When ending a creative spell
I vow with all beings
to relax and open my mind,
stretching into the stillness of now.

Mired in website planning
I vow with all beings
to get back on the Buddha track
one breath, one sip, one dish at a time.

Concerned about COVID,
I vow with all beings
to breathe in equanimity
and breathe out generous care.

Taking note of my frazzled mind,
I vow with all beings
to breathe deeply and ground
in an attitude spacious and clear.

When about to converse online
I vow with all beings
to come from full presence and care,
attending to what truly matters.

Taking a computer break
I vow with all beings
to stretch this invaluable body
releasing the knots of desire.

Bedeviled by a coding bug
I vow with all beings
to expose and see clearly
an underbelly of desires.

Driving in big city traffic
I vow with all beings
To harmonize with the fast, the slow,
the erratic, the Law, and the Dharma.

A new favorite to memorize from page 31 of Robert Aitken’s Zen Vows for Daily Life

Inspired by Robert Aitken Roshi and Thich Nhat Hanh, I’ve begun composing simple verses which help align me with the Zen way for those countless everyday jobs — washing the dishes (of course), but also answering the phone, driving in heavy traffic, “reading scholarly comments,” etc., etc., etc. As a sample, Gatha #16 in Thich […]