Love Letter

 I was once offered a profound, enduring lesson; how to write a love letter. To this day, this teaching informs my dreams, imagination, contemplation, intention I set as I compose letters, emails, many forms of communication. When it was offered this way, to write a love letter,  it expanded my understanding of the vibration and energy that writing is energy transmitted onto page. Writing from a place of love, I ask: Is it compassionate? Will it help someone or something?  Will it harm? What is my heart telling me?

Thich Nhat Hanh has introduced me to so many ways of looking, wider, deeper, that feels like I'm touching a deeper, wider part of me. I feel so lucky to be alive at this time.  I am grateful. Thank you for helping me to touch more of my original self. 

Perhaps you have heard of Love Letter to Earth? If ever you feel disconnected, I invite you to read, contemplate the Love Letter to Earth. My wish is for you to feel a sense of lightness, hope, and love transmitted through these words:

https://plumvillage.org/articles/love-letter-to-the-earth-2/

https://1gkys61108am2vvslv1ayriu-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Touching-the-Earth-to-Mother-Earth-10-texts.pdf

 now love is wide and spacious, love is not confined, confused, or scarce. 

love beyond space and time. 💛

The following poem is by Dr. Larry Ward,  a lay disciple and ordained teacher of Zen Master Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh.  Read it as a love letter to a teacher and friend.  Often times, prose and poetry are composed in times of turmoil; an intimate space for grief, sorrow, gratitude, hope, renewal to arise. Both their writings can be a balm, medicine, to help bring tears and movement, to soothe, heal, repair, and ultimately inspire and propel us to move forward. 

On this day, we celebrate the continuation and 94th birthday of teacher, Zen master, Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh.

A POEM

What can I say about my beloved teacher?

I can say that the soft whisper of his voice in the dark night of confusion, of fear and sorrow, calls us home to our true selves.

I can say that his teachings bring the dharma rain, bathing us in healing energy in the blessed peace of our lives.

I can say that his gentle footsteps upon the earth ride on the winds of peace, the thunder of compassion, and reflect the powerful moonlight of understanding.

I can say that he tirelessly engages with his whole being in the noblest of causes, to heal and transform the breaking waves of our shadows.

I can say I love my teacher because he has nourished the teacher in me to wake up, wake up, wake up.

I can say that his practice, his prose, and his poetry speak with the beauty and clarity of the buddha within each of us.

I can say that on this very day we are most fortunate to be here together, to be in touch with the miracle of deep breath, and the holy moment of awareness in which we are touched by that which is not coming and not going.

So here we are together in the heart of Thich Nhat Hanh.

~  Larry Ward

https://www.thelotusinstitute.org/

GAZING AT THE MOON

Let's gaze at the full moon tonight and appreciate

 their radiance, 

spacious stillness.  And smile.

Tonight or some night,  how about reading a poem to a loved one, ancestors, a pet person, or to one with whom you have had difficulty? What poem would you choose to read or compose? 

On love, healing, openness, forgiveness? 

Moon gazing is tradition from China over one thousand five hundred years ago that spread to Vietnam, Korea, and more. In Japan,  it's called Jugoya Tsukimi. The tradition sometimes included music and composing poetry, all in a gathering of community. In this time of shifting and awakening, I love the practice of sharing stillness, contemplation, appreciation of nature, interconnection in community. 

I propose a night sending goodness, sweetness out to the world.

Greet the moon. Let's start a revolution of healing, togetherness, in community. 

Poems for you:

VIRA ~ HERO    (Sanskrit)

Truly strong

among those

who think themselves

strong.

Truly unafraid

among those 

who hide their

fear.

A hero

among those

who talk of heroes.

Don't be fooled by outward signs-

lifting heavy things

or picking fights with weaker opponents

and running headfirst into battle.

A real hero

walks the Path

to its end.

Then shows others the way.

                    ~ FIRST FREE WOMEN

        Poems of Early Buddhist Nuns

MUTTA ~ FREE        (Sanskrit)

One morning after begging for my food-

looking down at one more meal

I hadn't worked for,

hadn't paid for,

hadn't earned.

A life of debts I could never repay

pushing in on all sides

like the weight of the sea.

I blinked,

and a 

tear

fell into

my bowl.

Would it always feel like this?

Just as the moon rises up

from the bottom of the sea,

a handful of rice lifted itself

from the bottom of my bowl.

And my heart rose with it.

I wish I could tell you

how it tasted-

that first bit of food

as a free woman.

           ~ FIRST FREE WOMEN

        Poems of Early Buddhist Nuns