Here's your Daily Poem from the Poetry Chaikhana --
 | The Vast Man By Kahlil Gibran
(1883 - 1931) But sweeter still than laughter and greater than longing came to me.
It was the boundless in you;
The vast man in whom you are all but cells and sinews;
He in whose chant all your singing is but a soundless throbbing.
It is in the vast man that you are vast,
And in beholding him that I beheld you and loved you.
For what distances can love reach that are not in that vast sphere?
What visions, what expectations and what presumptions can outsoar that flight?
Like a giant oak tree covered with apple blossoms is the vast man in you.
His might binds you to the earth, his fragrance lifts you into space, and in his durability you are deathless. 
/ Photo by ServantofAgape /
|
| ============ Thought for the Day: All your loss, hurt and hope --
gather them up
into a great pure ache
until the Beloved has no choice but to kiss
your naked heart. ============ | Here's your Daily Music selection -- 
Indocelt
Land of Dreams
Listen - Purchase More Music Selections |
Hi Omss -
...It was the boundless in you
==
Wisdom Stories
It's funny... I sometimes forget what I've posted on the Poetry Chaikhana blog or sent in past emails. Then something reminds me of an old post, and I reread it, surprised by my own words. That must be telling me either that I'm in deep trance when I write this stuff, or that I'm getting older. Let's go with the more charitable interpretation, shall we?
I had completely forgotten about the series of blog posts I wrote a couple of years ago on wisdom stories. I went back and reread them, stories by Rumi and Ramana Maharshi and the Baal Shem Tov. I found myself saying, "This is good stuff! I should share it again with everyone..."
---
Koans are riddle-like sayings or short tales used in Zen practice to startle the listener out of the linear mind and into open awareness...
Two of the most famous collections of Zen koans are The Gateless Gate and The Blue Cliff Records. Here's a koan I like from The Gateless Gate:
/ Photo by BotheredByBees /
Tipping Over a Vase
Master Hyakujo decided to found a new monastery, but he had the difficult task of selecting from among his disciples the right person to be the new monastery's abbot. Then he came upon a solution.
Hyakujo called all his disciples together and told them that the person who best answered his question would be named the new abbot. Hyakujo filled a vase with water and set it on the ground before the assembled monks. "Who can tell me what this is without naming it?" he challenged.
The senior disciple stepped forward and answered accurately, "No one can call it a wooden shoe."
Then Isan, the lowly cook, stepped forward and knocked the vase over with his foot, and walked out of the room.
Master Hyakujo smiled and declared, "My senior disciple has been bested." Isan the cook was named the new abbot.
==
What just happened in this story?
One way to understand the meaning of this story is that the water represents Truth or the Dharma. The vase is the vessel that holds that truth, it is the teaching, it is the tradition.
That truth cannot be told, however. Sure, you can use simple words like "Truth" or "Reality," or you can fill books with complex philosophical explanations. But ultimately those are all words and don't truly convey what the Truth is. The "water" cannot be named. That is why Master Hyakujo gave this challenge to his disciples.
The lead disciple, clearly a cunning man, sees this as a test of his mental dexterity. If he cannot name the water-filled vessel, he will say what it is not, thus suggesting it by negation. But he has only negated one object in a world of infinite objects. A person can spend a lifetime listing all the things something is not, and never come to the point where only the unnamed thing remains. The lead disciple is trapped on the endless road of the intellect.
But the cook, Isan, understood the situation simply and clearly. He tipped the vase over, emptying the vessel and revealing the water. The truth cannot be told, it can only be shown.
What's more, the truth cannot be held, it cannot be contained, it can only be poured out. The vase itself, the spiritual tradition, is empty and only has meaning as a vessel to transport the truth. By tipping over the vessel, he is suggesting that we must not worship the tradition itself. Religion, philosophy, spiritual tradition -- these are not an end to themselves; they should be respected for their function as a delivery vehicle, but nothing more.
These are the insights that mark one for spiritual authority.
--
You can read more wisdom stories on the Poetry Chaikhana blog.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ivan
Share Your Thoughts on today's poem or my commentary...
/ Photo by Patrick Hoesly / | Donations to the Poetry Chaikhana
Sending a genuine thank you to everyone who has made a donation in recent months! Your support helps me to keep the Poetry Chaikhana going.
New donations this past week:
- Virginia (FL), Bill (WA), Nadia (NJ, supporter), Jane (subscriber), NaaNue (UT), St. John (NC)
...and a special note of appreciation to Frank in NZ. Good journeys! |
| A few reasons to consider making a donation of your own...
- Ivan supports himself and his family through part-time work. Your contribution helps him to cover his expenses and dedicate more time to the Poetry Chaikhana.
- The Poetry Chaikhana has visitors from more than 200 countries! Your support helps to quietly carry a message of unity, respect, and spiritual exploration to all parts of the world.
- Ivan is always purchasing poetry books in search of poets and good translations. Your contribution helps expand the library.
- People naturally shift their focus over time. Individuals who donated regularly a few years ago sometimes move on. For that reason, the Poetry Chaikhana needs new supporters.
- Save the sacred poets! Ivan spends a certain amount of time each month searching for translations of poets and saints throughout history. Your donation helps him to continue this work.
|
... Find the Poetry Chaikhana on Facebook and Twitter ...
Support the Poetry Chaikhana |
| Donations to the Poetry Chaikhana in any amount are always welcome. Thank you! | 
Click here | | You can also support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you! |
| | A small amount each month makes a big difference. Become a voluntary Subscriber for just $2/mo. | | |
| | Help the Poetry Chaikhana reach more people. Become a Supporter for just $10/mo. |
Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2011 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.
============
Plain Text: If you have any difficulty reading this HTML formatted email, please let me know and I can send you plain text emails instead.
Friday Only: If you want to receive only one poem email each week, reply to this email and change the Subject to "Friday Only".
Canceling: If you wish to stop receiving this Daily Poem email from the Poetry Chaikhana, simply reply to this email and change the Subject to "Cancel".
