In this unfractured universe
where can this
“bothersome”*
be found?
Why expend so much
energy looking for fractures
in this unfractured
unfracturable
whole?
[16 Dec 2007]
Posts
Not just science or religion - Accepting Uncertainty
11 years ago
24 December 2007
23 December 2007
Overflowing
Scrabbling for pen and paper
How can I put this into words?
This fullness, this joy!
This wonder, this beauty!
This overflowing of love
Arising as I gaze to the moon
Pausing on the old bridge
To reflect on the beauty & stillness
Within this bustling Hereford evening
[22 Dec 2007]
Falling
Crossing the Wye
in the early evening
suddenly falling
deeper and deeper
into the depths
of the moon
shining shining
rippling rippling
reflected in the running waters
under the vast arch
of deep blue sky
[22 Dec 2007]
17 December 2007
Greeting the morning
The stars overcome their shyness
And slowly emerge to greet me
From the dark morning sky
As my eyes adjust to the world outside
[11 Dec 2007]
And slowly emerge to greet me
From the dark morning sky
As my eyes adjust to the world outside
[11 Dec 2007]
Frost
The garden twinkles
in the dark morning
stars that fell in love
with the green earth
have come to play
to sing and dance
in the garden
with twinkling
smiles of joy!
[11 Dec 2007]
in the dark morning
stars that fell in love
with the green earth
have come to play
to sing and dance
in the garden
with twinkling
smiles of joy!
[11 Dec 2007]
09 December 2007
06 December 2007
Precious Gratitude
It used to be that I looked to the night sky
And only saw the moon so bright and round
Now that I have met you the night sky seems so different
No longer is the silent moon complete and all that I see
Instead I look to the night sky and seeing the moon
I look around for the stars that accompany it
For a solitary moon might be full of beauty
But together with the stars it is a dance joy and delight!
[05 Dec 2007]
And only saw the moon so bright and round
Now that I have met you the night sky seems so different
No longer is the silent moon complete and all that I see
Instead I look to the night sky and seeing the moon
I look around for the stars that accompany it
For a solitary moon might be full of beauty
But together with the stars it is a dance joy and delight!
[05 Dec 2007]
02 December 2007
White bell tent
Night falls
as the woods fade
into the darkness and mist
as the burning coals
give off a soft rosy glow
as smoke gently curls
rising from the incense stick
as the night owls fly
on their way through the woods
[01 Dec 2007]
Precious Woods, Newcastle Emlyn, 03 Nov 2007
as the woods fade
into the darkness and mist
And I retreat insideWarmth radiates
the white bell tent
as the burning coals
give off a soft rosy glow
Joined by the light ofFragrance wafts
a single small flame
as smoke gently curls
rising from the incense stick
Simply arranged besideCries echo
a small vase of flowers
as the night owls fly
on their way through the woods
And I sleep cosy and warm
in the white bell tent
[01 Dec 2007]
Precious Woods, Newcastle Emlyn, 03 Nov 2007
01 December 2007
Moments of the morning
Stretching limbs
A lively little sparrow
Joins me as it sits in the tree
For a moment
Glancing up
The bright half moon
Joins me as the clouds part
For a moment
Mind settling
A warm memory of you
Joins me as I sit with Buddha
For a moment
[01 Dec 2007]
A lively little sparrow
Joins me as it sits in the tree
For a moment
Glancing up
The bright half moon
Joins me as the clouds part
For a moment
Mind settling
A warm memory of you
Joins me as I sit with Buddha
For a moment
[01 Dec 2007]
29 November 2007
Foolish, later
A late night toilet trip
And I return to the zoo
Snores, grunts, groans, wheezes
Reverberate up and down the space
Beneath the Cosmic Buddha's smile
As I too smile and return to sleep
[25 Nov 2007]
And I return to the zoo
Snores, grunts, groans, wheezes
Reverberate up and down the space
Beneath the Cosmic Buddha's smile
As I too smile and return to sleep
[25 Nov 2007]
Foolish
Upstairs people
Toss and turn restless
As a loud snore
Fills the space
But I stand
At the window
Gazing outside
To the bright moon
And the Evening Star
With a foolish grin
And a heart full of joy
[24 Nov 2007]
Toss and turn restless
As a loud snore
Fills the space
But I stand
At the window
Gazing outside
To the bright moon
And the Evening Star
With a foolish grin
And a heart full of joy
[24 Nov 2007]
No joke!
