Knowledge

The past is found in the present.
The present belongs to the future.
The future shall never come along.
That is all you need to know.

The Stones

There was this crystal clear pond, without a ripple on it. Alongside the pond sat a small boy. Next to the boy was a large pile of flat stones which the boy was using for water skipping. Got the image in your mind - good, it has not value in this story.

Along the road came a man, a very angry mean man. He kicked a dog he encountered. He poked a cow, he jabbed a goat; you get the picture. He just was not a nice person. Anyway, along the road he walked and eventually he came near the pond (remember the pond) and he tripped. Now he began to swear. And he swore 'til the birds fly away and the pond gets ruffled. That's a lot of swearing.

The boy (ok, so he did matter to the story) became agitated by the man and he asked the man, politely, to stop the cussing. The man simply swore at him too. So the boy responded as any young boy would.

He hit him dead in the forehead with one of the stones.

Mundane

When one thinks the mundane
Contains nothing sacred
That one has failed
To understand the truth
Within sacredness itself
Nothing is mundane

River Ride

Riding down the river
On a raft of wood
Sailing around bends
Drifting in the current
The way just opens up

Already

Waiting to take the first step
You have already arrived
Before you have uttered a word
The greatest truth is spoken

I am You

I am you and you are me
Yet I cannot be you
And you cannot be me
There is no coming and going
And there is no arising
No life force will appear
And none will be practiced

I Stood

I stood upon the precipice
And gazed down from above
I saw my life laid before me
Crushed upon the rocks below

Rain

Drops of water drip upon my face, forming tiny streams of moisture running down the skin. They puddle and merge and run on downward,growing larger as more streams merge. They race for my neck and surge into the collar of my shirt, misting the fabric. While at the same time, droplets splash upon the shirt, wetting it and soaking the material thoroughly. I stand there in the rain enjoying every moment of the experience.

The Failure

The young phoenix arose to view Columbus sail into the islands. He saw him enslave the the natives and kill many who opposed him. He moved north to the main land. He witnessed the colonization of the American continent. He saw the coming of the western migration and the death of the native population. He viewed the railroads and taking of land. He witnessed civil war and industrialization. He saw the two world wars and epidemic diseases spread. He witnessed greed and poverty, war and destruction.

Soon his 500 years were done and he prepared his pyre. He was sad. The phoenix had learned much in 500 years. However, a phoenix was suppose to learn values and ethics and morality. This one had not. He had lived in America for 500 years. He would step into the fire, be consumed and die, and he would not re-emerge. He had failed.

Comes the Day

The morning dew glistens off
The tops of a thousand graves
All lighting up the day

Learning

Learning to talk
Easy
Learning to see
Hard
To speak with wisdom
Not a babe's trick
To see with knowledge
Not a blind man's way

Reason to Live

Driven to despair
Nowhere to turn
Turn upon yourself
And attempt the end
The answer's not there
Find the place of calm
Escape the turmoil
Life is not that bad
It is just for you
Not for everyone
That you need to live

Body and Mind

The mind is better mastered than the body
A mind at peace provides for a body untroubled
When both have drifted away, body and mind
Then the self can accept all things home

Poor People's Rights

Everywhere there are feet stomping
People in the street fighting
What can those poor people do
Except to fight for their rights
The time may be right for violence
But the poor get no support
And the rich all close ranks
Cause it's better to save money
Than to stand with what's right
So what can those poor people do
Except to fight for what's right

Differences

Everything may be real
Each and every person true
But a distance exists 'tween
Real, true and perfect and complete

Who Cares Then

When people stand up to their government with proper grievances and protest and attempt to overthrow or even have those grievances addressed, it puzzles me why the whole world's boy stands by idly watching, in tactile support of the "legitimate" government, while giving minor lip service to the 'horror' of the debacle unfolding before them. Then when the government has crushed the uprising and reestablished the control it has had, then the world comes out and expresses its' outrage. Who cares then?

Atonement

The man doubles his fist in anger
Neither yin nor yang exists then
He stands alone in his judgment
For his action cannot be atoned

Power of Will

A man comes to the shore of the ocean. he owns no ship or boat and he has no means to cross the ocean, yet 2 days later he is seen walking on the far side of the ocean, along the beach. The person who spots him is a friend from the two they both come from and so he asks the man how he arrived so quickly, as he did not see him on his plane flight. the man smiled and said it was just an act of will. they spent several pleasant days together and when it was time to return home, the one went to the airport and the other to the ocean shore. Once again, two days later, in their home town, they met. Thoroughly amazed, the friend again inquired as to how the man got home. the man again mention the strength of will.

