Sunday July 3
*
A glimpse
forth to the top of the steep climb
to the leading light of my long day
slight gentle beautiful determined bright one
patiently making her way
she 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 how we make our way
from the Serkhang Nyingba
over the stony ground
to where a temple of
white rises up
into the mountain light
Look beautiful one
its the Lhakhang Karpo
White Temple
of the Litang Chode
within it's entrance portico
the brilliant color of
silk shines out at us
then the glint of armor
we know who this is
it's one of the Gyelechen Zhi
the Guardian Kings
of the four directions
Virudhaka of the south
then Virupaska of the west
Dhritarasta of the east
Vaishravana of the North
they look upon us
sternly then nod
we enter in
To look upon
the wheel of rebirth
and the painstakingly
inscribed rules by which
they who practice here
make their way
each as a piton
skillfully set
on a stark mountain face
that reaches beyond
the existence of pain
We rest for a moment
then continue in
To where Jowo Shakyamuni
smiles at us
in gentle benevolence
with Tsongkapha and his practitioners
in animated debate
on the nature of existence
they pause and motion
as in answer to a question
and there before us
mysterious paintings
upon the walls
obscure are they
the figures as not yet formed
We look upon them
in questioning wonder
then startled by the
flutter of wings
the air upon our face
we gaze to the top
of the stair
where a dove perches
to transform into being
resplendent
in a flash we see
the regal splendor
of palace of Zahor
the vast dusty plains
and fierce campaigns
of ancient Batahor
the great stark crags
of Gephel Utse
the small temple
within a grove of fruit and juniper tree
the Lhakhang of Nechung
Within our minds a voice we hear
immense and dignified
from an ancient time
I can tell you
of them they are your future yes
of what might be
or might become
but know that in the end
that the future
unfolds unerringly
from the direction
of your mind
then
Pehar in his form of Trinle Gyelpo
in the face of our awe
reaches out in gentleness
his stern visage
warms with a kindly smile
to touch us lightly with his
staff and brilliant banner
go on then now
you two
its really up to you
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 morning
of our summer of working
and waiting
and weaving
Lotus blossoms rest
upon the window sill
and so we wait
two as one
we our effort
real and lasting
slight gentle
beautiful one
June 28
* courtesy of A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show productions.
reference material for the poem is courtesy of the Footprint Tibet handbook by Gyurme Dorje.