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Born To Dust

Posted in Philosophy, poetry with tags , , , , , , , on April 25, 2009 by Uncle Tree
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Body is tree of enlightenment, mind like a clear mirror stand;

time & gain wipe it diligently, don’t let it gather dust! Shenxiu

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Enlightenment’s basically no tree, clear mirror no stand.

Fundamentally there’s no single thing! Where can dust collect? Huineng

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Retort to Shenxiu and Huineng

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Dust
densely packed
allows tree to stand upright

Covered with mud
in the depths of my soul
remnants of the sun’s radiance

Fundamentally, it is
clear to the heavens

.

Uncle Tree

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http://www.gardendigest.com/zen/oaktree.htm


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Mastering This

Posted in Philosophy, teaching with tags , , , , , , on April 20, 2009 by Uncle Tree

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“Which came first, Father? This or That?”

My son, This was in The Beginning.

“Then where was That?”

Following This.

“Where is That now?”

It grew and transformed into This.

“So then That became This and no longer exists?”

Hmmm…please, get me the looking glass.

There now, yes. Here you are.

Now see this. In a mirror, That is you.

Without the mirror, you are This.

“How can That be at all?”

I only know This, this moment.

“Why did That happen?”

I never really knew That that well.

“This is all there is?”

We cannot wish for This to become That.

I wish for you to take This with you when you go.

Then, and only then,

That would be better than This.

.

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Toasted Daily

Posted in Philosophy, poetry with tags , , , , , , on March 28, 2009 by Uncle Tree

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Mistakes are my daily bread

My love – like warmed butter

Spread over my ignorance

with sharp device

Read more »

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The Unsustainable Brouhaha

Posted in Philosophy, poetry with tags , , , , , , on March 24, 2009 by Uncle Tree

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Hysterical masses in a frenzy

eventually unnerve themselves in a fit of exhaustion.

What starts as a slightly audible hum

gradually builds until it reaches a boisterous climax.

The orgasmic nature of a crowd

synchronizes itself to whatever is showing at the time.

No one comes late,

and no one wishes for an early withdrawal of forces.

A harbinger of fame and fortune lies in this ability

to continuously bring forth manic symptoms.

The fashionable fanfare for a King far excels that

of a pauper in proper attire.

An average plea would be ‘no contest’,

due to the certain lack of any competitive edge.

The edges being sought out of desperation

are not necessarily in the forefront.

Some folks run roughshod over the terrain,

longing to attain lovable attachments that hinder progress.

In a moment or two you will decide to please yourself,

and that will inevitably coincide with the moment

in which I start another ruckus.

.

 

 

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Sacred Taboos

Posted in Philosophy, Science with tags , , , , on March 1, 2009 by Uncle Tree

When you break one, you become one.

“Don’t touch that!” Whatever it may be. “Don’t even think about it!”

What about the healing touch of a Saint?

Are not they allowed to touch The Untouchables?

“You’ll get germs!” By the way my mother yelled about it,

one was to assume there was pretty much germs on

everything – everywhere – all the time!

Even in the bathtub lay the hidden taboos. “Don’t play with that!”

To do so was considered dirty, and therefore,

I figured, it must clean itself.

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Inhibitions and restrictions vary from place to place.

What was so great about Rome?

Would you do as the Romans did, if you happened

to find yourself in a Grecian state of mind?

It sounds fairly dangerous to me, weighing the risks involved.

Then again…Mother owns the scales.

19 Comments »

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