You are like a candle. Imagine you are sending light out all around you. All your words, thoughts and actions are going in many directions. If you say something kind, your kind words go in many directions, and you yourself go with them. We are …transforming and continuing in a different form at every moment. ~Thich Nhat Hanh
With summer’s heat it was wonderful to experience impermanence this week in the form of clouds & rain. Cool, pleasant temperatures along with unexpected moisture and gorgeous sunrise colors; a blissful moment. If you asked the cloud, “where did you come from?”, the cloud would wisely say, “I did not come from anywhere. When conditions are sufficient, I manifest. And when conditions are no longer sufficient, I stop manifesting.” The cloud is a wise teacher who can help us understand the nature of non-self and interconnectedness. The cloud is aware that it cannot truly die. It turns into rain, or perhaps hail or snow. Knowing that it does not become nothing, the cloud is happy recognizing its continuation is in a new form. On and on throughout time, sun, vaporizes oceans, lakes and other bodies of water. Temperatures, pressures, winds and geography provide conditions for clouds to appear. And we humans have our conditions and continuations, our selves and non-selves just as does all of nature.
cloudy conditions
During this summer’s 21 day retreat in Plum Village, France, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh spoke on the theme, “what happens when we die.” During which he asked poets and musicians to share their inspiration on these deep teachings of fearlessness and interbeing. After much meditation, reflection and polishing, my humble reponse is below. I hope you like this tune entitled, Beautiful Continuations (lyrics below). Gratitude to Jo-ann and Charlie for your sweet violin and arrangement.
Unborn, & undying, I am
flowers and mankind the same.
We’re made of seed, sun, soil and rain.
So simple that even a young child can understand;
conditions are just right
now here I am.
Gratefully swimming this river of time.
Aware I’m more than this body
a liberating insight.
Please hold this hand, my friend
while still warm to the touch.
Remember I loved you so much.
In the west sun sets
while in the east it dawns.
Night and day play hide and seek
dancing on & on.
May footsteps of what I say and do
tread light as bygones
& May my karma be a beautiful continuation.
May birds always sing
May air & water always be clean
& May we all have beautiful continuations.
This is so beautiful! I love the analogy of the clouds and how they exist anyway in different forms. I believe this to be true for our spirits. Your images are so incredible! Thank you for this post. 🙂
I’ve always sensed there was a reason I was drawn to your blog, David. This post helped me understand. Beatuiful continuations… so simply yet beautifully expressed. Thank you for sharing your words and a glimpse into what had to be a significant retreat experience.
thanks Eric for your kind words!
i’ve found peace with these teachings on no birth, no death for many years.
but the recent retreat helped me appreciate the truth more for myself 🙂
Thanks much for your song! Very well done and interesting indeed! The following is a possibly relevant poem to share by one of my favorite poets… E.E.Cummings. I strongly suspect that, throughout life, he was often dying to the limitations of mere symbolic-stagnant thinking; thank goodness, he wasn’t just another of the dead-from-the-heart-up, conformist bureaucrats.
dying is fine)but Death
?o
baby
i
wouldn’t like
Death if Death
were
good:for
when(instead of stopping to think)you
begin to feel of it,dying
‘s miraculous
why?be
cause dying is
perfectly natural;perfectly
putting
it mildly lively(but
Death
is strictly
scientific
& artificial &
evil & legal)
we thank thee
god almighty for dying
(forgive us,o life!the sin of Death
I unfortunately missed Plum Village this summer retreat, but I am thankful to have the opportunity to go to the German retreat when Thich Nhat Hahn comes…I breathe in the humble continuation of your song. Thank you David for the gentle reminder that simplicity matters….the simplicity of being present for our life everyday. Namaste
thank you for your kind words islandrain!
how wonderful to attend the German retreat with Thay! i was at the eiab a few years ago, is it there?
i’m happy you enjoy my song 🙂
may your moment
be happy.
I am really glad to be able to go there with my kids. We attended Plum Village for the first time last year. I had read so many of Thay’s quotes and always felt a simple conviction. I completed the 5 mindfulness trainings there and truly wish there was a sangha in Vienna. For now, I practice alone. I do believe that the German retreat is at eiab. It will be not far from Cologne…near Schaldern. Live the breathe. 🙂
wishing you a wonderful retreat
and success finding friends
to practice the art of mindful living 🙂
“May footsteps of what I say and do
tread light as bygones
& May my karma be a beautiful continuation.”