The moon is out again
As the clouds race by
It's bright light
Pierces right through
Direct to my eye
While the cold wind blows
As I pause in the cloister
To compose a short poem
[24 Nov 2007]
As the clouds race by
It's bright light
Pierces right through
Direct to my eye
While the cold wind blows
As I pause in the cloister
To compose a short poem
[24 Nov 2007]
What Question?
An honoured monk suggests I
Might have an interesting
Question or two
But really what else
Is there to ask
Besides how to solve
The Great Matter
And this bothersome “I”?
[24 Nov 2007]
Might have an interesting
Question or two
But really what else
Is there to ask
Besides how to solve
The Great Matter
And this bothersome “I”?
[24 Nov 2007]
Evening walk
The bright moon
Accompanies me
Whispers to me
Softly, so peacefully
Then suddenly I see
A handful of stars
Sending a spark
Straight to my heart
As joy bubbles up
With a grin!
[23 Nov 2007]
Accompanies me
Whispers to me
Softly, so peacefully
Then suddenly I see
A handful of stars
Sending a spark
Straight to my heart
As joy bubbles up
With a grin!
[23 Nov 2007]
Intimate
Cutting squashes
My mind drifts
And I cut
Nanquan's cat* instead
Suddenly, awareness
Brings me back
Intimate with
Cutting squashes
[22 Nov 2007]
*Book of Serenity, Case 9: Nanquan Kills a Cat
My mind drifts
And I cut
Nanquan's cat* instead
Suddenly, awareness
Brings me back
Intimate with
Cutting squashes
[22 Nov 2007]
*Book of Serenity, Case 9: Nanquan Kills a Cat
Revealing
Cutting pumpkins
Squashes actually
Scooping the seeds out
Revealing a heart shaped space
[22 Nov 2007]
Squashes actually
Scooping the seeds out
Revealing a heart shaped space
[22 Nov 2007]
19 November 2007
Under the stars
Shining points of light
Cutting through the night
Right into my heart
The joy of being awake
Tonight!
[15 Nov 2007]
Cutting through the night
Right into my heart
The joy of being awake
Tonight!
[15 Nov 2007]
The Abbey Bells
I light the altar candles
in the early morning gloom
And then the abbey bells
from a mile or two away
penetrate the room
Or do they ring within my mind?
As we practice awakening
Together, the bells and I
[31 Oct 2007]
in the early morning gloom
And then the abbey bells
from a mile or two away
penetrate the room
Or do they ring within my mind?
As we practice awakening
Together, the bells and I
[31 Oct 2007]
Surrender (Awake 2)
And yet this morning
There is something so
Calm and refreshing
Tender and intimate
Relaxing and surrendering
To the touch and the feel
Of the crashing cold
Water on my face
[26 Oct 2007]
There is something so
Calm and refreshing
Tender and intimate
Relaxing and surrendering
To the touch and the feel
Of the crashing cold
Water on my face
[26 Oct 2007]
Awake
Standing in the shower cubicle,
I press the button.
A sudden torrent of cold water
Greets me,
Drenching me in shock!
Reassuring thoughts babble on;
That soon the water will be warm.
But they are powerless against
The sheer physicality of being awake,
In the shocking cold water
And then the warm water comes,
Bathing me, embracing me.
My body drinks it in,
With deep appreciation
And awareness
Ahh!
[01 Oct 2007]
I press the button.
A sudden torrent of cold water
Greets me,
Drenching me in shock!
Reassuring thoughts babble on;
That soon the water will be warm.
But they are powerless against
The sheer physicality of being awake,
In the shocking cold water
And then the warm water comes,
Bathing me, embracing me.
My body drinks it in,
With deep appreciation
And awareness
Ahh!
[01 Oct 2007]
6:15am Friday
A gentle pattering
As the breeze laps
At the poplar tree
On this dark Autumn morning
[28 Sep 2007]
As the breeze laps
At the poplar tree
On this dark Autumn morning
[28 Sep 2007]
Self-centred
I vow to delivery innumerable sentient beings
And yet
While there is an “I”
There will always be
Suffering
[06 Sep 2007]
And yet
While there is an “I”
There will always be
Suffering
[06 Sep 2007]
Arriving
The days may pass slowly
Doing very little
But the years pass swiftly
Filled with events
Ages I once talked about
As distant as the planets
Now just around the corner
Awaiting my arrival
[02 Sep 2007]
Doing very little
But the years pass swiftly
Filled with events
Ages I once talked about
As distant as the planets
Now just around the corner
Awaiting my arrival
[02 Sep 2007]
A Silly Poem
Sunday morning
and the rain pours down
the patio starts to flood
and we add the numbers up
write the letters in a row
homework's all done!
