Someone recently posted this on FaceBook, and it reminded me of a few poems.

First, a poem made up of various well-known Zen lines by Korean teacher Seung Sahn:

The Great Way has no gate.
Clear water has no taste.
The tongue has no bone.
In complete stillness, a stone girl is dancing.
--
That last line comes from an old ko'an (a Zen saying meant to break us of the habit of conventional "thinking"):

Zen Master: "When you hear a wooden chicken crow, you will understand your mind." What does this mean?
Student: "A stone girl dances to the music of a flute with no holes."
--
And both of these always make me think of the poem "Natural Music" by one of my favorite poets, the Californian Robinson Jeffers. (I don't know WHY I think of it when I read them, because the girl in the last line is not stone. I guess it's because she's dancing?) Anyway:

The old voice of the ocean, the bird-chatter of little rivers,
(Winter has given them gold for silver
To stain their water and bladed green for brown to line their banks)
From different throats intone one language.
So I believe if we were strong enough to listen without
Divisions of desire and terror
To the storm of the sick nations, the rage of the hunger smitten cities,
Those voices also would be found
Clean as a child's; or like some girl's breathing who dances alone
By the ocean-shore, dreaming of lovers.
--
Chewing on any or all of these will be time well spent. Enjoy.

Categories: Art, Buddhism, Facebook, Photography, Poetry, Spirituality, Zen

I don't know why, but when I thought about a picture to use as an Easter greeting, this one came instantly to mind.

I had been walking (for hours) an old pilgrimage route in Guangzhou (better known to some as "Canton"). On a busy pedestrian shopping street, these two approached me for a handout. No, I said, and turned to walk away. In fact, I have never given any money to beggars in China, as it's a pretty well-organized racket (as the Indian one seen in "Slumdog Millionaire").

But these two were so happy and--I don't know--JOLLY, that I turned back almost instantly and offered them 5 yuan (about 40 cents US each) for a picture. This was a modeling fee, NOT a handout!

They happily agreed (they did everything "happily") and here's the heavily-PhotoShopped shot.

Why this one for Easter? I don't know. Joy? Buoyancy? An indomitable spirit?

Anyway, Happy Easter.

P.S. Just for comparison, here's the original.

Categories: Art, China, Photography

Last November, Lila and I had the pleasure of visiting Shaolin Temple, where my former student and good friend Venerable Yanti resides (though he was in Russia at the time--teaching English and kung fu to children!)

After visiting the main compound, we walked a short way to the "pagoda compound" (which I liked even better than the main temple). While we were there, this monk walked by with the veggies.

I wonder for how many centuries this same scene has been enacted on the same spot?

Categories: Art, Buddhism, China, Photography, Temples, Vegetarianism

It was a tough sorta day: I was hoping to do all three of my temples in Putian in a single marathon.

I had done Nangshan Cishou Si, then waited an inordinate amount of time to get a cab to take me to Guanghua Si. He had brought me in on a side-street filled with statuary workshops. After seeing the temple, I was rushing out to catch another cab to Guangxiao Si when I was captivated by the sights around me.

This shot is my favorite of them all, for that day and many days.

And oh yeah: I made it to my third and final temple of the day.

Categories: Art, Buddhism, China, Photography, Temples

A monumental statue of the Vairocana Buddha at Longmen Grottoes, Henan, China

Categories: Art, Buddhism, China, Peace, Photography, Temples

Erin Dertner is a hero. Day in, day out, no matter what's going on in her life, she posts a beautiful oil painting online that just oozes serenity. Visit her blog for refreshment; even better, use the subscription link there to get a new picture in your inbox every day (as I do).

Here are a couple of samples:

To be honest, it was hard to choose just a few. There's such richness! But after all she's done for us by posting these, I don't want to do Erin a disservice by showing you everything she's got. (Besides, you can click on the one's on her site to make them BIGGER).

OK, just one more:

Categories: Art, Gratitude, Peace