By Stefan Schindler
KRISHNA’S FLUTE AND BUDDHA’S SMILE
Buddhism is a philosophy of creative evolution,
and karma is the teacher. It smiles my soul
and soars my heart to know that you have made a start
to what Pythagoras calls The Harmony of The Spheres —
the sweet music of the stars heard by those who have
what Nietzsche calls “ears behind the ears.”
Yes, the starry serenade echoes in the cellular symphony,
because, as you know, as above so below.
After eating, wash your bowl. The call of the wild
echoes in the chambers of the soul.
REVISITNG THE DRAGONS OF EDEN
Jesus was not a Christian. Buddha was not a Buddhist.
Aquinas was not a Thomist. And even Jung declared:
“Thank God I’m not a Jungian!” We see all about us
the dangers of the dogmatist, and it would do them good
to take their dog for a walk, and sit by a forest stream
until the head is cleansed and the heart serene.
Behold the starry canopy above. It is filled with love,
and a river runs through it.
ROOTS AND FRUITS OF THE GARDEN
What we do to each other we do to ourselves.
What we do to animals we do to ourselves.
What we do to the earth we do to ourselves.
Buddha’s political philosophy in a seashell.
IN THE GARDEN OF BUDDHISM
Philosophy is the journey
from the love of wisdom
to the wisdom of love.
BUDDING, BLOSSOMING, BLOOMING
See the path,
walk the path,
become the path.
BUTTERFLY’S DREAM
Let us go, make a start, to the place where
buffalo thunder runs like a river through your heart.
Morning star rises, while the moon still sparkles on the dew.
Song of the Tao calls to you … from the butterfly’s dream of Chuang Tzu.
MORNING GARDEN KOAN
Why did Hegel say:
“The owl of Minerva
takes flight at dusk”?
EVEN IN THE GARDEN IT IS TRUE
Unity has primacy over separateness,
but diversity is the spice of life.
WHY UNIVERSAL BROTHER- SISTERHOOD IS NECESSARY
Individual innocence
is no protection from
collective responsibility.
THE SUN ALSO RISES
Thank you, Spirit, for the Gift of Life,
and for all my many Blessings.
Kindly forgive me my obsessions
and trespasses, and Guide me
in the Ways of Grace.
MORNING MANTRA
I am a Golden Glowing
Holy Grail overflowing
with Rainbows
of Love and Joy.
PARADOX OF THE OX
Nirvana is in samsara
because samsara is in nirvana.
The first is existential.
The second is metaphysical.
And the cow responds
with a heartfelt Muuuu ….
TREE OF LIFE
The leaf emerges
from the branch emerging
from the limb emerging
from the tree emerging
from the earth,
mostly covered by water,
bathed by the light of Brother Sun
and Sister Moon.
Now, amongst the stars,
it’s not too soon for you to know
that I am the leaf,
you are the branch,
we are the limb of the tree
in the never ending forest.
A river runs through it.
And the daffodils
are sprinkled
with butterflies.
FELINE EPIPHANY
I asked my cat once:
“How can you be so smart
and so stupid at the same time?”
And she replied: “It’s easy.
I’m imitating you.”
THE WISDOM OF STONES
Sitting quietly
in the oh so green forest,
watching the rocks grow.
JUNGLE HAIKU
Why did the monkey
fall from the tree? He got hold
of a, a not-branch.
NOW AND ZEN
Spring comes, grass grows
the robin grooms her wings.
No need to think about the beauty
of the Tao, unfolding in the majesty
of The Longer Now.
INTIMATE DISTANCE
Thinkest not we are apart,
I sit upon a branch, overlooking
the moonlit pond of your heart.
CHRYSALIS
Together, apart,
our love is an art, growing
in the womb of time.
CHRYSALIS REDUX
In the howling winds of an autumn eve,
amidst the whirling of endless leaves,
Dogen sweeps the path,
no cease for the swish of the broom,
as his cape sails to the moon.
WISDOM AND COMPASSION
A Buddhist need only embrace
Siddhartha’s Four-Fold,
and commit to a life
of learning and service.
ZEN AND THE ART OF LIFE
Meditation, education, occupation.
Art-making, peace-making, love-making.
Each is like tending a garden.
Care for the roots and shoots,
and you’ll enjoy the fruits.