I was the one who treated you wrongly
I was the one who overlooked you
Now I lift up your image
let me pay you back for what I have taken
and then let me do what pleases you best
With my own hands  let me make recompense

With my own hands, I will harvest the wood
to build you a palace, to build you a throne
With my own hands I will dig from the ground and polish 
the stones  then learn to build the walls and floors

I will grow the fields  make the cloth  to dress you
I will mine the jewels with my own hands 
and fashion an ornament for you

Learn every healing art
produce with this very body  every healing influence
and care for you from the earliest age, 
all through your years, 
assuring your body is healthy and strong

I will grow the food  draw the water  prepare for you
all that is delightful, satisfying
Attend every school, engage in all discipline
then give to you the best of what I have learned
From a garden I will work and offer you 
the flowers and fruit

Everything that was taken from you, 
I will repay, ten-fold, a hundred-fold
Let me create the kind of world you would like to live in
provide you with family, fidelity, harmony
offer this life to match all need
I will be there before any fall

I was the one, but now, because I see you, truly,
this is how I would have you know of me

And if there is any you would have me serve, tell me now
Your parents, your children, grandchildren, 
those who would otherwise harm  before the thought even enters their mind, 
those who would help  before the thought has occurred to them, near and distant relations, neighbors, friends,
I will accomplish this with the practice of peace
Show me, I will do it   to your satisfaction and delight
and me?, myself?, as it pleases you

My body moans and opens
remembering the place of my birth
Great surrounding silence
rich and alive, a continual sense of renewal and depth
The beauty is sustaining, it becomes who we are

How many times am I from the mountains
or from the lands where there are rivers, 
the lakes and wood, from ocean communities
The people there all know each other
the families know each other
and the parents who grew up together
help to care for the children of their friends
This land sustains us
mighty in its enduring generosity
free with no borders
our breathing extends for miles and miles
All this green and fresh breathes with us
helps our body  soothes our mind  and strengthens
our spirit
Silences, deep rest for all of us
We turn up in the morning completely renewed
All of our surrounding lands, animals, stream and wind
follow this rhythm, they are a part of our life
woven through each aspect
the rich scents  from mountain, stream and fields
we breathe in and out all night long
feed our body  heal our mind and feeling
keep us strong
sprouting harvest, fertile soil, clear pure water

I remember this from a distance of untold miles and years
from a place where silences are difficult to find
they seldom go all the way to the bottom
and scents are faint,
only sometimes lightly arriving on a wind
We seem to remember together, and not be sure
as we look at each other, of what we are remembering
about where we come from
about the places and times where we took care of 
one another  and our families were fed by many others
In this place now we barely seem to remember
the night outside seldom truly rests
and the wearing goes on, not having fully
reached bottom  having forgotten the earth

Still this is with me
I remember  my body remembers  all my home
my rooted in ancient life
strong, deep, enduring
fresh, vital, clear  as new birth
I try to bring this all to where I am today
tonight.  When we harm our mother  we harm ourselves
I saw visions of stores filled with products we've somehow convinced ourselves we need
restless, aimless; wandering  having forgotten
We cover over silence  and rest
not recognizing each other any more, only
this sense somewhere  at times coming more clear  uneasy,
that we were not always like this  our past and truer selves
reach out  try to mend the ways we've missed
We have so much a longer, deeper history
ours to draw from  from the beginning  entirely natural
balanced, in accord, wise like this
Our forgetting is thin  just on top
although appearances may cover so much territory with 
signs of forgetting where and who we are
This is brief, will be, has to be  by its own reasons
and we will return  our family is here
our family waits again to rest together
to renew each other  to give to one another
this rich fragrant life  soothing subtle
eases us gently  through generations
the mountains become our bones
fields  the breath of a gesture

I am She from whom the tides have risen
the creative hand that touches and brings shape
to these features
self-born and mother of all
I am called protectress of my own children
in coming forth as the spirit
awakened in the heart of  man

the gentle green of grasses
soft on rounded hills
misted
by the clear pond
in the silence
of morning musty evergreen
bird above with silvered wings
the stillness, a presence behind the work
and the labor of birth

I have created my lover, man devoted
and through my strength, my life blood
my names are known, taking form in his life
We are joined in dark quiet rivers
passionate love
I brush against his cheek
a soft face
close enough to be
an inspiration
strong enough to be heard

Torches light the burial ground
and roar like thunder when the wind blows
Families wail for their beloved one gone
and some others chant in a circle  heads bowed
Through the smoke and dust
there are those who sit still
back straight
eyes wide open
breathe in and out  all the passing days and nights

A small tarp shelters one
he takes just enough food
and little rest
his darling one has gone
he knows he will soon follow

Some distance from him  a fire hisses
bones crackle  teeth fall to the ground
Women are shaking, hysterical with tears
and a son is doubled over
No one expected this!

