secret notebooks • wild pages: Lightness

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Lightness

“He who loves, flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free and nothing holds him back.”
— Henri Matisse

11 comments:

Karen L R said...: :-); November 11, 2009 7:00 AM
Marcy said...: Oh what glee! Love the moment that you captured.; November 11, 2009 8:05 AM
:: elk :: said...: oh this is amazing...i think of preschoolers in music with that quote too!; November 11, 2009 8:28 AM
Gigi said...: This photo is pure joy!; November 11, 2009 11:12 AM
Ruth said...: Keep em coming . . . these dogs photos=joy; November 11, 2009 11:37 AM
m. heart said...: Oh don't worry, I've got more photos waiting in the wings ; ) and I'm sure when I'm home during the actual daylight hours on Friday I'll take some more...; November 11, 2009 12:13 PM
Bethany said...: Happy, joy joy. Love the quote too.; November 11, 2009 12:51 PM
sukipoet said...: oh so adorable.; November 11, 2009 1:46 PM
Ange said...: Oh - he reminds me of mine when he was a puppy! and don't you just want to be like that?; November 11, 2009 3:28 PM
SE'LAH... said...: What a great action shot.; November 11, 2009 5:06 PM
JC said...: I love the sense of motion you captured.; November 11, 2009 11:08 PM

Meditation on Affliction

Assailed by afflictions, we discover dharma and find the way to liberation. Thank you, evil forces!

When sorrows invade the mind, we discover dharma and find lasting happiness. Thank you, sorrows!

Through harm caused by spirits we discover dharma and find fearlessness. Thank you, ghosts and demons!

Through people's hate we discover dharma and find benefits and happiness. Thank you, those who hate us!

Through cruel adversity, we discover dharma and find the unchanging way. Thank you, adversity!

Through being impelled to by others, we discover dharma and find the essential meaning. Thank you, all who drive us on!

We dedicate our merit to you all, to repay your kindness.

— Gyalwa Longchenpa

Who Says Words With My Mouth?

All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that,
and I intend to end up there.

This drunkenness began in some other tavern.
When I get back around to that place,
I'll be completely sober. Meanwhile,
I'm like a bird from another continent, sitting in this aviary.
The day is coming when I fly off,
but who is it now in my ear who hears my voice?
Who says words with my mouth?

Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul?
I cannot stop asking.
If I could taste one sip of an answer,
I could break out of this prison for drunks.
I didn't come here of my own accord, and I can't leave that way.
Whoever brought me here will have to take me home.

This poetry, I never know what I'm going to say.
I don't plan it.
When I'm outside the saying of it,
I get very quiet and rarely speak at all.

— Rumi

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Mary Oliver

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Lightness

11 comments:

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