Some days later, the friend encountered the man's daughter and mentioned the trip and running into the daughter's father. The girl laughed and said he must be dreaming. Her father had been in bed with a broken leg the past ten days and had never left the house. Other then eating and sleeping, all he had done was meditate.

Understanding

If you want to understand life
Look to the autumn
Search the leaves as they fall
Feel the wind blow
Then you know life as it is

Man

If you cannot free yourself
So that habits rule you
How can you ever release
What is the true inner self
When the man is ruled by parts
Instead of the parts ruled
By the true and complete man

George

George was an imperfect man. He drank heavy and he liked to play cards and he was a pool shark. George had operated an illegal bar and had a private still and probably done other things too.

George grew up fast. When he was twelve, he left home and started his adult life. He worked from then until he was sixty-five, fifty-three years. He worked through a depression, when no one worked, he worked at different jobs, but he worked. He was a butcher, a grocer, a factory worker, an inspector, a barkeeper, a speakeasy owner, and through all the years, he earned a living. His family survived and he put food on the table and a roof over their heads. They were educated and brought up with values.

George had time for people. He could make you laugh and he could teach you. In my own case, he spent a lot of time teaching me. There were little lessons, but the important lessons he taught me were how to be myself. He knew more about being true to yourself then anyone I ever meet. He explained the importance of honesty, both to others and to self. He was Buddha and never knew it.

George is gone along time now, but I think of him often. He was my friend. He may have been imperfect, but George was the most perfect man I ever meet in my life. I treasure every day I ever spent with the man.

Clouds

The clouds roll in
Layer upon layer
Three layers high
Stacking so high
The sky is filled
And the air is gone
Soon the storm arrives
Flashing and crashing
Booms and blinks alight
The excitement delights
Still the clouds dominate

Never Irritate III

As our story opens, we find our friend sitting outside his cave munching on a couple hind quarters, carrying on a conversation with his dear friend, the sister of the departed SRR. His friend, whose name was Sue, as it turned out, was bringing him up to date on local events. She also helped, well sort of, prepare the two hind quarters for her friend (schmucks).

As they conversed, a salesman wandered up the path and stopped near them. Sue said, “Go away.” But of course, he didn’t.

Our good friend also encouraged departure by frowning, leering, and growling, but the salesman, like his breed, just stood his ground. “Good afternoon,” he exclaimed, “and it is a lovely day indeed. May I have a few moments of your time?” Of course, he didn’t really care if they wanted to provide a few moments or not, which they most certainly did not. So with the formalities out of the way, he immediately launched into his pitch.

Sue tried once more to dissuade the obnoxious man from irritating her friend, which, as we know tends to fire him up a bit. However, he would not be put aside and continued on. In fact, he dismissed Sue by saying, “Missy, why don’t you just go sit your pretty little behind down over yonder and we men will be with you by and by. Don’t worry; we’ll take care of you if you’re good – we’ll take real good care, won’t we brother.”

Feeling the campfire suddenly being built anew, the salesman turned his attention back to the other participant. Our friend had developed a strange glint in his eye, a narrowing of the orb shall we also point out. Glancing at Sue, he said while ignoring the salesman for a moment, “I have been most impolite. What kind of host am I? Here I have sat eating hind quarters ‘til I nearly burst [though who’d a thought middle age meat would be that tender?]. Let me prepare you a delicious order of ribs.”

Sue laughed, most heartily, quickly agreed to this, saying “I don’t think I’ve ever had your ribs prepared for me. I am so looking forward to this. I can feel the fire arising before me right now.”

The salesman, listening to the request, and not to be ignored any longer, burst in and said, “You know, I like my ribs as well as the next guy. Why should she enjoy them and not me?”

Our friend agreed and acquiesced to his request.

The Cave Dweller

The other day, our two friends were together, when the one who lived in the cave announced to the one who was visiting that, as they were sitting upon the edge of a sheer cliff, with no path, no climbing equipment, no food sources, and having no means to either have gained entry to the cave, the cliff, or continued nourishment, therefore, they did not exist.

