CONSIDER THE TREES WHICH ALLOW THE BIRDS TO PERCH AND FLY AWAY WITHOUT EITHER INVITING THEM TO STAY OR DESIRING THEM NEVER TO DEPART. IF YOUR HEART CAN BE LIKE THIS, YOU’LL BE NEAR TO THE WAY.
~ Zen Saying ~

~

how i love this way of living the standing talls model, this way of greeting everything as a guest, this way of crossing over the rubicon of conditioned existence and intobreaking free, of crossing to the far shore, the shore of the open field of the sacred heart, the one heart  beating in rhythm with, the one web we all live in, the tree of life sheltering every cell of creation…

living in harmony with what is… this bubbling cauldron of mess and beauty and chaos and coherence and uncertainty and clarity, of missing the mark and being in the sweet spot and everything in  between stretching us, be-wildering us moving us, shifting us into a more expansive spaces, deepening our experience of timeless presence, of real-eye-sing we are intricately and intimately connected in this interdependent breathing imaginal cell floating in an infinite sea…

on this day of stopping the ordinary world to enter more deeply into the timeless present moment, our one wounded, softened heart is to meet and greet each moment, each fragile, dynamic moment as openheartedly as we can muster… like this tree, may we be a place of true refuge for all relatives seeking sheltering arms…

to inspire living like trees and closer to the way of love and compassion, let’s listen to the sage wisdom of an 11th century Tibetan monk…

~

Eight Verses for Living Love and Compassion

~ Geshi Langtri Thangpa ~

By thinking of all sentient beings
As more precious than a wish-fulfilling jewel
For accomplishing the highest aim,
I will always hold them dear.

Whenever I’m in the company of others,
I will regard myself as the lowest among all,
And from the depths of my heart
Cherish others as supreme.

In my every action, I will watch my mind,
And the moment destructive emotions arise,
I will confront them strongly and avert them,
Since they will hurt both me and others.

Whenever I see ill-natured beings,
Or those overwhelmed by heavy misdeeds or suffering,
I will cherish them as something rare,
As though I’d found a priceless treasure.

Whenever someone out of envy
Does me wrong by attacking or belittling me,
I will take defeat upon myself,
And give the victory to others.

Even when someone I have helped,
Or in whom I have placed great hopes
Mistreats me very unjustly,
I will view that person as a true spiritual teacher.

In brief, directly or indirectly,
I will offer help and happiness to all my mothers,
And secretly take upon myself
All their hurt and suffering.

I will learn to keep all these practices
Untainted by thoughts of the eight worldly concerns.
May I recognize all things as like illusions,
And, without attachment, gain freedom from bondage.

~

may we all live as openhearted as our tree relatives, the standing talls…