icebergs are buddhist<\/a> monks i send forth, \u2013 yann martel<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Read the rest here<\/a>. (found here<\/a> via twitter<\/a>. Thanks Isabella!)<\/p>\n I missed the whole Blog Action Day<\/a> thing this year (tisk tisk), but this poem fragment reminded me of it and the whole fact of Global Warming. While there is little I can say in this moment, noting that countless wise things have been said, and little in particular I can do, I would like to post a few more photos, specifically of the changing leaves of Glacier National Park, this time in a particularly contemplative mood:<\/p>\n What stories might these leaves tell? What teachings? Perhaps to the astute ecologist they might hold warnings. To the Jesuit they may speak of God\u2019s gift, flourishing in every moment. For the Buddhist there may be anicca<\/span>, impermanence, anatt\u0101<\/span>, not-self, or dukkha<\/span>, unsatisfactoriness.<\/p>\n Or perhaps, 6<\/span>. Pare <\/span><\/a> ca na vij\u0101nanti, mayamettha yam\u0101mase; Ye ca tattha vij\u0101nanti, tato sammanti medhag\u0101.<\/span><\/p>\n [And there are] those who do not realize, one day we all must die. And [yet there are] those who do realize this, who cease\/calm their quarrels.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2013 (My rough translation of a verse in the dhammapada<\/a>, based on Buddharakkhita)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I like, in typical nerd fashion, how Sammati <\/span>(the singular third person verb found above in its plural third person \u201csammanti<\/span>\u201c) can be from the Sanskrit verbal root \u221a\u015bam or \u221a\u015bram, each with its particular, yet related, meaning.<\/p>\n Sammati [\u015bam<\/p>\n Sammati1 [\u015bam; Dhtp 436=upasama] 1. to be appeased, calmed; to cease Dh 5; Pot 3rd pl. sammeyyu\u014b S i.24. \u2014 2. to rest, to dwell D i.92; S i.226; J v.396; DA i.262 (=vasati); pp. santa. \u2014 Caus. s\u0101meti to appease, suppress, stop, A ii.24; It 82, 83, 117, 183; Dh 265.<\/p>\n Sammati [\u015bram<\/p>\n Sammati2 [\u015bram; Vedic \u015br\u0101myati Dhtp 220=parissama, 436=kheda] to be weary or fatigued. (from here<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n There is a poetic appreciation of the sense that it is only when we are weary or fatigued<\/span> that we really are appeased, calmed, or ceasing<\/span> [in our otherwise typical hedonic pursuits]. All the more fitting as this section of the Dhammapada employs some military\/violent imagery.<\/p>\n And of course this also gets my mind bouncing along toward Samm\u0101, a word familiar to many Buddhists; any at least who have heard the Noble Eightfold <\/span>Path<\/a> enumerated in the P\u0101li. <\/span>Each \u201cspoke\u201d in that path is about getting things \u201cright\u201d or samm\u0101<\/span>. However, I have long-since preferred to translate samm\u0101 <\/span>as \u201cbalanced\u201d in opposition to micch\u0101<\/a> <\/i>as \u201cunbalanced,\u201d <\/i>which has its own 8-fold path<\/a>.<\/p>\n
released into the world from the great monasteries of the poles.
their mantra is the blue light humming within their frozen cores.
their message is peace and oneness,
but alas they simply vanish.
every year monks leave me and never return.<\/p>\n
Click on them for a full-size version)\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/_fyeYpxfdjuI\/Stv6lbnHrkI\/AAAAAAAAAq0\/bHN-XsxrqeE\/s400\/IMG_3333.jpg\")
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<\/a>In each leaf, and in each dew drop, countless moments.<\/div>\n
simple
disenchanted
delight
in beauty.
<\/span><\/p>\n
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