"When understood, the Buddha’s universe..is anything but alien and inhibiting. It is a world full of hope, where everything we need to do can be done and everything that matters is within human reach. It is a world where kindness, unselfishness, non-violence, and compassion achieve what self-interest and arrogance cannot. It is a world where any human can be happy in goodness and the fullness of giving." ❦ Eknath Easwara

January 15, 2013

Catfish Prayers

They sit and stare, goggle-eyed,
Waiting patiently at the aquarium glass
Whiskered catfish

I sometimes wonder
What they feel in their little catfish hearts
It seems to me that often they sit there praying,
In their catfish way,
Whiskered mouths moving in wordless appeal
For that glorious miracle of the food pebble
Descending like manna from above,
Mystery incarnate!

“Desire is prayer, ” a wise woman wrote,
But the Buddha said “Desire is suffering. ”
Who is right? I think they both are,
But my praying catfish,
Innocent in desire,
Only know their sinking tablets
As grace incarnate…

♡♡♡

No comments:

Post a Comment