On the evening of the 24th, with snow coming down, my family and I celebrated Shakyamuni's Enlightenment. For his Satori and ours, we recited the Sandokai, offered our written prayers and intentions to the fire, offered incense and Metta.
Later, it was just my husband and I, bundled against the cold, pelted with big, wet snowflakes, sitting with the fire. It was a beautiful evening. There wasn't much to say. Snow fell with a hiss into the fire pit. We fed old clementine boxes into the fire, and watched excitedly as the boxes burst into flame! Ancient pleasure, to sit beside a fire, the dog at our feet.
The following morning brought chill and ash, heavy weight of snow on a hot pink camelia bloom.
Miso the cat, my ever-present accolade, kept a watchful eye for cardinals as I offered incense at the outdoor Buddha. We turn our faces to quiet that calms the mind.
The backyard Buddha is patient, whatever moment it is, is the moment in which he abides.
How many time have we considered the dharma together, here in this spot? Countless times, across time and space, through form and emptiness, as a sentient and non sentient being; Buddha knows the dharma is vast.
Can I hear it? Can I be it? What is there to be, after all, that hasn't already been and will always be? And who is it that offers this visual incense, accompanied by words that thread one thought to another?
No one, just Unsui.
The needle of the white pine, the needle without thread.
The scent of smoke, incense and wood, that saturates fur and hair.
The abiding dharma of the universe, a love that is boundless!
I will be traveling for several weeks, and so this is probably the last entry until I return, hopefully with much to share. Bright Blessings to you in the New Year!
Namu Amida Butsu!
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