Having realized the truth of the statement the visitor quit speaking to the cave dweller, as he realized he did not exist. The cave dweller, having nothing more to add, knowing he too was non-existent, arose and returned to the cave. Silence reigned over the cliff.

Morning arose and the cave dweller with it. His routine was unbroken and he came to the cliff’s edge once again to receive the dawn. The visitor still sat as he was, on the edge staring off into the skies. The sun rose slowly across the forest below, dazzling the two men with the beauty. It rose higher until it fill the cliff face and the cave with light.

Reaching this juncture, the dweller stood and returned to his daily routine. The visitor continued to sit. The day progressed like any other and dusk soon came. The dweller now returned to the edge to join his comrade. The shadows were spreading across the fields and trees below, enveloping all in darkness. As it grew dark, the cave dweller thought about his non-existence.

How is it, if I do not exist, I feel the sun’s rays? Why do I think and perform tasks? Why did I form rational thought and give a view to my friend here?

At that moment the visitor disappear by tumbling over the side of the cliff, free-falling down the side of the cliff, to his sure death. Why do I feel nothing about my friend’s actions? And why do I now want to return to the cave because it is dark?

The next morning, the cave dweller rose from his bed and left the cave to view the rising sun. Exiting the cave, he found the visitor once more on the edge of the cliff, awaiting him. When he sat down, the visitor said, “You know, you were wrong about that non-existent thing. We do exist. I tested your theory and, though I don’t recommend the method, the results were conclusive. You’re wrong.”

The Path

Throw the dice
One side up
One side down
Luck of the draw
Live your life
If that's the choice
You're a fool too
Make a choice and
Don't follow luck
Wisdom is the path

The True Path

There is one path with no gates
All other paths lead to this one
When you find yourself there
And realize there are no gates
You have found heaven and earth

Spring

Grass blades bend with the wind
The closer you try to get
The further away you become
Spring comes when it wants
There's nothing you can do
When it's here, it truly is

Eyes and Ears

When looking for majestic ranges
Or the beauty of a rushing stream
One cannot gaze into a mirror
Wild geese and ducks still sound
But don't look to hear them in the city

Rain

Pouring down upon the road
Running off the roofs
Water piling up everywhere
Yet no one stops to admire
Nature's beauty is around
But we rush through the day
We cuss and fuss and fume
Wishing it would go away
Please stay yet this day

An Interruption

You're walking down a road and you encounter a number of people. The first is a pleasant man who, during the course of conversation, you discover, is a poet laureate. In respect to his interests, you compose a poem on the spot and offer it to him. You part and continue to walk. soon you met a young woman. She begins to speak with you and you learn she is a famous fencing instructor. Amazed because you have just purchased a sword yourself, you offer your weapon to her to have her demonstrate her skills. Grateful for the respect shown, she takes the weapon and dances a round, dazzling you with her footwork. retrieving your possession, you move on only to now encounter another gentleman. This individual is a NRA gun collector. Talking to him, you find out he is a racist obnoxious man with anti-society beliefs. He pulls out a large hand gun. He tells you this is a fully loaded and primed 45 caliber automatic and will blow a hole through a barn. Impressed, you ask if you might see the gun a moment. He agrees and passes it over. You ask if the safety is on or off. The man checks and clicks the safety off and points it out to you. As he does, you bring the gun up in your gloved hand and blow his head off. Thinking, he was right about the hole in the barn analogy, you toss the gun by the body and continue your pleasant stroll.

Think Right

Simple questions beget simple answers.
There are many more grains of sand,
Then there are cells in your brain.
Think of the beach and the sand,
Not of yourself and your mind.

Engaged

The wind blows gently
Stirring the flag lightly
The mind moves slowly
In the same manner politely
But when your mouth open
All things go wrong

World of Terror

Light the match
Watch the flame
Set the wood ablaze
Embers fly high
Yellow turns blue
Climb upon the pyre
Arise from it anew
All mighty phoenix
Look at the world
You will reenter
Maybe then the cycle
Will be broken finally
And you'll reenter
The world of flame forever

Never Irritate II

You remember our friend who lived in the cave up the path from the former village. You know, the vegetarian who found out he really did like standing rib roast. Well since his last visitors, he had been left alone, pretty much. The sister of SRR, as he had come to be known, still, on occasion, came to visit. She was one of those rare individuals who had figured it out that irritating the cave dweller just was a bad idea for those involved.