and quiet, nearby, another corpse
skin all uneven in color  swollen so that it's hard
to tell  if it was a man or a woman  who died
birds circle, peck at the legs
and dogs run in and chase the birds

all that's left of some are bones and
a little hair  left stuck to the scalp
Images dance across the view of that one
holding still and steady
Visions of all the beauty sought after
Winds move the graveyard dust around his feel
and onto the blanket that keeps his legs warm
specks of pale mixed with tan earth
(he looks)
"All that is left  of once vibrant life
All the fighting, loving, small concerns
great effort
and all we forget in a day!"

and the ring of trees sway
a movement like dancing to long breathing in  pause and
breathing out a long breath
Their roots reach deep into the earth
and circle the lights of a hundred small fires

Cold days begin
more blankets to keep the body warm
Watching the train of families and friends
never stopping for a moment  bringing the dead
Some calm comes after many days
of fires leaping up inside
mind and feelings running out on their own
reliving the past  laid over scenes of fires
dying out in the cold morning darkness
Some more steadiness  
even through the times when the body shakes
and the mind tightens too much
too hard to hold

The spirits seep in and out of view
all manner of shapes and forms
some splendid, radiant, taking up the whole ground
others so hurting and lost
most move like a great soundless procession passing on

Families stay for less time now, because of the cold
and only the fewer large birds walk freely about
The first snows come  and seem to seal the memory
of all the faces that were loved so
Teeth chattering  hair forming icicles
watching shorter days  and wind
there is enough wood only for shorter days outside
the shelter

The boneyard burial ground loses its ability
to surprise even  one morning when the points
of elbows shins and hands reached through
at odd places throughout the fields
and they were not reaching for anything

Long time  few people come
only the professionals
dumping bodies and setting them ablaze
or leaving them  barely wrapped
Heaviness pulses in and out with this feeling
of being here and being free

Wait and watch
all manner of images of birth appear
in nest, from seed, mothers, calves, fishes, stars
with each in breath  a wave rises
hurls itself forward and draws back again into
the womb
Oh, but to know that place!

My child, I woke this morning in a dream
of cradling you gently in my arms
and as I began to know where we were
I leaned over to shield you from the wind
a few flaps blew in the breeze, the only sound
and all at once I was awake
all the illusion was gone out of me
and this holding was light and so full of joy

I know we must leave
one of us certainly, before the other
and so, here, I feed you my last piece of bread
It's so easy to give you joy
because nothing else moves around us
and seeing goes in fresh  clear ways
deep into this life we share
here is rest

and the rains have stopped  the snow has
turned all this earth into more of a churning ground
gone is the heaviness  all the sadness is past
there's just this wonder that I found my way 
here at all
Wonder and this thankful sense that touches
the new and old faces that appear

I heard a bird today  far off in the woods
and it means that soon life will return here
a sleeping giant stirs only slowly
more animals appear
the nightly ceremonies grow longer again
weeping and celebration
I hear music  a band has gathered
and they play long songs  not wanting to stop

Soon I will return home
although I do not know why
healing has turned many things that were inside
completely out into the life of the world
I find you now in many places
like I am finding myself
So much is sweeping in and out of existence
leaving traces and more
their hearts moving in all the world
inside a small tear  I found the mother of this great life
that we each follow
knowing the course 
and something of how deep this goes within
I offer this calm touch
reaching from a clear and even rest

The imitation of immortality
not to ever sleep
dressing to look young
running wild  pursued by a phantasm of death
that has our own face
We lay confidence in our plans
and lean so heavy
All we gather around us 
as if to prove our survival
is made of uneasy, hectic patterns
We'd rather not look directly
instead  parade pale images
the bloodless forms of an undying dream-reverie

May I remember illness
may I remember loss
may I remember fear
may I remember death

May I remember the power of love, and to love
may I remember those who are forgotten 
by almost everyone else
May I remember children
may I remember the world I live in
may I remember those who are hungry
those who are without peace  
those who grieve

May I remember my spiritual guides (3 times)
may I remember the great treasure of happiness
the natural world, creative
May I remember the bodhimind
Awakening for the benefit of all
and may I remember equality of view

May I remember my parents
may I remember my friends
May I think beyond this time and place

May I remember to practice what works
'guarding the sense bases'
emptiness-immanence
beneficence  The beloved
'unsealing the spring'
sending and taking
the interdependence of all...

