Jason Espada read his exquisite poetry in praise of Tara, the female buddha of compassion:
Spiritual beauty bringing light, giving hope, removing obstacles, calming fear, pacifying suffering, and protecting, bringing harmony to every surrounding circumstance, bringing life, health, happiness, good fortune, and stability.
In the moments just before dusk the light lengthens, lemon-gold, over the grass: swells, then billows flags of flame tearing in the wind, wave after wave of ochre and umber resounding on the shores of evening, and finally becomes a thing almost incarnate—the clear flesh of the orchid evaporating on its stem might be the opposite of this— and thoughtless you reach to touch it so it thins, fades, and is gone.
Feed the dog, or it will bark, says the ego, says about itself. Mind itself creates worlds as its own echo. Mind has no form,… Read More »ECHO
Oh you Earth Dog come Now happiness wagging Your familial greeting That cheers us up as I bend to you my lovely In display of… Read More »YEAR OF THE EARTH DOG
the bookcase, silent a sign without elucidation its own signal, its own meaning watch the shadow of my hands moving painted on the wall across… Read More »THE SHADOW OF MY HANDS MOVING
Unidentified is a place he has chosen Distant beyond, where simply devoted reach Unworkable will he be to for you to uncover Yet call him,… Read More »MY GURU
I am coming out as a human being, with something that wants to float through the heart, and entangle rhythmic pounding beats into new elastic… Read More »I AM COMING OUT AS A HUMAN BEING
A poem about the experience and recognition of the moment and the power within. Accompanied by photographs I have taken of such very special moments that I have found my self to be in.
Dance of three Vajras
Practice on three vajras
Mind body and speech
Revealing the three mysteries
Mind’s ultimate nature, emptiness endowed with vividness, I was told is the real Buddha. Recognizing this should help me Not to be stuck with thoughts of… Read More »MIND’S ULTIMATE NATURE: POEM BY DZONGSAR KHYENTSE RINPOCHE
Om Svasti The delightful myriad phenomena constantly come and go And free of grasping to any of it One’s mind, That doesn’t exist as any… Read More »THE OPEN EXPANSE OF AWARENESS
Mystical orchestra sounds
without cessation, accompaniment
to marvels of
the great silent Mystery.
Since the beginning of all time until the end of all time there lives a ruler of a vast kingdom between myriads of interstellar clouds and within each single sentient being. May this timeless king of ancient lineage born in the foam of a colorful- iridescent sea of arising stardust remember his royal descent. May he wake up to the holistic realization of his eternally pulsating universe of body, speech and mind within an ocean of nourishing light for the benefit of all living beings as there are as many as shooting stars in a meteor stream.
I read a poem today It filled me with beauty And loving appreciation took hold But of what, wasn’t there. The words, oh such words… Read More »ON THE LIMEN OF POETIC BEING
The hawk that swooped from the poplar lifting a black baseball hat from my head looped back to his nest Drawing blood the next time,… Read More »HAWK SPEAK
In the story of Buddha’s death, his attendant Ananda kneels weeping at his side, face contorted in grief, golden robe darkening with tears. Ananda is… Read More »DOXOLOGY: THE FALLING LIGHT
Oh black drongo! Oh my friend and neighbor! You roamed in the front for days, You played on sideways for weeks. We gained familiarity and… Read More »FLIGHT OF A DRONGO
Heat and Sweat, and dust I know, And Bricks and Bricks and Bricks, Twenty years from now what will I have to show? Just Bricks… Read More »BRICKS AND BRICKS AND BRICKS
A very short poem about meditative/non-meditative experience. Maybe you will find it interesting.
Guru:
Heads up pride
Earth down humble
Not bought by money and fame
To you, ever eternal Guru Rinpoche
I give my fickle heart
And sing: Diamonds.
Uncover your true self, why are you so disheartened? Even this endless time is looking, for your essence! Chains of perceptions, preconceived ideas, that have bounded you as garments. Melt and make them swords. You are unshakable as a mountain. Vast as a sky. Still, why you are in such a state? All this time you clung to ideas, fears, worry. Made them anchor, attached to belief of others. Saw yourself from their eyes, wanting them to like you.