Visual Meditation: The Earth is Not a Dream
March 14, 2008 · by Christine
Hope
Hope is with you when you believe
The earth is not a dream but living flesh,
That sight, touch, and hearing do not lie,
That all things you have ever seen here
Are like a garden looked at from a gate.
You cannot enter. But you’re sure it’s there.
Could we but look more clearly and wisely
We might discover somewhere in the garden
A strange new flower and an unnamed star.
Some people say we should not trust our eyes,
That there is nothing, just a seeming,
These are the ones who have no hope.
They think that the moment we turn away,
The world, behind our backs, ceases to exist,
As if snatched up by the hands of thieves.
-Czeslaw Milosz, from The World
(Photos all taken on the Hood Canal)
-Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts
Posted in Visual Meditation |
March 14th, 2008 at 7:00 am
The teachings of The Taoist sage, Chuang-tzu, suggest that our seemingly aimless, worldly existence, as “dream,” or “vision,” provides the necessary terrain for a sort of meandering, butterfly metamorphosis path, or glorious journey of the soul.
Fluttering about sleepily
in a field of
dew-kissed flowers –
could it be the little butterfly
of Chuang-tzu’s dream?
~ Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875)
March 14th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Your photography is beautiful…..the starfish, well….
Brooch of the sea
Living, watery home now exposed to the air
You share your dying color with those of us land bound
and remind us of the mermaid who may have worn you in her hair
I couldn’t resist.
xoxo
March 15th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
kigen, thanks for the gorgeous poem and Sunrise Sister, thanks for your jewel of a poem!