Aquarius Dawning

On this day in 1967 the Summer of Love began with a Human Be-In at Golden Gate Park.

I was just throwing myself into serious Zen practice, somewhere in the neighborhood of this date moving into a house across from the Berkeley Zendo, but still two years from joining with Jiyu Kennett and ordaining.

Such hopes for the transformation of the world.

As it turns out things didn’t go the way I thought they might.

For some addiction. Others early death. We were in a war. We’re now in wars. There is a chance the world is dying.

Such hurt and sadness.

And, then, also, moments of such wonder.

Joy.

Beauty.

Grace.

All in all, I feel, worth the price of admission.

And, closer to the end than to the beginning, mostly it is gratitude that fills my heart…

Here’s to every generation’s dawning,

every heart’s longing,

And that moment of hope

We each find

In new beginnings…