Thursday, October 31, 2013

Seeing Everything


I bring meaning to everything I see.
The meaning is not in what I see.
The meaning is what I lay over what I see.

When I see this, I can see everything.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Tied


Untie the knot
in your belly.

Untie the knot
in your heart.

Untie the knot
in your mind.

Untie the knot
in your ego.

Untie the knot
in your doubt.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

A New Path


Many paths start
from under our feet.

One goes the way
our parents want for us.

One goes the way
our culture directs.

One goes the way
our God tells us to go.

One goes the way
our ego longs for.

We begin a new path
with every step we take.

Monday, October 28, 2013

The Tall Ones


The top of the tree
can only rise as far
as the trunk will lift it.

The trunk can lift
only as high as
the roots will hold.

Deeper roots
make for taller trees.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Four Woes


First is the woe of family.
Second is the woe of independence.
Third is the woe of community.
Fourth is the woe of loss.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Exit Strategy


Generation
by generation,
tribe by tribe,
family by family,
one by one,
season after season,
the ten thousand things
arise across millennia,
prosper and thrive,
and die away.

Extinction
may be inevitable,
but what right do we have
to hurry the clock
for anyone but
ourselves?

Friday, October 25, 2013

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Natural History


Nature has its own language,
its own alphabet and words,
its own sentences and grammar.

This is how it records the ages
for the natures that will come
after our shadow has passed.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

True Care


If I care about someone
just because I'm told
I should care about him,
I'm not really caring.

When I care about someone
because it wells up from
somewhere deep inside,
I have opened myself to pain.

This is one of the ways
true caring changes us.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Prayers


When I am empty,
I ask to be filled.

When I am full,
I ask to be emptied.

Every vessel wants
what it does not hold.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Outside Wisdom


Wisdom that comes
from outside will always
mirror the wisdom inside.

If it doesn't, it isn't wisdom.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Diamond Net


The invisible diamond net
of the ten thousand things
never tears or needs mending.

It is only our blind fingers
that make us feel otherwise.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Every Failed Rebellion


Whether an army defeated
or an inner spiritual revolt,
every failed rebellion
becomes a guerrilla war.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Strike


When your tribe
becomes too
mean and hard,
it's important
to remember 
you're always free
to strike your tent
and head off
in search of more
tolerant people.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Obstinate


An unbending tree,
stern against a gale,
will need roots deeper
than money and pride.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Changing Paths


The path ahead
is never one path.

Every person
who walks it
changes it --
even as it changes
those who follow it
into the unknown.

Monday, October 14, 2013

All Hell


When the money runs out,
all money should become worthless.

When everyone is homeless,
every place should become a home.

When Tao disappears into memory,
all hell should finally break loose.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Out of Thin Air


The business
of life goes on
around me
all the time,
and I never
even notice.

But when
I stop
and look,
gardens appear
out of thin air.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Someone to Help


My path deeper into Tao
should always take me
near people I can help.

If it never does,
either I'm not looking or
it doesn't lead deeper in.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Attention Getters


How much of our attention
do we owe to those around us?

Enough to balance the scales.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Too Many


When there is only
one right way,
only one will make it
through in the end.

This is why
there can never be
only one right way.

There are
too many of us.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Acorns


The tallest oak cannot ignore
the acorn that will replace it.

When we discover Tao inside us,
our children also take root.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Heat Wave


The sun is our first God.
Stars are our first Tao.
Heat is our first Mother.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

From Within


Some light comes from outside.
Some flows from within.

The first can herd and turn us.
Only the second will change us.

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Boundless


Boundless sky
bound by trees.

Boundless mind
bound by distractions.

Boundless spirit
bound by doubt.

Boundless Tao
bound by nothing.

Friday, October 4, 2013

One and All


Where one is hungry,
all are hungry.

Where one is thirsty,
all are thirsty.

Where one is sick,
all are sick.

Prosperity and health
do not spare us
from the plight of others.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Needless


Every line will be broken.
Every border will be crossed.
Every wall will be breached.
Every stronghold will be defeated.

The less you think you need,
the stronger you become.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

The Spiritual Economy


The spiritual economy
doesn't need banks or
stock markets or insurance.

The spiritual economy
doesn't require traders or
regulators or bull runs.

The spiritual economy
doesn't track downturns
or prices or commodities.

The spiritual economy
creates its billions
out of pure generosity.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

The Poor Among Us


Who are the truly poor among us?

Those who have little to eat?
Or those with more than enough
and no will to share their bounty?