Start to cook lunch
and my mind begins to wonder
what she's doing now
down the other end of there
far away from here
and yet also close somehow
Staring at her photos
for far too long last night
sharing broken languages
and insights into living
laughing at ourselves
as we both turn into pumpkins
This funny silly sparrow
landing in my life
via msn and skype
touching down upon my desktop
causing endless smiles
and not a little strife!
[18 Nov 2007]
and the rain pours down
the patio starts to flood
and we add the numbers up
write the letters in a row
homework's all done!
Start to cook lunch
and my mind begins to wonder
what she's doing now
down the other end of there
far away from here
and yet also close somehow
Staring at her photos
for far too long last night
sharing broken languages
and insights into living
laughing at ourselves
as we both turn into pumpkins
This funny silly sparrow
landing in my life
via msn and skype
touching down upon my desktop
causing endless smiles
and not a little strife!
[18 Nov 2007]
03 October 2007
Writing Late at night
writing late at night
dim torchlight in the tent
the pen in my right hand
mysteriously moves across
the page leaving ink marks
as it goes
my glasses put away i hold
the paper to my nose
hoping that i'll still be
able to read it in the light of day
[19 Aug 2007]
dim torchlight in the tent
the pen in my right hand
mysteriously moves across
the page leaving ink marks
as it goes
my glasses put away i hold
the paper to my nose
hoping that i'll still be
able to read it in the light of day
[19 Aug 2007]
A glimpse of the moon
A glimpse of the moon
A radiant golden sphere
Settling down into the trees
As I head for my tent
[23 Aug 2007]
A radiant golden sphere
Settling down into the trees
As I head for my tent
[23 Aug 2007]
The stream roars
The stream roars
like
the wind in the trees
or is it
the wind in the trees
All sounds of nature
singing one song
[22 Aug 2007]
like
the wind in the trees
or is it
the wind in the trees
All sounds of nature
singing one song
[22 Aug 2007]
How to capture that feeling in words?
How to capture that feeling in words?
Everything's OK.
She'll be right mate!
No worries!
No problem!
Everything in its place.
Mountains are just mountains.
Body and mind at ease.
Just a glimpse of a moment,
Being present.
[22 Aug 2007]
Everything's OK.
She'll be right mate!
No worries!
No problem!
Everything in its place.
Mountains are just mountains.
Body and mind at ease.
Just a glimpse of a moment,
Being present.
[22 Aug 2007]
Drums beat
Drums beat while
The moon struggles
To break free of the oak
And the evening star winks
[22 Aug 2007]
The moon struggles
To break free of the oak
And the evening star winks
[22 Aug 2007]
Walking together
Walking together
Song and dance on the hill fort
The melancholy nature of being human
[22 Aug 2007]
Song and dance on the hill fort
The melancholy nature of being human
[22 Aug 2007]
Memories of Tess
A dream of dancing,
Music and bodies,
Filling the space.
And Tess.
Dancing!
Dancing!
Dancing!
A flame of life.
[20 Aug 2007]
Music and bodies,
Filling the space.
And Tess.
Dancing!
Dancing!
Dancing!
A flame of life.
