Sunday June 19
*
A glimpse
forth to 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 Shakya Tubpa Podrang
to another edifice
within this place
they call the Litang Chode
One
two
three storeys has it
we step within
to where four figures stand
peering down upon
a sacred book
Even in the dim light
we can't but recognize these
inestimable ones
Tsongkapha
Atisha
Jowo Shakyamuni
and the Panchen Lama
in his incarnation
as Sonam Drakpa
What is it
this sacred text
that these great beings
look upon
it's a volume of the
Shata saha srika
Prajna para mita
and there are sixteen of them
for within its pages
printed in the way we know
one hundred thousand verses
speak of wisdom
that came from one they say
was peerless in his day
or any other
Nagarjuna of second century
scion of the Shakyamuni
He the profound thinker
and author of the way
that sees all philosophy
as but flawed constructs
of reality
each with contradictions
inherently absurd
true nature then to be revealed
only in contemplation
of the mind in its purest state
Many followed in his way
to acheive the higher states
among them another of keenest mind
and learned attainment
Chandrakirti was his name
Tibetan of lasting fame
he wrote his exposition
of this way
in length with worthy prose
so wondrous was it they say
that humble Chandragomi
practitioner read it but once
then swiftly
threw his own hard crafted work
into the well
he sat slumped beside
disconsolate
saying
my crude effort
not to compare
with such eloquence as this
He looking down
upon the stones
the grass worn low
by the tread of feet
to sense he was not alone
nor in the presence of
ordinary passer by
He raised his eyes
in wonder
for it was Tara Dolma there
smiling she pointed her finger lightly
raised his chin with a playful tap
what was that splash I heard
was it that silly little book of yours
That Chandrakirti certainly knows
how to write now doesn't he
She then to peer into his eyes
with the look never forgotten
by the soul who once has seen it
and quietly to say
but more of pride in self was it
and such love and humility had yours
your words stumbled
but their compassion shown
bright enough to bring me here
I tell you now kind one
that many more will come
to the wondrous way
from your text sodden at the depths
of this well here
then ever will come
of that work of Chandrakirti
noble though it is
And thus it came to be
for generations that came
to drink from that very well
monk after monk of Nalanda said
that nothing so enhanced the powers
of their minds
as drinking from the ancient well
sitting beside the dusty road
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 spring 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 14
* courtesy of A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show productions.
reference material for the poem is courtesy of the Footprint Tibet handbook by Gyurme Dorje.