The Lama’s Pointing Out Never Stops

This was actually written after Lama had left his body.  But as he promised that he will always be with us, as he is now inseparable dharmakaya, I cannot stop myself from writing to him and about him as if his form was still here, with us.  

And in a way it is, especially if there can open a sense or direct taste of the second core statement of the Heart Sutra that usually is not even noticed - and especially hard for western minds to digest: about emptiness being form.

Anyway, poems are like wine.  You need to let linger & taste.  And then you either like it or you try another vintage that promises to tickle your taste buds in ways that your would like more.

I take refuge in the teacher

this little man

far taller than the looks of his

vast as sky he is

he does not offer any handle

to handle him

not even one can cling

****

this truly carefree human form

not someone on whom

I can project the faults generated

by impure visions of my own

they don’t stick

he is the Buddha himself &

likewise

the second Buddha

****

thus when I see him drink poison

it is my poison that he drinks

I offered it and he accepted

but when as a result he is physically shaken

he remains inseparable from the light

radiating outward always thus

in this manner he demonstrates

how to transform everything without

the slightest attempt to rearrange the world

according to concepts his or mine

it borders on magic & is done

powered by a long forgotten

all pervading wish

to let shine forth

everything there ever is

as direct knowing

& in this manner

to whomever cares to notice

he teaches ways to relax

with whatever is presently appearing

* * * * *

so when I look at this mountain

strutting high & mighty across the valley

now there is ‘seeing’—but not ‘it’

space neither bound by

‘mountain’ nor by my ‘sight’

whatever arises

may feel like falling

countless ‘mountains’ just crumbling

vanishing into similar ‘mountains’

that also unravel into their own

but mountains beautiful to behold nevertheless

& rivers rushing along

through rocks & meadows & forests

****

may all beings drown

all of their cares

in the immaculate compassion

of pristine appearances