48
Enough
Enough. These few words are enough.
If not these words, this breath,
If not this breath, this sitting here.
This opening to the life
we have refused
again and again
until now.
Until now.
~David Whyte
(Photo by Kathy S. Gillentine)
Joshu was asked,
“When a man comes to you with nothing,
what would you say to him ?”
Joshu replied, “Throw it away!”
(Photo by Andris Eglitis)
The practice of ‘letting go’ is very effective for minds obsessed by compulsive thinking: you simplify your meditation practice down to just two words – ‘letting go’ – rather than try to develop this practice and then develop that; and achieve this and go into that, and understand this, and read the Suttas, and study the Abhidhamma … and then learn Pali and Sanskrit … then the Madhyamika and the Prajña Paramita … get ordinations in the Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana … write books and become a world renowned authority on Buddhism. Instead of becoming the world’s expert on Buddhism and being invited to great International Buddhist Conferences, just ‘let go, let go, let go’.
I did nothing but this for about two years – every time I tried to understand or figure things out, I’d say ‘let …go, let go’ until the desire would fade out. So I’m making it very simple for you, to save you from getting caught in incredible amounts of suffering. There’s nothing more sorrowful than having to attend International Buddhist Conferences! Some of you might have the desire to become the Buddha of the age, Maitreya, radiating love throughout the world – but instead, I suggest just being an earthworm, letting go of the desire to radiate love throughout the world. Just be an earthworm who knows only two words – ‘let go, let go, let go’.
Ajahn Sumehdo (via accidentalbuddhist)
let it go - the
smashed word broken
open vow or
the oath cracked length
wise - let it go it
was sworn to
go
let them go - the
truthful liars and
the false fair friends
and the boths and
neithers - you must let them go they
were born
to go
let all go - the
big small middling
tall bigger really
the biggest and all
things - let all go
dear
so comes love
smashed word broken
open vow or
the oath cracked length
wise - let it go it
was sworn to
go
truthful liars and
the false fair friends
and the boths and
neithers - you must let them go they
were born
to go
big small middling
tall bigger really
the biggest and all
things - let all go
dear
e.e. cummings (via urmi7)
Improvisations on a Poem
The poem is for a future:
you think of crimson wine - crushing
a slow soaking - seeping
you think of bubbles -
bubbles dodging, floating, shivering
A poem is for the future, but love,
love has to be now:
you think of a cliff -
a melting cliff - you surrender
and slide
(Photo by Martin Rak)
So we sit down, we’re quiet for a while.
And gradually the unwinding happens —
of the mind, and the body, and the heart.
And then maybe we get a glimpse, or a taste, of freedom;
and if we do, then we give our attention to that.
We surrender to that presence.
Dropping out of our heads and surrendering to stillness,
one-pointed presence, effortless vastness.
We let it take us, completely.
That’s what surrender is.
Jon Bernie, Ordinary Freedom
(via paynehollow)
Silence
A day of Silence
Can be a pilgrimage in itself.
A day of Silence
Can help you listen
To the Soul play
In marvelous lute and drum.
Is not most talking
A crazed defense of a crumbling fort?
I thought we came her
To surrender in Silence,
To yield to Light and Happiness,
To Dance within
In celebration of Love’s Victory!
~Hafiz, (trans. Daniel Ladinsky)
(Photo: by dansiga)
no word is real enough
to conjure up a crumb of bread
still we try to find nourishment
in endless musing
no thought is thick enough
to cushion a fall
yet we pursue idle distractions
while tripping on obstacles in our path
there is a silent voice behind the words
there is a quiet source of every thought
listen without your ears
ponder without your mind
rest your senses and your sense
for just one moment of this stillness
will sustain and uphold you forever
~Nirmala
(Photo: by Pete.J.Dunham)
