One Bright Pearl

Here is the Truth - at this moment I do not know what I am doing with my life. Sure, I can say, “Well, you’re typing a blog post concerning what you know.” Or, I could say, “You have been studying and practicing Dogen Zen with a living Master, Shohaku Okumura Roshi.” Or, I could [...]

Dogen instructed,1
Students of the Way, do not worry about food and clothing. Just maintain the Buddha’s precepts and do not engage in worldly affairs. The Buddha said to use abandoned rags for clothing and beg for food. In what age will these two things ever be exhausted? Do not forget the swiftness of impermanence nor [...]

not arriving, here and now
a crossroad
here and now, no direction found
this no direction is only a crossroad

in just this no direction
gaining is lost
a Way is found
as a crossroad, here and now

never arriving, never departing
is only a crossroad’s no direction
is only a Way’s pulling and turning of an old monk
is only this old monk returning home

With a red heart
Crying
To see my children