Something to Keep in Mind

The earth
is always
in flower.

Somewhere.

Hard to See

It's no coincidence
that a city map mimics
the underside of a leaf.

Every house, every cell
connected to all the rest.

The great mystery is why
it's so hard to discover this.

Time Zone

Even the rock of the earth
becomes plastic and ephemeral
when its life is measured 
against the speed of geology.

Surrounded by Art

We are surrounded by art,
but that's only because
all art starts from within.

Four Callings

To live fully.
To ease suffering.
To scatter joy.
To trust enough.

Broken Stars

A star broken in two
shines half as bright.

A house divided
is nobody's home.

A nation split asunder
has no founding fathers.

A world fractured
is everyone's wound.

Bearers of Truth

Who are my trusted guides?
Who are my best mentors?
Who can I depend on for the truth?

Guides are only guides.
They keep to the same path.

Mentors are only mentors.
They can pass on only what they know.

The one I depend on for the truth --
that one can only be heard from within.

Progress Report

Progress is a story
the ego tells itself
to make its journey
bearable.

Progress is a myth
we tell our children
to give them something
to do.

Progress is a legend
I hold onto in my heart
because I'm not ready to
let it go.

Tao Words

The words
Tao writes
on the heart
are light and
easy to read.

Not always easy
to understand.

Teacup in a Storm

A teacup in a storm
can remain on a dining table
on a slab of concrete
or land in a field thirty miles away,
unbroken.

This is like Tao.
The standing still in chaos.
The sweeping through in a rage.
The blowing in without warning.

Becoming My God

If I think my wealth
is my greatest hedge
against destruction,
then what I possess
becomes my God.

If I think my faith
is my greatest barrier
against annihilation,
then what I believe
becomes my God.

If I think my life
is already safe enough,
then what I trust
becomes my God.

Repetition

The ten thousand things
repeat themselves endlessly
without repeating themselves.

This is how the universe lives.