Sunday April 25
*
A glimpse
upon the steep climb
to the leading light of my long day
slight gentle beautiful determined bright one
firmly alone firmly herself
to quietly remind me
that not so far away
for she I we two
our warm and bright
future day
and to her then to say to tell
of another climb
northeast of Samye
to the valley where the sacred river Chim
flows into the Brahmaputra
There villages stand empty
we continue beyond
for they sit in the silence
abandoned long ago
To climb up through a wondrous glade
green light and cool moist shade
Look beautiful one
along the path
the smell of fragrant herb
perhaps medicines for the Tibetan way
mystery growing for a thousand years
and in this wondrous mist
benign support of breath for the mountain climb
a stupa monument rises into our sight
as if newly risen from the night
as it has for generations long passed
in this wondrous place
Then on to Zangdok Pelri rock
a being disturbs the silence
struggling along a ledge
down clatter stones that echo
before the open maw
of Sangwa Metok
Once Terton Jigme Lingpok
sat there in noble straightness
one pointedness of mind
and there before his inner sight
a vision arose to convey to him
precious wisdom lost long ago
to inspire his hand
to place upon the leaves of rough handmade paper
piled neatly between covers of
wood worn and dented
priceless wisdom long forgot
to the oblivion of persecution
Before the gate beside the vines
a sculpted image stands
it’s Manjushri great Bodhisattva
one of the remarkable eight
who attained the highest wisdom
forever escaping life’s suffering
only to return
to aid uncountable beings
Who could carve the likeness
of such a peerless being
It was Padmasambhava beautiful one
with compassionate hand upon the stone
to create the wondrous visage
For Yeshe Tsogyel Padmsambhava
had come here to this place
her meditation cave is here
the cave of Tsogyel Drubpuk
what is this beautiful one
in the sacred stone
the marks of Yeshe’s foot
and Padmasambhava’s hat
Here too in this wondrous vicinity
King Trisong Detsen then Nyangben
stayed in quiet contemplation
Nyangben to carefully conceal
from prying eyes that steal
the Vima Nyingtig to be discovered
in century nine
by Longchen Rabjampa
an astonishing treasure find
wisdom returned after five hundred years
in century fourteen
Beyond a poignant place
an impression upon the stone
where beautiful princess Pema Tsel sat
with sparkling eyes a vibrant laugh
a body to soon return
to charnel ground from whence it came
for she had been summoned back
to her present life
at Padmasambhava’s request
to receive the teaching she had sought
in his calm and gentle voice
as the light of life faded once again
from those sparkling eyes
her laughter rang above the stones
for she had gone on in triumph
her soul to incarnation
even more wondrous than this
aided by the master’s wisdom
We stand here beautiful one
but not merely to muse
our shoulders to be rubbed with stern vigor
upon our shoulders and our back
with a ancient stone from Shitavara
sacred charnel ground
where bodies were returned respectfully
to the world of living beings
having served their divine purpose
thence down terrace
looking out upon a valley vast
it’s the Brahmaputra beautiful one
flowing beneath the sky
Many more caves are they
all magical and sacred
Let’s descend to a tse-chu spring
of the water of life
there to rest beside obelisk
and the glowing of the wildflowers
waving in the wind
All this not so wonderful
to my straining eyes
as your determined beauty
and uplifted gentle dignity
that endures with patient grace
this that I see in you
beneath the open sky
on this morn
of our spring of working and waiting
Lotus blossoms rest
upon the window sill
and so we wait
two as one
we our effort
real and lasting
slight gentle
beautiful one
April 23
* courtesy of A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show productions.
reference material for the poem is courtesy of the Footprint Tibet handbook by Gyurme Dorje.