Just beautiful!! as are the photos!
Profound insights and a beautiful blessing, Smilecalm. I’m grateful for the rain in a parched land that inspired you to share them.
thank you for offering me this kind reflection, Carol.
may the rains fall soft upon your fields 🙂
🙂
Thank you for all this, very timely for me, today.
i’m happy to something to offer you Ann 🙂
Thank you. Love, Amy
you’re welcome, kind Amy 🙂
Bless you! You put tears in my eyes.
what a touching expression. i brush tears from my eyes, hearing the voice of wise youth singing.
breathing smiles, meredith.
thank you for sharing, meredith!
these teachings on no birth, no death
are most liberating for me, also 🙂
This is so beautiful! I love the analogy of the clouds and how they exist anyway in different forms. I believe this to be true for our spirits. Your images are so incredible! Thank you for this post. 🙂
i appreciate your kind words and reflection, Laura!
may your day be in beauty 🙂
Thank you, you too 🙂
Really nice. Such soothing words for a world that always seems to be in trouble.
Very interesting. It’s nice to gain insight on the thoughts of others. Thanks for sharing! I especially enjoyed the beautiful pictures.
thank you for your kind feedback and sharing 🙂
Thank you for this sharing and such an inspiring reflection David.
Just right for now 🙂
Val
i’m happy you found my song inspiring, Val 🙂
I’ve always sensed there was a reason I was drawn to your blog, David. This post helped me understand. Beatuiful continuations… so simply yet beautifully expressed. Thank you for sharing your words and a glimpse into what had to be a significant retreat experience.
thanks Eric for your kind words!
i’ve found peace with these teachings on no birth, no death for many years.
but the recent retreat helped me appreciate the truth more for myself 🙂
Thanks much for your song! Very well done and interesting indeed! The following is a possibly relevant poem to share by one of my favorite poets… E.E.Cummings. I strongly suspect that, throughout life, he was often dying to the limitations of mere symbolic-stagnant thinking; thank goodness, he wasn’t just another of the dead-from-the-heart-up, conformist bureaucrats.
dying is fine)but Death
?o
baby
i
wouldn’t like
Death if Death
were
good:for
when(instead of stopping to think)you
begin to feel of it,dying
‘s miraculous
why?be
cause dying is
perfectly natural;perfectly
putting
it mildly lively(but
Death
is strictly
scientific
& artificial &
evil & legal)
we thank thee
god almighty for dying
(forgive us,o life!the sin of Death
very wonderful reply Thomas!
i appreciate your kindly liking my song
and the poem is perfect, thanks 🙂
This is absolutely beautiful
thanks Zara
for your kind words
and liking my song 🙂
Beautiful and profound
without being heavy
just like the cloud
light and expansive
thanks for the wisdom
sung with such joy…H xxx
I unfortunately missed Plum Village this summer retreat, but I am thankful to have the opportunity to go to the German retreat when Thich Nhat Hahn comes…I breathe in the humble continuation of your song. Thank you David for the gentle reminder that simplicity matters….the simplicity of being present for our life everyday. Namaste
thank you for your kind words islandrain!
how wonderful to attend the German retreat with Thay! i was at the eiab a few years ago, is it there?
i’m happy you enjoy my song 🙂
may your moment
be happy.
I am really glad to be able to go there with my kids. We attended Plum Village for the first time last year. I had read so many of Thay’s quotes and always felt a simple conviction. I completed the 5 mindfulness trainings there and truly wish there was a sangha in Vienna. For now, I practice alone. I do believe that the German retreat is at eiab. It will be not far from Cologne…near Schaldern. Live the breathe. 🙂
wishing you a wonderful retreat
and success finding friends
to practice the art of mindful living 🙂
“May footsteps of what I say and do
tread light as bygones
& May my karma be a beautiful continuation.”
Just beautiful!! as are the photos!
wonderful to hear your kind words!
thanks for liking my song 🙂
Beautiful, and wise. Thanks.
i’m happy you like my song, Fred 🙂
Reblogged this on Red Unscripted and commented:
lovely thoughts
thank you for kindly sharing my song!
based on ancient teachings 🙂