On a recent silent retreat, walking a country road. Stillness, air moist and chilly. Seven o’clock, a new day rising. Senses begin to stir: seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, tasting. Monkey mind dialed way down.
O look! a pothole.
Stepping closely: a tiny pond, more like a gravel pit. Spidery branches, sky beyond. Miniature World. From the Old Testament, “In your sight the whole world is a grain of sand … a drop of dew on the ground in the morning.” [1]
Zen teacher Susan Murphy writes, “A sudden birdcall, a twig snapping, a flame flickering, a shadow melting in grass, the crunch of an apple in the mouth, the ridiculous beauty of a crushed beer can found on a beach—any ordinary blessed thing can bring the entire universe to light as your self, clean as a whistle, with nothing that can possibly be attached to it.” [2]
Wide awake, for an instant.
[1] Book of Wisdom 11:22 [2] Murphy, S. (2014) “Zazen: Just Ordinary Mind.” Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.
You once mentioned to me: Every breath a new beginning.
Now I’ll add: Wide awake, for an instant.
Thank you dear P