“in the gap”
it is within the smallest moments that our lives are shaped
in the gap between stimuli and response
when all still is possible
a lifetime of habits overshadow
the brilliance of this moment
and its unlimited possibilities
so i ask myself to resist
then the instant urge to do
to hold the state of “all is possible”
to pause in the quiet now
listening to the whispers of a freer state of being
until clarity of intent chimes
“until clarity chimes”
“intended”
intentions come and go
appearing like flocks of birds
on the sky canvas of my mind
how many have there been - just today?
and which will stand the test of time?
“keeping the date”
“jewels of instant quiet”
there are these rare moments in life
maybe a handful over decades
touching the deepest core
pure and strong they speak to us
in the wordless language of the Friend
jewels of instant quiet
and belonging
remember then these moments
that sustain
the thread of love
between the Friend and you
“remember often”
“gentle now”
gentle now
with this one life
you have been entrusted with
“blooming in moments of gentleness”
“this body of mine”
i love this body of mine
just look at what it can do
even the gray hairs sprouting from my chin
how can i not be in wondrous amazement, in awe
this body can
walk, listen and see
heal itself and breathe for me
it is a most marvelous machine
my home and temple while here on Earth
observation and reason tells me
that this journey of living
within condensed stardust will end
that this sweet body of mine
will wear out and dissolve
and when that time comes
may my heart be grateful and full of thanks
to this steadfast friend of mine
all the adventures we have had,
of growing together through love and pain,
wisdom and persisting folly
- now, to all the purveyors of views
that tell me: my body is too short, too fat, too old,
too this, too that - i smile,
and without wishing ill to anyone,
twirl and continue to love this body dearly
“when the time comes”
“in the wonderland of human life”
so here we are
you and me
finding ourselves
in this marvel of a galaxy
finding ourselves
in this marvel of a planet
finding ourselves
in this marvel of a human life
anywhere and everywhere
we aim our attention
wonders upon wonders
to be appreciated
celebrated
and marveled at
“gratitude rising”
“unencumbered by past or future”
open spaces
unwritten pages
new beginnings
every breath is such
uncharted potential
a story not yet told
there is great kindness in the now
unencumbered by past or future
lies our chance to try again
clean, free, boundless
“the kindness of now”
“kindness now”
tonight i saw kindness travel
on beams of brightness
reaching out
building bridges
offering encouragement and ease
pure and free
“gifts of kindness”
“infusing our moods”
right now music is being made
all over the world
notes of orchestras playing
in the acoustics of high ceilinged halls
melodies of lone instruments
floating through wide open spaces
impromptu tunes of bands
in village squares
rhythms that move our souls
transporting us, infusing our moods
to sing along, toe tapping, hip swaying, ecstatic dance
or quiet contemplation - we like a good buzz, a fizzy intoxication
what power they hold
these sparks of sound
“a good buzz”
“from the basket of wonder”
can you imagine
once your body was a single cell
ever since, this temple, you call home
has been on a trajectory
progressing through the phases of life
shifting its shape, little by little
you are along for the ride
transforming and being transformed
observing it all
“in and out”
“location, location . . . ”
seven directions
are my good friends
Greetings to the East
and Salutations to the West
Aloha to the South
and my Good Wishes to the North
Up and Down - How do you do?
Within - I welcome you!
to orient
the island of peace
the ripples of light
from the basket of wonder
the gems and joys to be found along the way
“in flux”
“the path is there”
we all suffer from ignorance
we all are in need of more skillful ways
in the meantime what is the antidote
for all our countless follies?
make a home in the heart of forgiveness
and learn to love - more
open, spacious, all enveloping
the path is there, faithfully
and the more it is walked
the easier it becomes
for all
“spacious”
“messages”
on blue wings the peanut eaters arrive
we have a date, each early morning
on the front step of our home
where we exchange tokens of food for messages
in their language, which i am still trying to puzzle out
friendships come in innumerable flavors
growing with each meeting and greeting
as our worlds entwine
“morning meetings”
“homecoming”
covered by sky and stars
cradled by earth
nights spent outside
of the usual shelter of solid walls
nights when i have temporarily
traded comfort for being closer to nature
linger long in my mind
strange how what used to be so natural
is now so removed
do i dare to reclaim this freedom
and gather the ancient vitamin
that comes with the witnessing of the night?
“to reclaim the night”
“the heart of peace”
i went all over the world
looking for a place to find peace
learning
after many miles and many years
that if
i don’t make peace within self
then there is no worldly place
where peace exists for me
“all over the world”
“soft focus”
it still astounds me
what gentle attention can do
. . . how it can bring much well being
letting my mind walk slowly
through my body from head to toe
greeting my eyes, ears, arms, hands, fingers, heart . . .
saying: “hello eyes. please relax and be at ease”
“hello ears. please relax and be at ease”
“hello shoulders . . .
slowly, like on a garden path,
walking through the community of my body
i feel tensions ease and deep calm spread within
it seems that together, mind and body,
we create a small miracle
of greater well being
beautiful what gentle attention can do
“attention”
“winter dreaming”
she comes on crystal quiet feet
in the middle of the night
her presence wakes the whole house
the white princess is visiting
embraced and embracing
we stand together in wonder
while our joy fizzes through the air
“greeting her arrival”
“almost forgotten”
on my shelf there sits a book
called “encyclopedia of the gods”
and in it alphabetized, like a phonebook,
are listed the gods
from A-Z, thousand of them
some celebrities in my culture and time
some almost forgotten
. . . and i imagine how they have been
living in our human hearts and minds and actions
. . . which leads me to ponder the power of mind
that can attach value, ridicule, or hold sacred anything,
not just the gods
. . . so it would seem,
that i can choose my views and values, even my gods
and i am in awe of this gift
choice
- free from my conformity and laziness
it is a thing of beauty
so i counsel myself to use this gift
for more than the choosing of favorite flavors of ice-cream and sitcoms
to get to know it, buoyantly,
and in the process maybe even surprise the gods of old habits
“the gods of old habits”
“pearl in the making”
Sister Irritation
She has a way of coming unannounced
Leaving me her generous gifts
How i used to dread these visits for the long
Hours of discontent, hurt and confusion that followed
Now, her visits still cause wobble
Yet also the appreciation that her gifts
Are pearls in the making
So i ready myself to receive
these seeds of irritation
Welcoming them with openness
Embracing them with not minding
Surrounding them with forgiveness and love
And layer upon layer
Together we grow
A luminous pearl
“pearl mandala - her generous gifts”
“dancing devi”
let us call on
this sweet intoxication,
the angel of dance - and
whirl joy all over the land
feel your greater fluid self
movement rising through the soul
rhythm in wind, waves and blood
music everywhere inviting us
to join in and be joined
by the devi of the dance
“whirling joy all over the land”
stay tuned
with weekly free musings
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