[20 Aug 2007]
The sting of the smoke
the sting of the smoke
the warmth of the embers
the crackle of the flames
the fire speaks to me
and i listen
[19 Aug 2007]
the warmth of the embers
the crackle of the flames
the fire speaks to me
and i listen
[19 Aug 2007]
Not feeling the need
not feeling the need
to attend scheduled activities
i take the time
just to be
here
[19 Aug 2007]
to attend scheduled activities
i take the time
just to be
here
[19 Aug 2007]
A low moon
A low moon glimpsed above
The silhouette of trees
Lining our field
Heralds the onset of the night
Soon joined by the evening star
Venus always there
The screeches and calls of an owl
Over the gush of the stream
So many stars above
[19 Aug 2007]
The silhouette of trees
Lining our field
Heralds the onset of the night
Soon joined by the evening star
Venus always there
The screeches and calls of an owl
Over the gush of the stream
So many stars above
[19 Aug 2007]
17 September 2007
29 August 2007
A cool evening
A magnificent moon
not quite full
A summer holiday weekend
not quite complete
Reminds me of places and people past
not quite relinquished
As I practice letting go
arriving in the present
[26 August 2007]
not quite full
A summer holiday weekend
not quite complete
Reminds me of places and people past
not quite relinquished
As I practice letting go
arriving in the present
[26 August 2007]
22 July 2007
My Rock
Getting up early
in the morning
meditation
is my rock
upon which
the waves of self concern
play themselves out
Crashing, Bashing
Sucking, Pulling
Swirling and Whirling
Twisting and Turning
Foaming, Spraying
Somewhere in their deep dark
depths emotions dwell
their menace covered by the
surface noise
[05 Aug 06]
in the morning
meditation
is my rock
upon which
the waves of self concern
play themselves out
Crashing, Bashing
Sucking, Pulling
Swirling and Whirling
Twisting and Turning
Foaming, Spraying
Somewhere in their deep dark
depths emotions dwell
their menace covered by the
surface noise
[05 Aug 06]
03 July 2007
Dear Tess
We touched
Hands, eyes, feet
Breath, chest, heart
In the fire
And in the sweat
On the earth
And in the air
Reaching angels
And drawing tears
Bodies close before
Although parted now
The dance goes on!
[27 June 2007]
30 May 2007
Pause
The River Wye
Dark at night
Looking downstream
The moon on rise
Looking upstream
The evening star
Mallards babble
And the water washes
In the stillness
[29 May 2007]
09 April 2007
12 March 2007
Familiar
A day of sitting
Back in the old familiar place
Familiar faces, spaces
Memories and feelings
Things I thought
I’d left behind
Come back to visit
Arising in my mind
[25 Feb 2007]
Back in the old familiar place
Familiar faces, spaces
Memories and feelings
Things I thought
I’d left behind
Come back to visit
Arising in my mind
[25 Feb 2007]
Day Retreat
Sitting patiently
While the mind
Scampers and jumps about
Chasing thoughts and ideas
Until suddenly observed
It lets go of its quarry
And takes a moment’s
Pause
~
Sitting quietly
While the mind
Gently observes the senses
Sights, sounds, smells, sensations
Allowed to be
Just as they are
For a moment
Now
[25 Feb 2007]
While the mind
Scampers and jumps about
Chasing thoughts and ideas
Until suddenly observed
It lets go of its quarry
And takes a moment’s
Pause
~
Sitting quietly
While the mind
Gently observes the senses
Sights, sounds, smells, sensations
Allowed to be
Just as they are
For a moment
Now
[25 Feb 2007]
In the Morning
Black clouds
Blue sky
A rainbow over Wales
A dead fox on the road
Grey clouds
A sprinkling of birds taking flight
Sunshine streaming through
A hill glowing in the distance
A train slides through the landscape
[21 Feb 2007]
Blue sky
A rainbow over Wales
A dead fox on the road
Grey clouds
A sprinkling of birds taking flight
Sunshine streaming through
A hill glowing in the distance
A train slides through the landscape
[21 Feb 2007]
12 February 2007
A Sunday Afternoon
Poems seem to arise
Every minute or so
Gone before I find a pen and paper
~
I walk to the supermarket
I walk back
Surprised it’s already past 4 o’clock
~
I ride my new bike
An epic journey
Around a few small blocks
~
A brief visit to Maenllwyd
Feels like a journey
To Shambala and back
~
A patch of snow in the gutter
Turns out to be
A plastic shopping bag
~
Not hungry
I think about sandwiches
Goats cheese and spinach leaves
[11 Feb 2007]
Every minute or so
Gone before I find a pen and paper
~
I walk to the supermarket
I walk back
Surprised it’s already past 4 o’clock
~
I ride my new bike
An epic journey
Around a few small blocks
~
A brief visit to Maenllwyd
Feels like a journey
To Shambala and back
~
A patch of snow in the gutter
Turns out to be
A plastic shopping bag
~
Not hungry
I think about sandwiches
Goats cheese and spinach leaves
[11 Feb 2007]
05 January 2007
My Son
Storm blowing outside
JCB song on the car radio
Tears in my eyes
Sunshine in my heart
[31 Dec 2006]
JCB song on the car radio
Tears in my eyes
Sunshine in my heart
[31 Dec 2006]
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