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DECISION TIME
Checking the calendar, I seethat today I must makea profound decision that willaffect my life for years to come. I am certain it will not bea simple decision, importantdecisions seldom are, and thisoffers multiple but no easy choices. I have long taken the facile wayaround the issue, a straightforward“same as everyone else does”approach that has…
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KANNON’S STATUE 鐵笛倒吹 語十八
If you meet the Bodhisattvayou don’t ask someoneto carve the image from your mind.To the carver, she weighs but an ounceand can be carriedon his fingertipbut try and lift herand you will not be ableto move her from her place. All Buddhasare one Buddhabut his Buddhawill never beyour Buddha. A reflection on Case 58 of…
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MIRAGE?
Outside the doornestled in the tall grasswhite, a plumegossamer, a giftperhaps from a skyfinally blueor a tearfor the summer’sdeparture,or, perhaps,a promise,down paymenton the freedomfrom gravitylong soughtnever attained.
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DAITSU CHISHO BUDDHA 無門關 九
Twenty thousand generationsa hundredhundred livesthe briefest momentin being, there isno becoming, no leaving and nothing is attainedfor there is no needof attainment, Seijowhispered tono one. A reflection on Case 9 of the Mumonkan (The Gateless Gate Koans)
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COGITO COGITO ERGO SUM
The cathas an issue with metoday, but sherefuses to discuss it. She says that itwould be fruitlessfor I would applywhat I call logicand cats knowthere is no such thing,there is only obedienceto their will. I would be gladto argue with her,knowing I would loseby any objective,that is to say her,standards, but shewould rather see megrow…
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TOOLING AROUND
I have always wantedto use the word lugnutsin a poem, but stillhave never foundthe way to do so. It is much the samewith my full setof socket wrenches,still in futile searchfor a matchingset of sockets. I keep my bastardfile in the garagewith the other filesand tools, butmy name isthe only one in it.
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DUST AND ASHES
Between Scylla and Charybdisthey cower amidst the ruinsfearful to look skywardlest they encouragethe rains of hell. Now and then they visitthe corpses, hastily buriedgrief drowned by the soundof the laugh of the gunnerpeering down from the hills.It is always night for the souland lookout must be keptfor Charon, who ridessilently along the rivers of blood,that…
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ADAM SMITH BE DAMNED
It is odd to discoverthat time obeys the economiclaws of supply and demandbut as I have aged, thathas become ever more clearas my supply has dwindled,my demand remains constantand the value increases accordingly. That may explain why, now,I am content to check the scoresand read the stats of my favoritefootball or baseball team, getting every…
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AGING
We live in the cell phone ageand there are hidden advantagesthat the young, exchanginglast year’s model for this,will never fully understanduntil they, too, are much older. With the push of a button,held in for five seconds,the phone will go off at night,and since no one any longerhas a landline, you are assuredthat no one will…
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TOKUSAN’S ULTIMATE TEACHING 鐵笛倒吹 七十九
If the student asks the teacherfor greater knowledgehe will be metwith a blow from the stick.If he asks againthe teacher will respondI have nothing to give you. Will you recognizethe greatest giftwhen it is offered to youor will you continueto pursue its shadow. A reflection on Case 79 of the Iron Flute koans.
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