Like Water

Compassion is like water.
It flows toward the low places.

Mindful attention is like water.
It washes and cleans as it goes.

Close listening is like water.
Its surface reflects the sky.

When I Am

My eyes become Tao eyes.
My ears become Tao ears.
My skin becomes Tao skin.
My nose becomes Tao nose.
My tongue becomes Tao tongue.

When I am awake.

Impassable

Some paths are impassable.

When we discover this,
do we continue or turn back?

No spiritual path is impassable.

Wu-wei Haiku

Clouds over shadows.
Mountain skirts in August green.
Finger clicks just now.

Which Nation?

Wisdom or wealth.
Which is more valuable?

Wisdom leads to understanding.
Understanding leads to compassion.
Compassion leads to charity.

Wealth leads to possessiveness.
Possessiveness leads to distrust.
Distrust leads to surveillance.

Which nation would you
rather call home?

Solomon

Asking the Divine for wisdom.
Why is this not a wise request?

Not Yet Cured

I'm constantly healed of fear,
but I've yet to be cured of it.

Another reason to rest in Tao.

Deeper Look

Disunity eventually
creates its own unity.

Unity falls apart
over time.

To see structure in this
requires deeper looking.

To find only coincidence
is easier.

Poor Vision

How easy it is
to see the garden
and not the flower.

How simple a thing
to notice the mountain
but miss the stone.

How sad it is
to seek and seek
and find nothing at all.

Three Sources

Sympathy comes
from the spirit.

Empathy comes
from the body.

Apathy comes
from the mind.

Selfish Forgiving

If I forgive you for your sake,
I haven't really forgiven you.

If I forgive you for my sake,
I can finally begin to heal.

True forgiveness is selfish.
I forgive for me, not for you.

When I forgive for myself,
your life also improves.

Three Lights

The first light falls
on my selfish mind.

The second light falls
on my curious mind.

The third light falls
on my silent mind.