Sunday August 29
*
A glimpse to
whence
the leading light of my long day
slight gentle beautiful determined bright one
has made her way
she firmly alone firmly herself
leaving a silent bright affirmation
beneath the open sky
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 Bongen Gonpa
across Rongpatsa valley
thence southeast along great Yalong Dza chu
to the Horko plain
where capital of ancient Beri
once rose above steep narrow valley
citadel of Bonpo glory
before the Mongol forces came
Thence to a quiet place
where the water
glitters from among trees above
swaying in the mountain wind
below the air is still
silent filled with power
Look beautiful one
a lake is hidden here
Lake Tashi Tso
place of power
of O Tashi Pema Tsepel
A place where pilgrims
travel upon their way
their khorlam curcuit about
this sacred precious place
to prostrate before it’s sanctity
to raise their hands
from face to heart
then to kneel down
then to lie upon their face
upon the ground
The sound of bells comes to our ears
the flash of shamanic mirror
the swirling rattle of mani wheel
to implore the blessing for all that lives
the flash of prayer flag tossed in the wind
the chants the mantras
go on and on
as once they did
when dust and clamor once
rose above the battle upon the Horko plain
when the forces of Gushi Qan
swept down upon their terrible way
to destroy the Kingdom of Beri
somehow it was pilgrims survived
To rise
again as they do now
to look out
upon a deity
shrouded in the glimmering mist
that looks back upon
their dusty forms
in silent compassion
For this mist does not conceal
but reveals mystery and wonder
to the patient seeker there
and quiets the mind in turmoil
whose hand still grips the weapon
that cuts the human’s soul
as surely as victim intended
at place such as this
Jetsun Milarepa great soul
of Kagyu lineage
once gazed out upon a quiet morn
his quiet chants rose among
the silence beneath glowing green light
suddenly broken by crackling brush
the maddened flight of deer
too desperate for stealth
into the presence of this precious one
somehow to feel a sacred safety
to collapse beside his feet
Behind the baying of furious hound
fierce upon the chase
came upon Milarepa
still chanting quietly
and stopped within his very tracks
snarl gave way to confusion
confusion to silence
his teeth to disappear
he to rest at Milarepa’s feet
When hunter came upon him there
lying at the Bodhisattva’s feet
his face contorted in a snarl
stupid beast gone mad has he
his weapon raised he then
to end the life of to him now
worthless cur
But then his features changed
softened as once they had
when as a child
he brought yak’s milk
to his first pup
and sat to watch it drink
and then sat he before
Milarepa chanting there
to listen to this peaceful one
for all beings feel the emanation
of one who has attained
freedom from the suffering of existence
and yet remains
A quiet patient time apart
even when not seen
still gentle hearts vision
And so, we share this time together
slight gentle one
as we rest easy
as our plan grows
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 27
* courtesy of A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show productions.
reference material for the poem is courtesy of the Footprint Tibet handbook by Gyurme Dorje.