Not everything is revealed. Look in the golden eyes of the big cat. Pick up the scent of the territorial markings. Watch the moon rise in the late afternoon. Find the right spot and right time. Inhale. Howl.
Where The Cougars Live
I have something here
but nothing to show for it,
nothing but clean air
this high in mountains
where cougars live, where vision
questers might set up
to pass the crystal
night centered in God's long sight,
nothing but my heart
punching my old chest.
I have something here, value
added by stars, cold
light warbling among
the aspen giving shadows
life and me secrets.
March 13, 2009 12:33 PM
Of course, the babies are much cuter...and as many cats do, have blue eyes.
Cougars, also known as Pumas, are New World cats and range thus
"One evening Milarepa returned to his cave after gathering firewood, only to find it filled with demons. They were cooking his food, reading his books, sleeping in his bed. They had taken over. He knew about nonduality of self and other, but he still didn't quite know how to get these demons out of his cave. Even though he had the sense that they were just a projection of his own mind - all the unwanted parts of himself - he didn't know how to get rid of them. So first he taught them the dharma. He sat on this seat that was higher than they were and said things to them about how we are all one. He talked about compassion and shunyata and how poison is medicine. Nothing happened. The demons were still there. Then he lost his patience and got angry and ran at them. They just laughed at him. Finally, he gave up and just sat down on the floor, saying, "I'm not going away and it looks like you're not either, so let's just live here together." At that point, all of them left, except one. Milarepa said, "Oh, this one is particularly vicious." (We all know that one. Sometimes we have lots of them like that. Sometimes we feel that's all we've got.) He didn't know what to do, so he surrendered himself even further. He walked over and put himself right into the mouth of the demon and said, "Just eat me up if you want to." And that demon left too." - Pema Chödrön
surrender ~))))
ReplyDeletenothing but my heart
punching my old chest
xo
erin
I have clean air. I have a heart. I have the starry light that enlivens shadows and I have cherished secrets.
ReplyDeleteI know, in possession of so much, I share something in common with those who quest for visions. I know I share space with the cougars. I love the cougars and this space.
Like a punch in the chest, you suggest surrender. I love you, Erin.