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Stool Iris
Damariscotta, Maine
No matter how high you climb Cold Mountain road,
the way to Cold Mountain never ends.
The long valley is stacked with boulders,
its shoreline wet with lush grass.
Slippery moss, regardless of rain,
pine trees singing, even without wind.
Who can go beyond the entangled world
to sit with me in the midst of white clouds?
*Hanshan. The Complete Cold Mountain: Poems of the Legendary Hermit Hanshan. Trans. Kazuaki Tanahashi & Peter Levitt.
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Alan Watts, in What is Zen? -
I remember a dinner once with Hasegawa, when somebody asked him, "How long does it take to obtain our understanding of Zen?" He said, "It may take you three minutes; it may take you thirty years. And," he said, "I mean that."
* * *
Another way of replying to how long you will engage the Path before you reach the goal of the Path is, "It doesn't matter how long it takes," or "It takes as long as it takes." Both replies imply, "So, forget about how long it will take you."
I am not sure there is any end to spiritual growth. An end only makes sense within the relativity of time and space. Whatever the end would be, it would be all here now, and it would be something we are evolving toward, too. That is how I see it. Buddhism has the gradual and already groups. One says we will be enlightened after a time of practice, possibly millions of lifetimes. Another says we are already enlightened. It is both, so neither, and I recognize "enlightenment" is a term that cannot define or describe well what enlightenment is or could be.
I used to focus on reaching some evolutionary completion in a spiritual sense, but no more. I do not need to hurry toward some nirvana, heaven, enlightenment, or perfection.
Now, I focus on fidelity to and enjoying the Way. Daily, I appreciate the practice. I do not focus on any goal to reach out there sometimes and somewhere else. Being wholehearted with the Way now, the Way will show more of itself to me - and you, when faithful to the Way a step at a time, a breath at a time. The Way is not meant to be a strain, a struggle, or exhausting. So, enjoy ...
She asks me, “Why Zen?”
clear blue sky
sunlight glancing off the bare branches
sound of leaves
the little black-headed chickadee whistles
my life so clear, so direct
gratitude for this mind moment.
*Pat Enkyo O'Hara. Most Intimate: A Zen Approach to Life's Challenges.
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*(C) Brian K. Wilcox, 2024. Permission is given to use photographs and writings with credit given to the copyright owner.
*Brian's book is An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love. The book is a collection of poems Brian wrote based on wisdom traditions, predominantly Christian, Buddhist, and Sufi, with extensive notes on the poetry's teachings and imagery.
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