A Glance Meditation on the Graduated Path

All around me, right now, people are dying
Everyone I know one day will die
What do I wish for them?
I too will die
What do I wish for myself?
Everyday I should think: 'Today could be my last day
How do I want to live it?'
As it is said, '
Why not dedicate it now to universal happiness' 
'Death comes to all, and the time of death is uncertain'

The effect of even the smallest of our actions is unfailing
and this life is precious  
While we are here there is so much that is good, worthwhile, worth honoring, celebrating, worth affirming

and, at the same time, many suffer
for many reasons, physical, social, psychological
either at the hands of others, or by their own hands

Knowing this much I take refuge in the Lama, the Buddha, 
the Dharma and Sangha, 
and will give up even the slightest of harmful actions
May ethics, meditation, and wisdom 
develop in me

Individual liberation is the basis, 
allowing for there to be empathy, more extensive seeing, 
and the ability to live fully and to work
May I see the importance of this

and that, just like me, all others are exactly the same 
in wanting only happiness and not even the slightest hurt
but without the opportunity or the knowledge 
of the causes of peace,
let alone supreme happiness, 
many continue to know dissatisfaction, 
many continue to suffer

May I take them as my responsibility
for now and for the future
May I always meditate on the equality of self and others
and the exchange of self-cherishing for cherishing others
May I help them all in as many ways as I can

The true nature of all beings
is loving kindness and compassion

Remember this when you see
constructions workers  working 
in the middle of the street;

when you see people 
walking arm in arm;
A gray haired woman standing
on the corner, a young man
with a stern expression behind the wheel
of his car

Remember this when you think of 
your co-worker; when you see young children,
when you think of your friends, family, 
when you think of yourself

When you see someone lost, or absorbed
or when you see animals
birds, fishes, dogs

Strangers, the proud, 
the hurt and the hurtful
People doing stupid things, 
crazy, out of touch
or just wasteful

Remember this when observing
those who leave the world
the past, the future

those overwhelmed by mistaken
ideas and emotions

remember this is there always  unfailing
without diminishing

the nature of all beings is universal love and compassion
remember this when you observe your own thoughts,
and feelings, body, the world

remember this when you see
objects of anger or attachment
the impatient, the fool,
the afflicted

if you see how precious everyone is
you would agree that they are worthy
not only of offerings, but of supreme offerings
the whole universe, every happiness
a gesture representing devotion

and the only giving of something sufficient
is to follow this true nature
to express this everywhere we go
as much as we can, of course
in all situations

The sunlight is all full of night
this deep rest gives it its power
Within each of the forms given by the earth
we taste the source in cool stillness
These ways are turning in a perfect circle
The mother spirit gives birth to the father spirit
whose power and grace derives from silence, perfect peace,
unity, wholeness
flowing through his hands and arms
born  man and woman each become the other
Nurturance, and the home of fortitude
becomes all the shining spheres of creation

With the thought to awaken the life
that is most beneficial to others
consider caring for yourself the actual practice 
of caring for others
generate a parent's love

A great many are with you and within you now, this moment
and the entirety of this vast field
will be reached both now and eventually
by the life you create today

For all the uncontrollable suffering,
have mercy
generate a life that can ease every sorrow
and end, finally, the trains of hurt that have been passed on

Fulfill the aspiration of each and every one
giving what is needed most
removing every obstacle, resolving every hindrance
this love goes on, re-creating its own nature
everywhere it touches it is born

Generate the true force capable of helping, 
the supreme healer
embracing all equally, excluding none
this pure motive ends the sense of separation
and we move in accord with all the spirits in this life

giving with freedom to move through
our love gains a profound view, open-hearted, magnanimous
and as close to every being as their most true love

This protector spirit rises in lives
soothes all that is not yet whole
leads without fail to sources that sustain 
providing a way to awakening,
becoming the very source of renewal

with the dedicated awakening mind
joy is complete, Great Peace
as we find within love
the sight and strength for all our work

That mind that cares for all beings equally
giving rise to most wondrous, healing effects
that spirit, uplifting, 
producing the verity of richness within
a savior appearing where there was none before
a heart knowing the history of unmatched, unmet need
stilling relentless motion
quelling feelings of loss, disappointed desires
opening sight
that grace, 
that peerless beauty producing spiritual awakening
of that joy, that boundless love, I now give praise!
Giver of solace and sustenance, 
life from within that brings us renewal
repairs the body, restores our faith
this potential is brought forward, 
recognizing its own nature, 
and working in countless ways to help us see true

Wishing you peace
quiet in body and mind
that most effective means of becoming clear
opening the mind

Wishing you joy
that most wonderful way 
of opening the heart

May you know love  
the warm touch of every kindness

May your life become love  
that most comprehensive view
the source of all our happiness,
our blissful awareness
and healing nature

May you have discriminating insight
that most useful companion
and concentration
the strength to direct the mind
a most productive way to live

Wishing you an awakened intuition
that most reliable guide  fully present

and steadiness  equanimity, adaptability
that most practical way of being in the world

May compassion be awakened in your life
that means of generating the strength to work 
the source of all our beneficial action

May a full birth be yours
Heart-wakefulness

May mindfulness be yours
may you have the full presence of mind 
to see beauty, the depth of life
to be able to learn  and develop understanding

May strength and serenity become allied
with being completely awake

May the whole breath and body be clearly known in you
strengthening constitution, constancy of character

May you live amidst ease
know and become the nectar of wisdom

Blend all experiences with love and awareness

and may you be free to walk on all paths
giving from the bounty of your heart
blessing with clarified mind
creating lucid happiness and well being everywhere you go