The past, present, and future…in a moment of time. In your mind’s eye, do you see the generations of past dandelions—sleeping soundly within each protective seed shell? Each kernel attached to a fragile parachute, waiting for a gentle summer breeze, trusting in an unknown tomorrow’s life-giving rain, sun, and soil for its awakening.
Delta sharing a picture that symbolizes transitions, change, and the passing of time.
Spring departs —
the clear moon oblivious
of passing time
~Soseki (S Carter, Haiku before Haiku)
from the tip
of the forest ranger’s broom. . .
spring departs
~Issa (www.haikuguy.com)
Trees…Medicine Bow National Forest
Medicine Bow National Forest extends from north central Colorado to central Wyoming in the United States. The origin of it’s name, Medicine Bow, is legendary. The generally accepted version is that the Native American tribes which inhabited southeastern Wyoming found mountain mahogany in one of the mountain valleys from which bows of exceptional quality were made. It became the custom of friendly tribes to assemble there annually and construct their weapons. At these assemblies, there were ceremonial powwows for the cure of disease which, in the hybrid speech that developed between the Indians and the early settlers, was known as making medicine. Eventually, the settlers associated the terms “making-medicine” and “making bow”, and Medicine Bow resulted as the name for the locality.
Hop on over to Lost in Translation to participate.
regrets as I may,
even the bell
has a different sound now,
and soon frost will fall
in place of morning dew
~Saigyo (B. Watson, Poems of a Mountain Home)
Vision: Unable to see things clearly unless they are relatively close to the eyes, owing to the focusing of rays of light by the eye at a point in front of the retina; myopic
The Six Blind Men & the Elephant, a famous Hindu fable that tells the story of six blind sojourners that come across different parts of an elephant. In turn, each blind man creates his own version of reality from that limited experience and perspective. The video below is a illustrated version sharing an aged truth about our human condition and the relation between relative and absolute truth.
Jump on over to Lost in Translation to join this week’s Thursday’s Special.
The cloud-covered sky
is all open.
The heart of takuhatsu*
as it is –
a gift from heaven.
~Ryokan (Sky Above Great Wind, K Tanahashi)
*takuhatsu – alms-begging. Ryokan relied only on the fruits of takahassu for his food and substance.
today too
keeping perfectly quiet. . .
little duck ~Issa (www.haikuguy.com)
belt of orien
in the dark sky
a silent reminder. . .
but if, gazing at it, we just reminisce
our three hearts may meet
images submitted in response to Lost in Translation’s photo challenge.
Today again
I’ll go to the hill
where the pine winds blow –
perhaps to meet my friend
who was cooling himself there yesterday.
~ Saigyo (Poems of a Mountain Home)
…submitted in response to Lost in Translation’s photo challenge: s-curve.
When you look at a leaf or a raindrop, meditate on all the conditions, near and distant, that have contributed to the presence of that leaf or raindrop. Know that the world is woven of interconnected threads. This is, because that is. This is not, because that is not. This is born because that is born. This dies, because that dies.
The birth and death of any dharma are connected to the birth and death of all other dharms. The one contains the many and the many contain the one. Without the one, there cannot be the many. Without the many, there cannot be the one.
…the interconnected links consist of many layers and levels…
~Thich Nhat Hanh (Old Path White Clouds)
goats beard’s
umbrellas taking shape
spring rain
a meditative journey 
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