Gathas

[Kokuu]

Breathing in, I am present
Breathing out, I am ready
With a calm and focused mind
I will listen patiently
Speak kindly
And steadily complete the tasks of the day

Lovely!

[Do Mi]

Jon, thank you so much for sharing and for opening up this thread again!

I started working with gathas about a month ago and am getting them posted for rohatsu. This practice is being so helpful for me in many situations, especially ones where I slide into opposites thinking, complaining, or habit-mind.

Here are a few I have composed--I would love any input about them--anything that would make them more helpful or dharmically on-point??

Sitting zazen
I allow my small self to be cradled
by the unfathomable field of the Buddha-Mind.
May my practice benefit all beings.

Attending service at my zen center
I vow to be connected, curious, and in service to my sangha.
May my small presence lend to the collective power of our practice for the benefit of all beings.

May this mistake be a gate
To the boundless Buddha-mind
That holds all good and bad, right and wrong
I vow to repair any harm
And dedicate my learning to the benefit of all beings.

Driving my car
I vow to let my mindful awareness permeate
beyond the body, beyond the vehicle,
beyond the road, beyond the view,
throughout the limitless sacred interbeing through which I move.

Lending a hand
Forgetting all notions of ego and self-benefit
I open my heart to respond with compassion and generosity.
May my actions benefit all beings.

Experiencing pain
I perceive its impermanence, and the impermanence of this body and all perceptions
I am in unity with all suffering beings
My small suffering self and all suffering beings are held by the magnificent Buddha-mind

Performing onstage
I vow to let the music flow through me,
using all of my skills to hold emotions, connections, and space
for my beloved audience and for all beings.

Dissolving into the world of dreams
I perceive that sleeping and waking are not two.
I dedicate this healing sleep to all weary beings
And vow to rest deeply and awaken with joy.

In gassho,

Do Mi
sat and lah

[PeaceMan]

Jon, thank you so much for sharing and for opening up this thread again!

I started working with gathas about a month ago and am getting them posted for rohatsu. This practice is being so helpful for me in many situations, especially ones where I slide into opposites thinking, complaining, or habit-mind.

Here are a few I have composed--I would love any input about them--anything that would make them more helpful or dharmically on-point??

Sitting zazen
I allow my small self to be cradled
by the unfathomable field of the Buddha-Mind.
May my practice benefit all beings.

Attending service at my zen center
I vow to be connected, curious, and in service to my sangha.
May my small presence lend to the collective power of our practice for the benefit of all beings.

May this mistake be a gate
To the boundless Buddha-mind
That holds all good and bad, right and wrong
I vow to repair any harm
And dedicate my learning to the benefit of all beings.

Driving my car
I vow to let my mindful awareness permeate
beyond the body, beyond the vehicle,
beyond the road, beyond the view,
throughout the limitless sacred interbeing through which I move.

Lending a hand
Forgetting all notions of ego and self-benefit
I open my heart to respond with compassion and generosity.
May my actions benefit all beings.

Experiencing pain
I perceive its impermanence, and the impermanence of this body and all perceptions
I am in unity with all suffering beings
My small suffering self and all suffering beings are held by the magnificent Buddha-mind

Performing onstage
I vow to let the music flow through me,
using all of my skills to hold emotions, connections, and space
for my beloved audience and for all beings.

Dissolving into the world of dreams
I perceive that sleeping and waking are not two.
I dedicate this healing sleep to all weary beings
And vow to rest deeply and awaken with joy.

In gassho,

Do Mi
sat and lah

Beautifully written Do Mi. I think gathas are similar to haikus in that their power is in their simplicity. Thank you for sharing your work!

SAT/LAH

Jon

[Tai Shi]

Today I hurt so this is the Gatha. It is sitting one shelf above my desk on a bookshelf with items from people I know, a small container with the Heart Sutra, given me by Jundo, upon his visit, I think six years ago, a small pewter sail boat from my daughter because at the time, when she was six-years-old, and wanted to replace a tiny ship in a bottle which I accidentally broke, a gift she gave me when she was five. She is my way of thanking the world, and the little girl I took out to eat and she ate the bun and cheese, thru away the meat, a beautiful chrome votive candle holder also on the shelf from my wife, a beautiful set of Jusu beads from my good friend Kyousui, these made by nuns in captivity in Tibet, many things all gifts, small things from people I care about, away from us now doing great things.



Evening Gatha

Let me Respectfully remind you--
Life and death are of supreme importance
Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost
Each of us should strive to awaken...................
......awaken
Take heed. Do not squander your life.



I have seen parts of this in our Zazenkai materials.
Sometimes I do not strive.
The framed parchment was written by a monk,
Sold on the internet for five dollars, so appropriate because if I make it to September 11th, I will be 73-years old, and two and 1/3 years ago at the time of an important surgery, I was taught two finger typing by a kind woman knowing I would have this surgery and thinking I already had trouble with arthritis in my hands. On a day I forget to host an 8 a.m. Soto Zen, Shikantaza sit, and forgot that then I was supposed to ring the bell four times. I AM LIMITED TO THREE LINES A DAY PER THREE ENTRIES, AND SO THIS IS THE ONLY ENTRY I SHALL MAKE TODAY, AND I HOPE IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD. My awakening is to write poetry. As always, my teacher, when I spout off, says nothing. I bought The Teachings of Homeless Kodo which I begin to read today.

Gassho
sat/lah