Heavenly
I climbed into my car early this morning and my mind stopped. Because on my windshield were feathery blossoms of frost that seemed to lead to heaven. And in fact that was indeed where they led. Because our suffering is a swamp made of thought. It seems to go on forever. But it can end suddenly, and we can climb out of that swamp, when thought is interrupted. When it does, we experience a natural quality of our mind that is open, spacious and relaxed. Which is the quality of heaven. When my first son would cry in the night as a baby, I would take him in my arms and go outside and show him the moon and in moments he would stop crying and a look of wonder would appear on his face. Many things can provide such a blessed interruption. Meditation and the natural world are two great sources. So I sat in my car and stared at the windshield a while as I followed those flowers to heaven. Remembering my son and the moon, I also felt an outpouring of affection and empathy. And then it was time to go on to the store.
21 February 2023
Texas Jim
Prospect, Nova Scotia
www.granitecoast.ca