Full moon setting Placitas Open Space 12.23.18

Night Snow

I wondered why the covers felt so cold,

and then I saw how bright my window was.

 Night far gone, I know the snow must be deep- 

from time to time I hear the bamboos cracking.

Bai Juyi

from Zen Poems

Smokey waiting for the storm

Jed and Smokey waiting

Mountains waiting

Without understanding,

would it not become a hindrance

to the Dharma?

In the boat, observing the wind

in the drifting clouds at sea.

Shinkei (1406-1475)

from Zen Poems

La Jolla, California early morning Pacific

My mind is like the autumn moon

An emerald lake - pure, clean and bright.

There is nothing with which it compares,

Tell me, how can I explain?

Hanshan (8th century)

from Zen Poems

That which blossoms

falls, the way of all flesh

in this world of flowers.

sakeba chiru

mi no yukuse ya

hana sekai

KIKO 

death poem 5.2.1823

The Bosque del Apache is a wetland wildlife reserve about an hour and a half south of Albuquerque. This time of year the sandhill cranes and snow geese arrive from their summer homes north. Besides hundreds of bird species the Bosque is home to coyotes, snakes, mountain lions, wild cats, occasional bear and an assortment of other species.

It is funded and managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bosque_del_apache/

Makes for a glorious fall adventure and escape. We were there yesterday. A birthday gift to myself!

fall grasses wind whipped, Bosque del Apache

lone crow Bosque del Apache

 Bosque del Apache

Church

Every Sunday morning I walk Finn and Sophie, my border collies in the Sandia Mountain foothills. We arrive before dawn and are there to see the sunrise. Each week the mountain offers a new and different beauty. This morning a storm is moving in and clouds lay gently over the ridge to the north. Today we startled a deer, and stepped over (or sniffed as the case may be) several large and very fresh piles of bear scat full of red berries.

My Sunday morning church.

\

Fight your shame

throw out your pride and learn all you can

from others.

this is the basis of a successful life.

Rikyu

 (written as a guide for the student of tea- all of us really)

early morning light Placitas Open Space

That which blossoms

falls, the way of all flesh

in this world of flowers.

sakeba chiru

mi no yukusue ya

hama sekai

Kiko

5.2.1823

zen monk death poem