Sunday July 31
*
A glimpse
forth on the rise up to the span
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 the way from Dabpa Yangteng Gon
south over Zer La
to where the Tongyi Tsangpo
tears among the jagged rocks
at the very feet of the towering Ngulso
mountains
clad in the green
of graceful swaying larches
with leaves that flashing
spin and whirl
in the mountain wind
in fall Ngulso raiment fine becomes
brilliant red yellow and green
as glittering ice
adorns the jagged rocks
and roots of trees
above the torrent's
bubbling tossing sweeping rush
We rest here for a time
with grand sacred spectacle
and sparkling shining din
Then on to place
of stillness where the only sound
is the mountain wind
spraying mist of snow
across the awesome faces
of the mountains of Rigsum Gonpa
Dabpa Lari
Look beautiful one
there are three of them
facing each other
as deities in council
awesome snow covered majesty
by each a crystal lake
flashing light of the mountain sky
with ceaseless graceful motion
or stormy swirling power
of goddesses
Once three figures struggled
over the land of Zodang Gonpori
their robes faded and worn
torn and stitched
in as many places
as those upon which
their aching feet had trod
their hair long straggled matted
as the Dzong wild yak
that nimbly ran among the rocks
of vast traverses below
to shelter any shelter now would do
as the sky began to darken
with the coming storm
the shriek and howl of the wind
above the shadowed crags
they huddled between the rocks
icy cold dark blur
Then suddenly before them
warm blue white
glowing bright
vast vista and shimmering light
three gods and goddesses
amusing themselves as at a picnic
on a summer day
They to look upon
the struggling pilgrims
so awkward seeming now
before such awesome splendor
Then to the first
a goddess turned
in a mocking voice to say
so of the three noble families
you say are you
how shabby now you are
what little taste have you
have you no respect
to visit us here
in such flawed circumstance
and into his mind she peered
and was silent for a time
but now I see
once you held within your hands
a gleaming golden urn
from a vast treasure
so smooth wrought
your face beneath a prince's crown
looked out upon you
but you whispered to yourself
I cannot see myself in this
and you put it aside
and walked away
to become Manjughosa Jamyang
Bodhisattva of lasting fame
she to in kind amusement laugh
how discriminating you became
then to hold up her mirror
brilliant as the depths of stars
now then you may observe
and shave those matted locks
and befit yourself properly
and from above a mighty hand
of a mountain god
gave to him a lily fair
and said
our home is your shelter
someday it shall be
Jampeyang in your honor named
Then to the second
another goddess turned to say petulantly
what of you I wonder
you look no better
could there be anything of worth
in you interrupting us like this
the silence then
and her voice to quietly say
ah now I see
once you held in your very hands
a sword forged sharp and keen
that threw the light
from it's polished blade
as the force of a thousand enemies
you to see your face within
the helmet of a conqueror
forged in grand resplendence
the hapless at your feet
but you grit your jaw
through clenched teeth then you said
I do not see myself in this
you put it down and walked away
before him she held her mirror
glowing as
the vast expanse
of a river of ice
that hurls the mountain light
effortlessly into space
she in warm approval to smile
now then make yourself presentable
unto our minions here
and into his hands a mountain god
pressed a gleaming vajra
saying
true power now you know
and our abode
your shelter will always be
Chakna Dorje shall it be named
in honor of your choice
There to remain but the last
to him the goddess third
flashed a pitying glance
to sadly say to him then
to this miserable state how you came
not much more till ruin
I must discern quickly before you fade
as dew upon grass
of a warm spring day
she then to gaze within his mind
to suddenly start in wonder
animatedly burst out and say
as the others did you made your way
through the perils of this illusory world
to look upon the glowing vastness
of free untrammeled mind
in it you saw a face
pure peace and serenity
of one about to forever escape
beyond the reach of pain
but you heard the cries of anguish
of the beings left behind
your eyes blurred
with voice thickened with tears
you whispered
I cannot see myself here
not now not yet
you bowed your head
and turned your face away
and returned to them
She then
in gladness
to raise her mirror
as a vast sky filled with rainbows
of every color that can be seen
or imagined
such as you then
have no need of raiment fine
but here then refresh your
countenance a bit
and a mountain god then rumbled
yes let us look upon it
from behind the beard of travel
noble as it is it pleases us
and reached down
to place
a lotus in his hands
our dwelling here
a refuge for you will always be
to someday hence
be named Chenrezik
in honor of
your Bodhisattva name
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
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
July 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.