Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Non Duality

The bell tolls at four in the morning.
I stand by the window,
barefoot on the cool floor.
The garden is still dark.
I wait for the mountains and rivers to reclaim their shapes.

There is no light in the deepest hours of the night.
Yet, I know you are there
in the depth of the night,
the immeasurable world of the mind.
You, the known, have been there
ever since the knower has been.

The dawn will come soon,
and you will see
that you and the rosy horizon
are within my two eyes.
It is for me that the horizon is rosy
and the sky blue.

Looking at your image in the clear stream,
you answer the question by your very presence.
Life is humming the song of the non-dual marvel.
I suddenly find myself smiling
in the presence of this immaculate night.
I know because I am here that you are there,
and your being has returned to show itself
in the wonder of tonight's smile.

In the quiet stream,
I swim gently.
The murmur of the water lulls my heart.
A wave serves as a pillow
I look up and see
a white cloud against the blue sky,
the sound of Autumn leaves,
the fragrance of hay-
each one a sign of eternity.
A bright star helps me find my way back to myself.

I know because you are there that I am here.
The stretching arm of cognition
in a lightning flash,
joining together a million eons of distance,
joining together birth and death,
joining together the known and the knower.

In the depth of the night,
as in the immeasurable realm of consciousness,
the garden of life and I
remain each other's objects.
The flower of being is singing the song of emptiness.

The night is still immaculate,
but sounds and images from you
have returned and fill the pure night.
I feel their presence.
By the window, with my bare feet on the cool floor,
I know I am here
for you to be.

~Thich Nhat Hanh~

3 comments:

Unknown said...

You are such a smart person with a beautiful heart, Adrian! Reading this post make me shed my tears... How is life treating you in Malaysia? Remember to keep in touch, okay? I will be leaving on June 17 for Deer Park. I don't know if I could stay that long as Eric but we'll see how things turn out.

Tumultuous Silence said...

Thanks for the compliment! I must say though that this poem isn't composed by me - it's by Thay. =)

Oooh... You're going back to Deer Park?! Nice! I hope you find much insight there - share them with me! And say hi to all the brothers and sisters for me too!

I'll be at the Blue Cliff monastery October 2-6 when Thay is visiting, you should join me!

Brian Self said...

Hey Adrian,

I just finished an article on Nuclear Radiation Protecting and though of you and that you may have people it could serve in Japan and in areas where people are now at risk for contamination.

If you would like me to send you a copy please send me your new email address to mine at brian@heartandsoulheath.com

Best regards,
Brian

Brian Self from the Young Adults retreat at Deer Park in Escondido.