Poem from Eightfold: Lotus

Lotus-Poem

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Lotus:

May all sentient beings remember

When standing waist deep in muddy water

That we still have all that is requisite and sufficient

For deliverance.

Indeed,

Lotuses may grow anywhere—

At great depths, or blooming in the shallows,

They thrive among water and organic material

And survive hot springs and icy rivers.

So long as their roots remain unfrozen,

They abide—

Floating upon the splendor of the river,

Glowing and fading under the moonlight,

Spied in fleeting glimpses across nets of spiders,

Reflecting the stars blazing trails of brilliance,

Or sailing across rapids of moving water—

Their leaves spread wide

Cradling attainments

Born from stillness

Even as the world

Refuses to freeze.

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Eightfold: Zen Poetry for Blindly Clasping Beings is a collection of sixty poems that reflect the author’s continual conversation with secular Buddhist thought on human nature, the struggles of existence, and the self-made and human-crafted challenges of modern life. These poems center on a layperson’s striving to find presence in the world, offering contemporary perspectives on Buddhist philosophy, Zen meditation, and traditional stories, koans, and teachings.

Now available as e-book, audiobook, and paperback at zen-chaos.net.

Various formats (including hardcover) also available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, Apple Books, Lulu, and Kobo.