In an old book that I haven’t opened for many years, I discover a scrap of paper on which I had written:
« Sweet birdsong before dawn
pierces night & day
and the aching heart,
too, is pure. »
An underlined sentence says, « Everything we need for awakening is present in the very ground upon which we sit. »
So it is.
Tonight that « ground » is my feeling a bit sick, weary, not wanting to venture into drizzle and chill. It’s all right here, and that’s all there is.
And that’s all there is
About the Author: zenscribe
Enseignante Zen et poète, Sensei Amy “Tu es cela” Hollowell est née et a grandi à Minneapolis, aux Etats-Unis. Arrivée en France en 1981 pour étudier la littérature et l’histoire, elle y est restée, s’installant à Paris, où elle élève ses deux enfants et gagne sa vie en tant que journaliste.
The Zen teacher and poet Amy “Tu es cela” Hollowell Sensei was born and raised in Minneapolis, but came to France in 1981 to study literature and history and has lived in Paris ever since, raising her two children and making a living as a journalist.
Late at night, it wasn’t dark at all; the invisible moon lit up the clouds and the fresh snow reflected all light. A soft and peaceful world.
This morning the snow is melting. Drops falling on the iron backdoor-bell, make it sound modestly; ting…ting…
That’s Sunday morning here.