Hashing out a contentious topic
I vow with all beings
to push hard on my ideas
of right and wrong
Hashing out a contentious topic
I vow with all beings
to push hard on my ideas
of right and wrong
Smelling flowers
I vow with all beings
to note how breath can carry
triggers for powerful emotions
Sitting in silence
I vow with all beings
to have gratitude for the void;
thanks for nothing
Being moderate in eating
I vow with all beings
to find the elusive place
between hungry and full.
Saying good morning to coworkers
I vow with all beings
to show true interest
in their smiles and greetings
Confronting exhaustion
I vow with all beings
to accept my limits
and care for my body and mind.
Greeting the morning fog
I vow with all beings
to walk slowly through the Dharma
until I am soaked to the bone.
Up before sunrise
I vow with all beings
to take a cue from the sun
and wake up.
Making plans
I vow with all beings
to be honest about my time;
honoring promises takes commitment
Hugging a mother who has lost her oldest son
I vow with all beings
to drop all of my walls
and step inside her pain.
Making pancakes
I vow with all beings
to remember that the best flip
is the one you never think about
Meeting the midpoint of an activity
I vow with all beings
that I will find the center of all things
and gravitate there.
I really like this one!Originally Posted by Shinkai
Gassho,
Amelia
If I have not said so enough ... thank you for keeping this going, Shinkai, and for both the Wisdom and Humor you bring to it.
We may have to publish these somehow.
Gassho, J
I say he should do a book; suggested title, "90 days of Ango."
_/_
Shinkai,
Thank you for these...I should have said that several gathas ago, but will do so now.
Gassho,
Dosho
I think Jundo and Shokai have the right idea about putting these together in a more formal way through publishing! There are many gems here worth preserving and sharing
Gassho,
John
Speaking for a group
I vow with all beings
to become transparent and flexible
so all light travels through equally
Reading criticism of our tradition
I vow with all beings
to defend
nothing
Thanks again Shinkai; 46 and 47 are especially timely
Being tested on my knowledge
I vow with all beings
to suffocate defensiveness
until it succumbs to reality
Working overtime
I vow with all beings
to remember each hour
is built on a foundation of sand
Sick with a cough
I vow with all beings
to exert all my effort
like the masters in their final hours
Reading the liturgy
I vow with all beings
to let my thoughts float on top of the words
rushing along with the flow of time
Watching the sunset
I vow with all beings
to honor the precept
of not wasting a single second
Laughing with friends
I vow with all beings
to notice how this very second
we all experience the same joy
Thanks for this one, man. It hurts, but in a good way.Originally Posted by Shinkai
The older I get, the sweeter the most boring moments become.
gassho
Greg
Leaving home
I vow with all beings
to remember the snail;
a hermit everywhere
Standing in the middle of a casino
I vow with all beings
to remember the price we all pay
for a chance to come up empty
Brilliant!Originally Posted by Shinkai
Thank you all for you kind words. It's wonderful sharing this practice with you.
Waking in a strange room
I vow with all beings
to drop my definitions;
familiarity is both blessing and curse
Passing through airport security
I vow with all beings
to stand in the x-ray machine
transparent, yet solid
On the freeways when the bars are closing
I vow with all beings
to give people space
and allow room for error
Handing candy to trick or treaters
I vow with all beings
to take off all my masks
when the doorbell rings
Reviewing my goals
I vow with all beings
to include direction, intention,
and drinking my tea slowly
Networking at a conference
I vow with all beings
to say hello to my mother,
my father
Taking prescriptions that cloud the mind
I vow with all beings
to use tools as tools
and sleep soundly
Reading Dogen
I vow with all beings
dropping body and mind
starts here and now
Waking from a deep sleep
I vow with all beings
to be at ease with the sunshine
and the dust motes
Sewing the kesa
I vow with all beings
to remember my grandmother
whose hand is in every stitch
In the midst of a miscommunication
I vow with all beings
to stop and collect all of the pieces
before trying to reconstruct the temple
Late with my gatha
I vow with all beings
that I will draw my bow again
even after the arrow misses the target
Collecting ideas
I vow with all beings
to give a few the attention they deserve
instead of half attention to everything
Laying in corpse pose
I vow with all beings
the difference between life and death
is rising and falling within me
Checking the mail
I vow with all beings
to read the messages
between the letters
Welcoming house guests
I vow with all beings
to give this place away
keeping only my robe and bowl
Serving others
I vow with all beings
to offer a generous attitude
as well as a generous action
With my spouse at a distance
I vow with all beings
to accept limits and boundaries
without assigning consequences
Opening the window
I vow with all beings
to let the fall breeze
equalize hot and cold