Well, one day a group of five stiff backs, better known as businessmen, came parading up the hillside to the cave entrance. They called out the occupant. When they received no response, they tried again, and again and again. Eventually, our friend emerged, sullen and definitely not in the best of moods. He appeared to have a sour stomach, as he kept burping or belching up small flames. Probably he had eaten a Mexican dinner recently.

Anyway, the head of the group announced that they wanted to do a documentary film about the dying breed of which our friend was supposedly a member. "No thanks." replied the cave dweller.

Not to be put off easily, the businessmen offered incentives and inducements to sweeten the offer. Still the sullen animal was uninterested. He asked, very nicely I might note, for the visitors to leave. Of course, they choose not to. When they persisted, he insisted. The stand-off continued.

Finally, the occupant said to his annoying visitors, "I recently ended my vegetarian ways and became a meat eater. Of course, this may not be relevant to this conversation, but suddenly, I am very hungry. I have never had rump roast. Now at my size, it will take several orders to fill me, say about five. I think I'll eat now."

So he did.

Learning

If I heard a hundred different sounds,
They would pale along one good sight.
If I sat through dozens of lessons,
But learned only one great truth,
Then I would be a truly learned man.

The Right Path

A young boy was walking down a path. He came to a fork in the path. The fork to the left lead up the mountain and was a steep walk. The fork to the right was a gentle decline into the valley below. The boy, who was very spoiled, choose to go to the right.

After a little while he encountered a fox. The fox stopped in front of him and spoke to him. By the way, if you have not yet made this determination, the area is magical, to some extent, as all animals are able to talk and interact with humans, though why is indeterminable. Any way, the fox did speak and he said to the young boy, "Hello there. I am very hungry. Give me all your food. If you don't, I will be most upset."

The boy replied, "I am not inclined to do so. Please step aside."

The fox then responded, "If you do not do as I ask I will eat you instead. I know your mother probably made your lunch and she will replace your loss easily, so what is the big deal anyway?"

Well, the boy thought about this for a moment and saw the logic of the fox's words and so he agreed and turned over his food to the fox and the two of them parted company. The boy proceeded down the path into the valley. Eventually he met a bear. The bear held up a paw to stop the boy. When both had stopped walking the bear looked at the boy, who was wearing a lovely necklace, a gift from his father. The bear said, "I greatly admire your necklace, but I do believe it would look better on me then on you. Give it here or I'll rip your head off and take it any way."

Now the boy immediately understand the situation and the logic here. He knew his father would easily replace the necklace, so he handed it over quickly without discussion. Laughing the bear strolled away. Shook up a bit but unharmed, the boy began walking again. Next he ran into a wolf. Now we all know about wolves and the boy was scared as soon as he spotted the animal approaching. Before the wolf even spoke, the boy shouted out, "The fox and the bear have already taken my food and jewelry. All I have left are my clothes, Here, take them." With that, he ripped his clothes off and threw them at the wolf."

The wolf stared at the boy and the pile of clothes for a moment. Then he said, "All I wanted was to ask if you knew the way to the mountain. However, I'll take your clothes because you are foolish and deserve to be taught a lesson." With that the wolf left.

Here the boy stood, naked, with his jewelry, and with no food to eat; all because he choose the path to the right, the easy path. That is the problem for most people, they choose the path of least resistance; the one where they have to work the smallest amount. In the end, they have nothing but their own embarrassment to show for their efforts and they are living off the handouts of others and are being taken advantage of.

The light has not pierced the void.
That which is distant seems close.
That which is close seems distant.
Those who are lost are not yet found.

Trouble

There are three ways to know you are in trouble:

1. You are in prison and are told they intend to place all your extremities in restraints, but they have made no provisions for your head.

2. You are holding up a door and frame of your house, but the house in falling down upon you.

3. You live in a world that does not allow you to meditate upon your existence.

My Life

Good news, bad news, it's all the same.
They say like you want to hear it,
But the truth is they can keep it.
Cheerfulness, sadness, don't need it.
Live my life my way, leave me alone.

Art

I hear the song the bird sings
I feel the warmth of the sun
I am amazed by the willows
I get bumps from the gentle wind
What can an artist draw that
Could ever touch this world?

