the temple and the vessel

On one occasion the Master told the story of an old ceramic pot of inestimable price for which he had paid a fortune at a public auction.  The pot had been used for many years by a beggar who ended up his life in misery, totally ignorant of the value of that object with which […]

The full moon of zen

I was feeling big, and rather strong in my car and driving home. When I saw the full moon peeking through the tall timbered pines above the road that twist and whined.   It made me feel small and rather meek a spec on this earth, where I squeak I bowed to the moon’s ancient […]

Ka-ching

Shania Twain “Ka-Ching” We live in a greedy little world,  that teaches every little boy and girl, to earn as much as they can possibly, then turn around and spend it foolishly. We’ve created us a credit card mess. We spend the money that we don’t possess. Our religion is to go and blow it […]

….you mustn’t quit

A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one […]

the seed

Once upon a time, there was a seed and because it was only a seed, nobody cared to notice it. Thus, gripped by a sense of inferiority, the seed gave no importance to its existence. Then one day, a wind picked him up – randomly or otherwise it didn’t know – and threw it mercilessly on an […]

zen’s dying…

  Zen’s dying… A famous zen master was lying on his death bed. A line of people trailed out the door and across the zen garden of those who had come to pay their respects to the master before he passed. They had come from all over to see the great zen master one last time. The zen […]

slow down (a poem)

  Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round, or listened to rain slapping the ground? Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight, or gazed at the sun fading into the night? You better slow down, don’t dance so fast, time is short, the music won’t last. Do you run through each day on the fly, […]

the hug (poem)

The Hug! It’s wonderous what a hug can do. A hug can cheer you when you’re blue. A hug can say, “I love you so,” Or, “Gee, I hate to see you go.” A hug is, “Welcome back again.” And, “Great to see you! Where’ve you been?” A hug can soothe a small childs pain, […]

Strength (a poem)

  The strength of a man isn’t seen in the width of his shoulders. It’s seen in the width of his arms that circle you. The strength of a man isn’t in the deep tone of his voice. It’s in the gentle words he whispers. The strength of a man isn’t how many buddies he […]

two boxes

I have in my hands two boxes which God gave me to hold He said, “Put all your sorrows in the black, And all your joys in the gold.” I heeded His words, and in the two boxes Both my joys and sorrows I stored But though the gold became heavier each day The black […]