Looking for a monk and not finding him

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Mon, 10 Jan 2000 10:51:59 -0600

"Haueter, Dirk" <Dirk_Haueter

Looking for a monk and not finding him

 

LOOKING FOR A MONK AND NOT FINDING HIM

by: Li Po

 

I took a small path leading

up a hill valley, finding there

a temple, its gate covered

with moss, and in front of

the door but tracks of birds;

in the room of the old monk

no one was living, and I

staring through the window

saw but a hair duster hanging

on the wall, itself covered

with dust; emptily I sighed

thinking to go, but then

turning back several times,

seeing how the mist on

the hills was flying, and then

a light rain fell as if it

were flowers falling from

the sky, making a music of

its own; away in the distance

came the cry of a monkey, and

for me the cares of the world

slipped away, and I was filled

with the beauty around me.

>>

 

With constant, vigilant mindfulness, sustain this recognition of empty,

open, brilliant awareness.

Cultivate nothing else.

There is nothing else to do, or to undo.

Let it remain naturally.

Don't spoil it by manipulating, by controlling, by tampering with it, and

worry about whether you are right or wrong, or having a good meditation or a

bad meditation.

Leave it as it is, and rest your weary heart and mind.

* Jamgon Kontrul Rinpoche