Real

She came to me when she was young
'Cause she knew who I was, safe;
But I showed her, we fell in love.
Now I come to her when she's not young
'Cause I know who she is, mine;
But she shows me, we still are in love.

Commentary

When we were young, we fought and died in the streets.
And I said my good-byes.
Later we were older, we went to war and fought for Sam.
And I said my good-byes.
Then some were killed and bought back in bags.
And I said my good-byes.
After that, we sat around and we got high somewhat.
And I said my good-byes.
But we just had to take it much too far it seemed.
And I said my good-byes.
Now we grew so very much older and our friends were still dying.
And I said my good-byes.
I got so very tired of this merry-go round.
Why did I keep having to say good-bye.

My Home

Turn the lights out
I've left my home
Pick up the rugs
There's no walking here
Drag the chairs away
You don't want to sit
Michigan died seven years ago today.

The Most

He was the most ferocious,
But he had no fangs and claws.
He roared all the loudest,
Yet he lacked a backbone.
When it came to leadership
He was dimwitted indeed.

Variation on a Theme

The one who has gain knowledge
He is one of the family;
But the one who has failed,
He is no one but a stranger.
When several have understanding,
They too are then strangers.
However they have lack learning,
Are at once our brothers.

Thank you son

He walked into the town square. He asked the woman selling plates. She could not help him. He went to the wise man selling potions. He then asked him his question. This man could not help him. Then he ventured to the temple. he sought out the monk who had been there many years. Again he asked of the monk the same question. The monk carefully listened, shook his head, and turned him away. He started for home. On the way, he ran into his son. Son, he said, "I have asked everyone I have met today, what is true love? No one knows the answer."

His son looked at his father and said, "That is because they have never understood the love of a father and a son." His father smiled and they went home together.

Another Day

Sixty thoughts have passed my mind
Sixty steps have crossed my path
Sixty notes were waiting for me
Sixty people wished me well
What the hell does it mean?

Two Thieves

When you are taught that fire is light
Question the wisdom of the thought
For when two men meet in the night
They know each other on sight
No introduction, in intersection
And certainly, no invitation.

Walking

Open path winding long
Turning left, wooded path
Winding right, round a bend
Cross a stream, thru a vale
In the end, going nowhere
Beautiful day for a walk

Intuition

Before the first step is taken
Man has set his life's path.
Before the first word is spoken
The entire speech is said.
You need more than intuition
To find the correct way.

The Staffs

I came upon you. You already had a staff you were using. So I gave you another. Some time later I encountered you and you had no staff. So I removed mine.

Humble

Following along behind
Listening to the praise
Always second best
Never to be first place
Yet there was love
Humility’s a bitch

Pretty as a Picture

Pretty as a picture
Just about as real
All the little pieces
Fit together well
Substance and form
Really just a shame
Pretty little picture
Faded just the same

Illusionary

Dancing illusions
Merry thoughts
How I wish for such
Dark shadows
Weary conclusions
And then I awake

The Summons

The Zen master sat in the front of the temple. He rang a bell and summoned his student. When the student appeared before him, he bowed and dismissed him. Three more times he rang the bell and three more times he bowed and dismissed the student as soon as he appeared before him. Then he summoned him yet again.

This time, when the student appeared, the master said, “I had always thought I had been here with my back always to you. Instead now I find myself standing with you, all alone, with your back to me.”

Looking

Looking out the window
There’s rain in the trees
Near the river, I can see
The willow dancing in the breeze
These lessons are always there
I’ve heard them over again
Have you ever listened?

A Mind

Push me no more my friend
I like not the pressure
Hassle me like you're doing
I'll snap you like a twig
I have no weapons, no fists
I choose to destroy you
With that which you lack
A mind

Weep No More

Weep no more
The loss is beyond you
Hold your tears
The world will still be
You still care even when others
Care not for their selves

Both Sides

Sound and form
Function and device
Can’t get around them
Cannot get through them
Mountains and lakes are real
And are not just in mirrors
With one side bright
One side dark
Yet both can be surpassed

Life

On the outside
Rain in the trees
Leaves in the air
Dancing by the river
Blades of grass stir
Water of the edge
Life is vibrant
Feel it in your mind
Hear it with your skin