Reflections in Water 2

Reflections in Water 2

Buddhist Words- Art of Dharma

Mind at Peace

"When the mind is at peace,

the world too is at peace.

Nothing real, nothing absent.

Not holding on to reality,

not getting stuck in the void,

you are neither holy or wise, just

an ordinary fellow who has completed his work."

(By P'ang Yün-The Enlightened Heart 34)

"Thus shall ye think of this fleeting world:

A star at dawn, a bubble in a stream;

A flash of lightning in a summer cloud;

A flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream." 

(-Buddha, Diamond Sutra)

“Without insight, meditation cannot contain the highest state of quietude. 

Without meditation, wisdom cannot achieve its profundity of insight.”

(HU SHIH)

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Peek at Spring Chaos

Peek at Spring Chaos

Now that spring is here, as one strolls along the muddy paths, one may cast their eyes on the newly awakened buds, catch a glimpse of a robin or two with their orange breasts perched on a branch of a tree ( when they are not foraging for food on the ground that is,) singing the welcome songs of spring.

At this period the ground is usually littered with debris, an exposed leftover of a long winter’s tempestuous snowy episodes. But there is also beauty in this disorder that is oftentimes overlooked and rarely appreciated. Soon this shambolic beauty will all too quickly be disguised however, with overzealous Mother Nature doing her spring-cleaning. Incessant showers will foster growth that will carpet this disarray beneath various shades of green. For now, let us delight in this precursor of spring and the new shoots that peak their heads up amidst all this chaotic disarray. 

Each moment is a place you’ve never been.


(MARK STRAND)

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Spring Thaw 2016

Spring Thaw 2016

This year the everlasting winter bid its farewells, so we thought, on the Spring Equinox. After the Easter celebrations many hastily rushed to put away the dreary, dark colored, cumbersome and hefty winter coats along with the snow shovels and the winter tires. But the spring season has been anything but consistent. Blame it on global warming if you please, for this year we are intermittently beset with snow and rainstorms with the polar vortex bringing on the arctic cold air as icing on the cake. Like a yo-yo, we are forced one day to dig out our heavy winter attire and don boots only the next day to search for waterproof footwear when heavy rains turn all paths into muddy sloshes or pools of water. Even the trees are confused; I fear for the buds that are faced with these inconsistent temperatures. Hopefully the volatility of the spring will soon settle in to more consistent temperatures so that we can fully enjoy this delightful season.

Below are some pictures of spring thaw:

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Blossoms in Spring

The Proud Little Apple Blossom

by Hans Christian Andersen (adapted)

It was the month of May, but the wind still blew cool, for the sun was not yet ready to shed his warmest rays on the waiting earth.

Yet some of the birds had come, and more were on their way, 

and many beautiful blossoms were already showing their pink and white blooms, 

 by Cecily Mary Baker

so that from bush and tree, field and flower, came the glad cry, "Spring is here! Spring is here." 

 by Cecily Mary Baker

Now, it happened that a young princess rode by a beautiful orchard in full bloom, and she stopped to pick a branch of apple blossoms to take to her palace. 

 by Cecily Mary Baker

All who saw the apple blossom praised its beauty and fragrance until the blossom became proud, and thought that beauty was the only valuable thing in the world. 

But as the apple blossom looked out upon the field she thought, "Not all of the plants are rich and beautiful, as I am, some seem poor and plain." 

And she noticed a little, common, yellow flower, which seemed to lift up its sunny head and grow everywhere.

The apple blossom said to the plain little flower, "What is your name?"

 by Cecily Mary Baker

"I am called the dandelion," replied the little flower.

 by Cecily Mary Baker

"Poor little plant," said the apple blossom. "It is not your fault; but how sad you must feel to be so plain and to bear such an ugly name."

Before the little plant could reply a lovely little sunbeam came dancing along and said, "I see no ugly flowers. 

 by Cecily Mary Baker

They are all beautiful alike to me." 

And he kissed the apple blossom; but he stooped low and lingered long to kiss the little yellow dandelion in the field.

The End.