On Poems, Prayers, and Practical Practices
Thursday, 8. November 2007, 03:45:03
When daylight savings time came, the light changed. Have you noticed?In the mornings, on waking, the first thing I notice is a row of trees across the street. In the direct light of the day, they look red and muted. In the slanty morning light, they look like brilliant balls of flame.
Both ways, those trees are exquisite.
In the evenings, a warm orange washes over everything, bringing even more new hues out of the already multicolored landscape. This light stops me. Breathtaking beauty, all around.
In preparation for the coming winter, I've been feeding myself poems. When a poem like Mary Oliver's "Mindful" comes into my world, I wonder why on earth doctors do not prescribe poetry like pills. It is so good for the soul, with very few side effects.
In preparation for Thanksgiving, here's a new video from Brother David Steindl-Rast: Giver of All Good Gifts
This past Monday at our sangha meeting, we practiced mindful eating. It is amazing how good a simple clementine can taste. All it takes is slowing down, being there, enjoying each bite. It works best when there's a friend there to share the practice and the joy.
Here is the latest version of the Five Contemplations. Feel free to print these out and use them as a blessing before each meal. It is sometimes fun to begin a meal with just a few minutes of mindful eating before talking. Enjoy!
This food is a gift of the earth, the sky, numerous living beings and much hard and loving work.
May we eat with mindfulness and gratitude so as to be worthy to receive it.
May we recognize and transform our unwholesome mental formations, especially our greed, and learn to eat with moderation.
May we keep our compassion alive by eating in such a way that we reduce the suffering of living beings, preserve our planet and reverse the process of global warming.
We accept this food so that we may nurture our sisterhood and brotherhood, strengthen our sangha and nourish our ideal of serving all beings.
If you are here, we'd love to have you come sit with us any Monday evening. If you are far away, we'd love to hear news from your life and your practice.
Thank you all for being there.
