LTMC, dang, you guys, we're going deep! This week we just began our new book, "No Death, No Fear" which led to the discussion of Nirvana. One definition of Nirvana is the extinction of all notions, all ideas. We tried wrapping our heads around that possibility and how exactly to succeed in extinguishing our notions. An example of a tangerine was presented and how by pure experience we taste the yummy fruit yet are not shaken when the tangerine is no longer a yummy fruit but rather fuel digesting in our stomach! Can we have similar appreciation for beautiful moments, painful moments, knowing that the only truth is impermanence and the fact that form will undoubtedly change. How can we let go of our notions and experience Nirvana? Unanimously, we decided--it's a practice! Our community discussion settled and a little ditty was born. Please enjoy and may it benefit your practice....
“Nirvana is the extinction of all notions…all ideas.”
~The Heart of the Buddha’s Teachings, Thich Nhat Hanh
~The Heart of the Buddha’s Teachings, Thich Nhat Hanh
Woke at 4:00am wide awake…
checked on sweet P, elderly cancer cat,
who sat, head up,
as she pushed affectionately into hands reaching
through moonlight for tangible reassurance.
Buried my nose behind her ear,
filled up with warm, sleepy scent—ambrosia.
Back to bed,
followed my breath,
noticed the catch between inhalation and exhalation.
At 7:00am, woke to administer medication, food preparation
and identified the clouds brewing—restlessness.
Nephews court date is tomorrow morning,
the separation of our 2,000 miles deepened the heart-chasm….
Burst of energy had me answering emails, cleaning kitchen
before I finally pulled myself from the whirlwind I had become,
sat by Sweet P and opened my journal,
“I’ve got to write this out,” I convinced myself.
First sentence, “I’m a busy bee, unable to get to the cushion...”
I pause, smile and realize—writing it out isn’t what it used to be.
A landmark sentence hits the page, “I just need to sit.”
Close journal, shut eyes, follow breathing:
body,
feelings,
mind,
objects of mind.
In doing so, calm arises,
concentration,
happiness, even joy
as perspective naturally widens.
Space. Stillness. Insight—
writing it out, talking it out, fuels the telling of a story:
Sweet P is not only cancer.
She is 2# of deceptive tough fluff found by the roadside,
rolling-on-head-in-sunshine honey girl.
Nephew is bright eyed, ripping off baby clothes to run wild through the petting zoo,
squealer-of-delight.
We are so much more than narrative,
a running commentary!
When a story is no longer told,
the characters break free.
In one breath of awareness,
all suffering ceases.
I suddenly remember our Eternity.
checked on sweet P, elderly cancer cat,
who sat, head up,
as she pushed affectionately into hands reaching
through moonlight for tangible reassurance.
Buried my nose behind her ear,
filled up with warm, sleepy scent—ambrosia.
Back to bed,
followed my breath,
noticed the catch between inhalation and exhalation.
At 7:00am, woke to administer medication, food preparation
and identified the clouds brewing—restlessness.
Nephews court date is tomorrow morning,
the separation of our 2,000 miles deepened the heart-chasm….
Burst of energy had me answering emails, cleaning kitchen
before I finally pulled myself from the whirlwind I had become,
sat by Sweet P and opened my journal,
“I’ve got to write this out,” I convinced myself.
First sentence, “I’m a busy bee, unable to get to the cushion...”
I pause, smile and realize—writing it out isn’t what it used to be.
A landmark sentence hits the page, “I just need to sit.”
Close journal, shut eyes, follow breathing:
body,
feelings,
mind,
objects of mind.
In doing so, calm arises,
concentration,
happiness, even joy
as perspective naturally widens.
Space. Stillness. Insight—
writing it out, talking it out, fuels the telling of a story:
Sweet P is not only cancer.
She is 2# of deceptive tough fluff found by the roadside,
rolling-on-head-in-sunshine honey girl.
Nephew is bright eyed, ripping off baby clothes to run wild through the petting zoo,
squealer-of-delight.
We are so much more than narrative,
a running commentary!
When a story is no longer told,
the characters break free.
In one breath of awareness,
all suffering ceases.
I suddenly remember our Eternity.
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