplyDeleteIf you would like to accept, (it is not mandatory --lol) I am gifting you with "The Versatile Blogger Award". It is located here if you choose to accept:
http://willowcrow.blogspot.com/2011/08/versatile-blogger.html
Keep on writing!
Thank you so much for this beautiful words and the gorgeous image.
ReplyDeleteI also want to thank you for your kind and encouraging words on last week's Worthiness Wednesday post. I can't begin to tell you how much they meant to me.
Please continue to shine your light and illuminate us all. It is a privilege to share this space with you.
Kat x
So glad you all enjoyed the verse(and my photo). I am going to have a look at the book - i think i wil love it. Thanks for all of the kind words you have written.
ReplyDelete