In the early morning

I rise in the half-light at 6am
Dress in my trousers of soft red cotton
Pull on a t-shirt and worn green sweater
Cover my feet in some stripy brown socks

I pull open the curtains
Let in the grey morning light
I glance out at to the garden and houses beyond
As the light gently bathes my bedroom

I listen to a scattering of bird song
Set the cushions ready and place the gong nearby
Visit the bathroom and relieve my bladder
Pad quietly downstairs

Tidy away the curtain over the back door
Glance into the garden
Turn and cross the lounge
Open the door and enter the hall

Slip on my green trainers
Put on my old teal fleece jacket
Reach around the archway into the kitchen
Pick up the back door key on its extra large ring

Unlock the back door and place the key on the table
Step outside into the cool grey morning
Hear the bamboo wind chimes clonk for a moment
Close the door, then silence

Stretch and exercise, allowing the morning in
In through my eyes, my ears, my nose and all of my body
The little ragged garden and houses beyond
Grey concrete below, grey cloudy sky above

Fat pigeons
Suddenly clatter
And flap off
To another rooftop

Bow to the morning

I open the door, step inside and lock it once more
Walk back to the hall and return the key
Take off my trainers and jacket
Walk upstairs feeling cool and alive

Kneel down and light a match
Light two candles in tall brass candlestick holders
Blow out the match and light an incense stick from a candle
Plant the incense into the fine ash in the censer

Light for the Buddha
Light for the morning
Light for the day
Light for all beings

Bow
Kneel, hands down, head down, hands open
Hands close, push off and stand once more
Three prostrations
Bow

Rearrange the cushions and sit down on them
Pick up my mobile phone, set the timer to 30 minutes
Put down the phone and pick up the striker
For the little green brass gong with the eyes of compassion inside

Bong… bong… bong…

Sitting

Breathing, wrestling thoughts, concerns
A scattering of bird song
The wind chimes clonk
Breathing, time goes by

The mobile phone buzzes 30 minutes
Bong… bong… bong…
Bow to the Buddha
Slowly unfold my legs and stand up

Pad downstairs and go to the kitchen
Select a bowl from yesterday, peel and slice the last banana into it
Sprinkle rolled oats, then sultanas
Pour apple juice into a glass

Place a mat on the table
Put the bowl and the glass onto the mat
Along with a spoon and a box of rice milk
Return quietly upstairs

Sit on the cushions
Set the timer on the mobile phone

Bong… bong… bong…

Bow

A few thoughts drift to the surface, then pass on by
A scattering of bird song, the clonking of the wind chimes

The mobile phone buzzes 30 minutes

Bong… bong… bong…

Bow to the Buddha

Tidy the cushions away
Kneel down and face the altar

Recite the Heart Sutra

Gate… Gate… Paragate… Parasamgate… Bodhi Svaha

Recite the Four Great vows

I vow to delivery innumerable sentient being
I vow to cut off endless vexations
I vow to master limitless approaches to dharma
I vow to attain supreme Buddhahood

Bow

Prostrate three times

Bow

Blow out the candles
Change into clothes for the day
Walk softly downstairs for breakfast


[24 April 2006]