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"NINE BOWS..." IS THE opening greeting in an e-mail from Kozan dani Ransford Bowers, who attended the Spring sesshin 2000 at Hoen-Ji (dharma connection) in Syracuse, New York. "I was inspired and wrote this poem," he says.
No exit, no escape...sit...awake.
Night and day and night and day and night and day,
eat, sleep, sit, walk, work, as one.
Practice with a worshiping heart, be mindful.
Ask earnest questions, no time to waste.
No waste for another time.
Nen,Nen,Ju,Shin,Ki--our power arises from the mind
Nen,Nen,Fu,Ri,Shin--where there is no mind
there is no power.
Zendo floor reflects the sunlight,
Zendo floor...pit, pat, pat, pit...of feet.
Sat, Sitting, Sit
Breath, Breathing,Breathe
Cars go by...swish, mu, swish, mu, swish, mu...
an endless sea of reality.
If they only knew what we do,
then they might surely do it too!
Three complete vegan meals each day,
a rare honor by so few
isharyo and tenzoryo!
No restaurant or inn can boast such a feast
as this beast-less feast.
What is sesshin? A question to ask for a repast.
Shikantaza, koan study, two ways to practice one purpose.
Silence gives much to those who are eager to receive nothing.
Deep bows, and smiles, I see flowers in everyone's eyes.
Manjushri's sword swipes at delusions. Duality has been cut.
Everyone works hard to make sesshin happen.
Hyakujo Ekai Zenji says to his monks:
"When there is no work, there is no food."
Yamamoto Gempo Zenji says to Emperor Hirohito:
"Just do it!"
Kozan says: "Have a human be-in."
Peace is within and without.
What is sesshin? "A collection of heart and mind."
Kozan dani Ransford Bowers's says of himself:
"My Buddhist name is Kozan, which means tiger mountain. I'm from Syracuse, New York where I live and work as an artist. I enjoy music, painting, drawing, poetry, landscape architecture, gardening, dance, yoga and many other meditations. I have been a Buddhist and herbivore for ten years, and have practiced in New York and California."
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4 Poems by Lester Hirsh, 3/00:
5 Poems by Dinty W. Moore, 11/98
"Sky Burial" by Michael Titus, 11/98
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