STILL FLOWING WATER: Mark Nunberg Quoting Ajahn Chah

 Quoting Ajahn Chah

" we meet the present moment, meet things as they are, as still, flowing water". 

The simile of still flowing water gives us the vision that our place in reality, MOMENT TO MOMENT is as Vast as space, as quiet as silent as imperturbable as space - all this at the same time we are directly in the ever-changing, ever moving, ever alternating causes and conditions of this moment, and of all moments, past and present.

seemingliy two contradictory conditions, both of which are true at the same time... yeah baby!

No such thing as experienced meditator - Clifford

 

There is no such thing as an experienced meditator

Mar 19, 2025 05:03 am
 

There is no such thing as an experienced meditator. Every breath must be as if it is the first, every step a fresh event. A beginner's mind leads to a sense of gratitude for everything, whether or not the desires of my ego have been granted or life is going smoothly. A grateful heart for the rushing currents as well as for the still pools puts the ego in its place. This attitude that grows out of increased awareness does not come easily in the face of difficulties, but it is worth cultivating over a lifetime.

~ from SITTING STILL by Patricia Hart Clifford

Pablo Neruda: Keeping Quiet

 

KEEPING QUIET

by Pablo Neruda

(English translation by Alastair Reid)

Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.

For once on the face of the earth
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.

It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.

Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.

Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.

What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.

If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.

Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.

Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda

 Poem of the Day: "Keeping Quiet"

by Pablo Neruda

(English translation by Alastair Reid)

Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.

For once on the face of the earth
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.

It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.

Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.

Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.

What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.

If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.

Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.

Extravagaria : A Bilingual Edition
by Pablo Neruda (Author), Alastair Reid (Translator) 
Noonday Press; Bilingual edition (January 2001)

In Spanish:

 

A callarse  

 

Pablo Neruda

 

Ahora contaremos doce

y nos quedamos todos quietos.

Por una vez sobre la tierra

no hablemos en ningun idioma,

por un segundo detengamonos,

no movamos tanto los brazos.

 

Seria un minuto fragante,

sin prisa, sin locomotoras,

todos estariamos juntos

en una inquietud instantanea.

 

Los pescadores del mar frio

no harian danio a las ballenas

y el trabajador de la sal

miraria sus manos rotas.

 

Los que preparan guerras verdes,

guerras de gas, guerras de fuego,

victorias sin sobrevivientes,

se pondrian un traje puro

y andarian con sus hermanos

por la sombra, sin hacer nada.

 

No se confunda lo que quiero

con la inaccion definitiva:

la vida es solo lo que se hace,

no quiero nada con la muerte.

 

Si no pudimos ser unanimes

moviendo tanto nuestras vidas,

tal vez no hacer nada una vez,

tal vez un gran silencio pueda

interrumpir esta tristeza,

este no entendernos jamas

y amenazarnos con la muerte,

tal vez la tierra nos ensenie

cuando todo parece muerto

y luego todo estaba vivo.

 

Ahora contare hasta doce

y tu te callas y me voy.

 

http://www.bu.edu/quantum/zen/readings/keepingQuietNeruda.html?fbclid=IwAR188cLTJoGqsWJloXJlYwyVxEnao7B5zPE8HZvynCr-u12D-mnJY1rhsFI

 

Archive of "Poem of the Day"

We enjoyed this poem today, day after the December Solstice..our Mindfulness practice group. Kate H. brought it to our gathering. 

Wei Ying-wu - In the Depths of West Mountain, Visiting the Master

In the Depths of West Mountain, Visiting the Master

A disciple for years at Twin Stream,

What brings you to these mountains?

Great luminaries keep the world at war,

But your mind water-flowing idleness,

You swept tigers from forests,

And now sit alone, utter stillness.

Guarding this frontier, we double silence

Wander narrow passes where clouds are born. 

--Wei Ying-Wu, 737-792, David Hinton, Translator

Lacking

 When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole World belongs to you. ~ Lao Tzu

Try to be mindful, and let things take their natural course. Then your mind will become still, like a clear forest pool. ~ Ajahn Chah