all the pebbles drop

 

 

all the pebbles drop

 

there are stones in my body with

space around them and through them

there is a feeling of solid when paying attention

it vibrates and disperses

 

seeds begin elsewhere

dropped from the bowels of birds

their heads with clouds squeezing out the water

the atmosphere and soil retain

 

little clear roots dig into being;

lick between the drops, the tongue

splits content; solid until it’s eaten

blood is hope flavored

 

the birds stop singing and

the pebbles steam; i’m in love with

the smell of concrete after rain

this foot wet, this foot dry

 

 

 

drag the Lotus seed

forgotten earthquakes

“Any perception can connect us to reality, properly and fully.
What we see doesn’t have to be pretty, particulary; we can appreciate anything that exists.
There is some prinicple of magic in everything, some living quality.
Something living, something real, is taking place in everything…”-  Chogyam Trungpa

forgotten earthquakes

echolocating colors

of full balloon lady-slipper orchids

so rare

the honey bee fur below your ear;

the stickyness of my jealous mouth

a tenderfoot threshold

 

encouragement

 

the cushion waits there

memory’s, yesterdays, perfume

Live the cold sun-patch

cakes and insults

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Akkosa Sutta: Insult

translated from the Pali by

Thanissaro Bhikkhu

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Rajagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels’ Sanctuary. Then the brahman Akkosaka[1] Bharadvaja heard that a brahman of the Bharadvaja clan had gone forth from the home life into homelessness in the presence of the Blessed One. Angered & displeased, he went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, insulted & cursed him with rude, harsh words.

When this was said, the Blessed One said to him: “What do you think, brahman: Do friends & colleagues, relatives & kinsmen come to you as guests?”

“Yes, Master Gotama, sometimes friends & colleagues, relatives & kinsmen come to me as guests.”

“And what do you think: Do you serve them with staple & non-staple foods & delicacies?”

“Yes, sometimes I serve them with staple & non-staple foods & delicacies.”

“And if they don’t accept them, to whom do those foods belong?”

“If they don’t accept them, Master Gotama, those foods are all mine.”

“In the same way, brahman, that with which you have insulted me, who is not insulting; that with which you have taunted me, who is not taunting; that with which you have berated me, who is not berating: that I don’t accept from you. It’s all yours, brahman. It’s all yours.

“Whoever returns insult to one who is insulting, returns taunts to one who is taunting, returns a berating to one who is berating, is said to be eating together, sharing company, with that person. But I am neither eating together nor sharing your company, brahman. It’s all yours. It’s all yours.”

“The king together with his court know this of Master Gotama — ‘Gotama the contemplative is an arahant’ — and yet still Master Gotama gets angry.”[2]

[The Buddha:]

Whence is there anger for one free from anger, tamed, living in tune — one released through right knowing, calmed & Such. You make things worse when you flare up at someone who’s angry. Whoever doesn’t flare up at someone who’s angry wins a battle hard to win. You live for the good of both — your own, the other’s — when, knowing the other’s provoked, you mindfully grow calm. When you work the cure of both — your own, the other’s — those who think you a fool know nothing of Dhamma.

When this was said, the brahman Akkosaka Bharadvaja said to the Blessed One, “Magnificent, Master Gotama! Magnificent! Just as if he were to place upright what was overturned, to reveal what was hidden, to show the way to one who was lost, or to carry a lamp into the dark so that those with eyes could see forms, in the same way has Master Gotama — through many lines of reasoning — made the Dhamma clear. I go to the Blessed One for refuge, to the Dhamma, & to the community of monks. Let me obtain the going forth in Master Gotama’s presence, let me obtain admission.”

Then the brahman Akkosaka Bharadvaja received the going forth & the admission in the Blessed One’s presence. And not long after his admission — dwelling alone, secluded, heedful, ardent, & resolute — he in no long time reached & remained in the supreme goal of the holy life, for which clansmen rightly go forth from home into homelessness, knowing & realizing it for himself in the here & now. He knew: “Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for the sake of this world.” And so Ven. Bharadvaja became another one of the arahants.

look in your heart mirror

___________________________________________

“But what makes these ‘experts’ preach their own opinion and call it truth?” asked the inquirer. “Is it an inheritance of humankind to do this, or is it merely something they gain satisfaction from?” “Apart from consciousness,” answered the Buddha, “no absolute truths exist. False reasoning declares one view to be true and another view wrong. It is delight in their dearly held opinions that makes them assert that anyone who disagrees is bound to come to a bad end. But no true seeker becomes embroiled in all this. Pass by peacefully and go a stainless way, free from theories, lusts, and dogmas.”
– Majjhima Nikaya

__________________________

Unique personal expression is so precious. There are those people out there that can’t access their own voice – all that they can muster is criticism about other people and gifts they covet. This path simply promotes  envy, self-righteousness, and cruelty towards themselves and others; these people douse themselves in poison.  All of it ignorance, hatred and greed.

How utterly desolate & sad.

When wounded by such beings, please recall that what they say is not the teaching, nor the harm ; the teaching is how one lets go, witness the mirror inside -where there is tenderness and possibly a version of this poison. Thank that little place and let it be heard. Then let It go ; continue on, creating, expanding, the unique personal creative expression.

don’t do evil, do good, do good for others.   thanks for listening.

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http://www.lesliewagnerart.com

the star

waking in the dark

a star through the curtain crack

an Autumn night path

dig deep, sail forth