The United States
One “nation of immigrants” —
Sea to roiling sea
Once we lived in tribes:
A hundred fifty or so —
Now it’s out of hand.
Prajna means “wisdom,”
Paramita, “perfecting” —
“Mantra,” something else!
Nothing to attain!
Oh, what a relief it is —
this no-attainment
Given emptiness,
emptiness is a given.
It is not nothing.
Who were those two guys
talking through and to Buddha —
on that fateful day?
Zazen is the bomb,
the essence of essential.
Without it, no Zen.
Soji means cleaning:
“Cleaning the mind” says Sensei —
How dirty is yours?
Samu means working,
mainly on the practice place —
which is everywhere
Zazen for others:
neither your concern nor mine —
Just do it yourself.
Doesn’t take much time
to hit that sweet spot again —
Life depends on it.
Zazen anytime…
no matter what, when or where —
settle down and sit.
“Trust in Mind,” of course
But Zen Ancestors as well.
Most of all, zazen.
Noble Eightfold Path:
Where the rubber hits the road —
Work it out yourself.
Cessation, we hope,
will happen in this lifetime.
Wish you well with that!
Craving is the thing
that gets you into trouble —
body, mouth, and mind.
Suffering exists
as inexorable change.
It’s not aimed at you.
Virtually real —
We see it just as it is,
sitting with fixed gaze
Fan blades nod rapport
Blown hard by the passing wind
this cold spring morning