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Winter’s Last Stand
Spent the weekend clearing the last visages of winter as snow and ice had become 5-foot tall hills. Beneath the mounds, earth sprang forth with cold water, brown and reddish mud, and single blades of green grass. Spring has been dormant, waiting for the veil to be removed. Early dusk light scatters through curved pine…
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2013 Poetry Month #9 – One Robe, One Bowl
Today’s poems are from the collection “One Robe, One Bowl – The Zen Poetry of Ryokan”, published in 1997 by Weatherhill. I have posted and written about Zen Master Ryokan, born around 1758 in Japan, a few times on this blog, and want to continue sharing his writing and wisdom. His work cuts through any…
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Belief
On this spring day with the tinge of winter, Easter is upon us. The cream corn casserole, a staple and tradition that my grandfather started and I humbly continue to prepare for the holidays, is in the oven and filling the house with memories. Leroy lays at my feet while I watch robins cling to…
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Poem – Self
The following poem is from a conversation with Hanakia Zedek regarding Zen and takes place through a series of poems. Questions are asked, along with a poem, and the response is a poem addressing each question. Self (1) Standing on the blue cliff on one side of the valley dividing mountain ranges tiled with a…
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Next Step – In Depth Studying
In learning my path and the next steps, the school of Japanese Soto Zen fits with my current beliefs and emerging philosophy, based on my high-level interpretation of these two schools of thought. Tibetan Buddhism Mahayana – Always working and reaching for enlightenment, as an end-goal of sorts. Japanese Buddhism Soto Zen – You are already…
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Update
Welcome to March and the impending transition of winter to spring. From the shores of Lake Superior, the rays of sun reach fresh ice and nudge it to become water, to become a different version of itself, to become what it naturally is. I am in the midst of a semi-voluntary exile (my real job…
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Poem – Snowy Field
Across the snowy field no footprints. Streetlights brighter further the sun sinks. Cold begins to creep in upon the winds back. Ice pellets tiny and hard against our shielded eyes. In the midst of winter I begin to understand. The sky above the great wind blows. Truths of times passage unaware of past, present, future.…
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Peace, Love, Unity, Respect
Listening to Blackburner’s latest album “Planet Earth Attack” and this line is repeated in one of the songs. Simple. True. Requires a conscious effort to achieve, but is worth it.
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Senzing Zen
This blog will officially move to its new domain in a few days. The logo has been updated along with the header image. The website, www.senzingzen.com has the following meaning: The sensing and feeling of the energy and dynamism of Zen. In my recent studies of various philosophies and schools of thought, I keep coming…
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Stone Path Review update
In 2012 we started a non-profit business called 418 Publishing, Inc. that was the parent company and publisher of Stone Path Review. Since that time, we have published five issues of Stone Path Review with countless poems, short stories, photographs, artwork and interviews from over 20 artists. Two of the issues have been printed in…