Last night, I sat on a cushion to read The Enlightened Heart, edited by Stephen Mitchell. A thumb-size flowery bookmark led me to read this poem by Layman P'Ang
My daily affairs are quite ordinary;
But I'm in total harmony with them.
I don't hold on to anything, don't reject anything;
Nowhere an obstacle or conflict.
Who cares about wealth and honor?
Even the poorest thing shines.
My miraculous power and spiritual activity:
Drawing water and carrying wood.
I love the phrase, "miraculous power"; it makes me wonder if I have such a power, if we all do. How would I end this poem?
Perhaps:
- driving this Prius and carrying kids to school
- filling up water bottles and thermoses and packing lunch bags
- loading up the trunk with bags of groceries and unpacking them in the kitchen
- putting down the paper to promptly pick up the kids at dismissal
- reading a book and bring a mug of chai to my lips
- sitting seiza on a cushion in the attic zendo, who hears my breathing?
My daily affairs are quite ordinary;
But I'm in total harmony with them.
I don't hold on to anything, don't reject anything;
Nowhere an obstacle or conflict.
Who cares about wealth and honor?
Even the poorest thing shines.
My miraculous power and spiritual activity:
Drawing water and carrying wood.
I love the phrase, "miraculous power"; it makes me wonder if I have such a power, if we all do. How would I end this poem?
Perhaps:
- driving this Prius and carrying kids to school
- filling up water bottles and thermoses and packing lunch bags
- loading up the trunk with bags of groceries and unpacking them in the kitchen
- putting down the paper to promptly pick up the kids at dismissal
- reading a book and bring a mug of chai to my lips
- sitting seiza on a cushion in the attic zendo, who hears my breathing?
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