Lalla When Lalla Yogishvari found Ātma Within herself, the outer world became Her sole garment, a web of dreams; Thus she went naked beneath the vault of Heaven. And as she entered from the outward to the Inward, So did the Inward enter her body's fullness; And thus she went naked and dancing through the land -- In Lakshmi's ecstasy and in Ātma's stillness. ~ Frithjof Schuon * …
Practice Notes: Magic
Tip Of The Tongue I've been feeling curious, as of late, about the experience of not-quite-but-almost remembering something: of having it right on the tip of the tongue, so to speak. In these moments, there's the distinct sense of knowing that I know something--of almost palpably feeling the presence of this information, pressing up from who-knows-where--yet the final revelation of it has yet to …
Stealthy, Flashing, Serpentine
River Still, as in the long Soft light of summer, it gleams In the mind of the forest As it does in mine -- Coiling in and out of sight, Stealthy, flashing, serpentine. Along its banks The densely woven trees Stand mesmerized, deep roots And mirrored branches reaching out To draw their life From its light, As birds like arrows hunt among The highest hazy leaves, Then dive …
Points Of View
Here Wei Wu Wei does us all a favor by being very precise in his definitions of noumenon and phenomena (intentionally rendering the former as singular and the latter as plural). He also introduces the "Principal of potentiality" as a way of understanding the ever-slippery relationship between noumenon and phenomena: IV. What We Mean by “Noumenon” and “Phenomena” The phenomenal is whatever …
Fragrance
Your fragrance fills the meadow. Your mouth appears in a red anemone, but when those reminders leave, my own lips open, and in whatever I say, I hear you. ~ Rumi (trans. Coleman Barks) * …
Facing It
Facing It My black face fades, hiding inside the black granite. I said I wouldn't dammit: No tears. I'm stone. I'm flesh. My clouded reflection eyes me like a bird of prey, the profile of night slanted against morning. I turn this way—the stone lets me go. I turn that way—I'm inside the Vietnam Veterans Memorial again, depending on the light to make a difference. I go down the …