Sunday August 22
*
A glimpse forth down
to the leading light of my long day
patiently making her way
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 the way from Yangkar Dorje Phagmo
across the valley of Rongpatsa
Look beautiful one
the fields are gold here
everywhere we see
barley glowing swaying in the breeze
before our gaze
beneath the endless sky
vast sweeping everywhere
to the very base of the mountains heights
for Rongatsa has sustained Tibetan life
for centuries beyond count
Then to a ridge
upon the heights
looking down upon this golden sea
to wondrous place tended
with wise and gentle hands
raw sharp smell of rock and ice
become the smell of flowers
that surround us
as we near the temple
of Bongen Gonpa of Kagyu lineage
difficult it’s place
still the scion of Milarepa
has remained upon this warring land
Not so surprising this
For Milarepa wondrously steadfast himself
so strong willed was he
that when his food ran out
not to interrupt himself
just ate nettles and turned green
so when the temple was destroyed to the north
not to be deterred
Kagyupa built it up again
Mongols Chinese Mongols
Khampa Chieftains Muslims
Tibetan Kingdoms
even armies from Lhassa
all soldiers here
to fight upon the fertile ground
yet the places of peace
somehow remain
humble yet resilient
peaceful yet resolute
Once upon a plain much like this
two tribes fought their battles
in endless round of revenge and mourning
a tent stood in the very center
of the worn trod road
as though a challenge to all that passed
humble it was tattered frayed
barely shelter from the wind
Two horseman thundered down upon it
resplendent in their garb of war
Why hopeless fool do you sit there
shouted they
silent the reply
save for
the click of prayer beads
clank of mani wheel
whispered prayer in the mountain wind
What disease of mind or frame
have you to remain here
they shouted again
from within came strident hoarse reply
of one whose long life
had been spent in harsh austerity
of ceaseless travel beneath mountain sky
It is Bodhichitta but do not fear
for it is not catching
to such strong young warriors as you
They snorted and galloped on
as the cackle of laughter followed them
but as the sound of hoofbeats faded
the quiet and fervent prayer
returned to the weather cracked lips
For it was Patrul Rinpoche
his ailment depriving him of reasonable sense
Bodhichitta the limitless desire
that all beings be set free
from suffering
Yet catching it was
for not soon after
in ways not to be explained
the tribes their feud came to an end
and barley grew
where blood once was shed
they to look up from their tasks
to see the many wondrous evening skies
that end each of the days
of the long and peaceful life
All this not so wonderful
to my straining eyes
as your determined beauty
and swift uplifted grace
that endures with patient dignity
this that I see in you
beneath the open sky
on this afternoon
of our summer 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
August 16
* courtesy of A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show productions.
reference material for the poem is courtesy of the Footprint Tibet handbook by Gyurme Dorje.