No Distinction

There's  really no distinction 
Between the sacred and profane, 
No clear dividing line between the two. 

Let there be no consternation, 
No terror and no pain.
Just mindfully embrace what comes to you. 



Copyright 2016 William K. Ferro

There Is Plenty

You have enough.

Lucidity Gatha

Breathing in, my mind is fully lucid. 
Breathing out, my body is at ease. 
I mindfully embrace all my afflictions, 
And calmly, those afflictions I release.


Copyright 2016 William K. Ferro

This Peaceful Revolution

We are in the midst of a great paradigm shift. This revolution will be won by hundreds of thousands of peaceful warriors, standing firmly together for justice, peace, freedom and hope.

We thought we were victims; together, we discovered that we were the collective hero that we sought.

We considered the powers of hatred, greed and delusion unstoppable; we thought they defined our society at its core. We learned that they yield to the collective energy of lovingkindness, generosity and awakening. 

We had despaired of ever seeing the rage, bigotry and violence so pervasive in our culture changing.  We witnessed joy, equanimity and nonviolence restrain and subdue them. 

This revolution began in the hearts of individual moral agents; it gathered steam as these practitioners pooled their spiritual resources. 

 We came together to generate an unstoppable tidal wave of lovingkindness, joy, compassion and equanimity.  

This peaceful revolution doesn't come to an end; it is renewed daily by the individual and collective practice of innumerable apostles of peace. 

Copyright 2016 by William K. Ferro

Ponder Nonduality

A sky of slate above my head,

The earth, a fertile womb, 

A ragged pathway beckons me; 

I step into the gloom.

Cold the air, and rough the trail 

That leads me on my way,

Into woods and out of time,

Retreating from the fray. 

I seek surcease in solitude 

From sorrows that have grown;

I need a tranquil resting place 

In regions yet unknown. 

Now stepping through the opening 

That leads to other realms, 

I ponder nonduality 

And fall back, overwhelmed. 

The Great Bell Chant

May the sound of this bell penetrate deep into the cosmos.
Even in the darkest places,
May living beings hear it clearly.
That all suffering in them may cease,
Understanding come to their heart,
And they transcend the path of sorrow and death.

The universal dharma door is already open;

The sound of the rising tide is heard clearly.
The miracle happens: A beautiful child 
Appears in the heart of a lotus flower.
One single drop of this compassionate water
Is enough to bring back the refreshing spring 

To our mountains and rivers.

Listening to the bell,

I feel the afflictions in me begin to dissolve.
My mind calm,
My body relaxed,
A smile is born on my lips.

Following the sound of the bell,
My breath brings me back 

to the safe island of mindfulness.
In the garden of my heart,
The flowers of peace bloom beautifully.

A Gorgeous Gatha

Have to share this gorgeous gatha for meditation from TNH. This one got me through a medical test today; it made me feel solid, lucid and calm in a situation that usually causes a good deal of anxiety. I highly recommend it!

*   *   *

Breathing in, I know I am breathing in.
Breathing out, I know I am breathing out.
In...
Out.

[breathing in, etc.] I feel my in-breath grow deep.
I feel my out-breath become slow.
Deep...
Slow.

I feel calm.
I feel ease.
Calm...
Ease.

I smile to my afflictions.
I release my afflictions.
Smile...
Release.

In, out.
Deep, slow.
Calm, ease.
Smile, release.