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Beyond the Border Kingdom – Poem 4 Posted
From the collection”Beyond the Border Kingdom“. Into the Wild Beyond Here The Border Kingdom Concrete Supernova
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Beyond the Border Kingdom – Poem 3 Posted
From the collection”Beyond the Border Kingdom“. Into the Wild Beyond Here The Border Kingdom
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Beyond the Border Kingdom – Poem 2 Posted
From the collection”Beyond the Border Kingdom“. Into the Wild Beyond Here
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Poetry Collection – Beyond the Border Kingdom
I have begun to publish my collection”Beyond” here at Moments of Zen. The prologue and the first poem, “Into the Wild”, are now live. A new chapter will be published each week or so.
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Quotes – From Inside the Grass Hut
Reading “Inside the Grass Hut” by Ben Connelly, an analysis of Shitou’s “Song of the Grass-Roof Hermitage”. When we look out a window or sit in a small space, it includes you and the entire world, the entire universe. What you do in that moment impacts you, the space, and the world, and you yourself…
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Zen Master – Shitou Xiqian (700-790)
Zen Master Shitou Xiqian is famous for two poems that are classic Zen texts. I recently started reading “Inside the Grass Hut” by Ben Connelly which analyzes each line of “Song of the Grass Roof Hermitage” and discusses the significance in our world today. The author mixes his own experiences and applies the teachings to…
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Poem – To Zen Master Ryokan
The great fool’s voice echos through empty hallways and into the grand chamber where the king sits in disobedience listening with half a heart while the other disappears into darkness.
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Where we are going, what have we done
I tend to be a private person when it comes to political, economic, and social issues, but the state of the world now is too much to keep inside, to keep from spilling like blood into sands. As a person and part of humanity, with a connection to each living being, I feel sadness and…
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Poem – Welcome
Tears fall upon the lotus growing near the red water. A robed figure walks the dirt path from the bay carrying a full bucket not one drop is spilled as they descend a hill leading to the monastery. ~ Trees give up their leaves to the earth, the earth gives the leaves to animals, what…
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Poem – Excerpt #2 from Sand Shadows
The following are excerpts from a new piece I am writing called “Sand Shadows”. Excerpt #2 Grey sky meets the field past the mountain range, past forest and beyond the fertile waters. One bowl I carry down dusty roads, scattered snow fills my bowl enough to drink. Children run from yipping dogs chickens waiting for…