Arlington

Now here’s the situation I left my home
By the invitation of Roshi Joan
I packed my bags to go across the world
My prayer flags completely unfurled

Gonna get enlightened so found my way  
To become a Upayan in Santa Fe
I would get a koan and learn how to be
And is what Roshi said to me 

Pull some weeds then pick up a broom
It’s gonna lead you to the sun and the moon
And the sky above gonna heal your hurt
You wanna know love ya gotta dig in the dirt

Plant some seeds put some compost down
All you’ll ever need is found in the ground
Be here now and do this work
Humbly bow and dig in the dirt

I was a little frustrated I will have to admit
To become consecrated I thought I would just sit 
I thought I would get so I would transcend no
I did not expect to the clean the bathroom in the Zendo

But I swept a walk though there was nothin’ there
And we did not talk but I became aware
But there came a day I began to understand
It’s easier to pray when you got dirty hands

Then I pulled some weeds then picked up a broom
And let myself be with the sun and the moon
And the sky above gonna heal by  hurts
You wanna find love ya gotta dig in the dirt

Plant some seeds put some compost down
All you’ll ever need is found in the ground
Be here now and do this work
Humbly bow and dig in the dirt

Dig In The Dirt

The River

Let me respectfully remind you
So many nights I’ve sung that phrase
That death eventually will find you
Time to change our ways

Let me respectfully remind you
You may not know how I love you so
My heart will always find you
In the great I don’t know

Awake
Take heed
You have all you need
Reality cuts like a knife
Do not squander your life

Let me respectfully remind you
Broken hearts are what we share
So much I’ve been blind to
But here I’ve become aware

Let me respectfully remind you
Faith and doubt go hand in hand
But feelings do not define you  
We are more than we understand

Awake
Take heed
You have all you need
Reality cuts like a knife
Do not squander your life

At the moment of our birth
We begin to leave this earth
But that is no tragedy
Just how it has to be

Let me respectfully remind you
We are not alone
Let the Dharma hold and bind you
Let Buddha, Sangha be your home

Awake
Take heed
You have all you need
Reality cuts like a knife
Do not squander your life

Respectfully

Let me respectfully remind you
So many nights I’ve sung that phrase
That death eventually will find you
Time to change our ways

Let me respectfully remind you
You may not know how I love you so
My heart will always find you
In the great I don’t know

Awake
Take heed
You have all you need
Reality cuts like a knife
Do not squander your life

Let me respectfully remind you
Broken hearts are what we share
So much I’ve been blind to
But here I’ve become aware

Let me respectfully remind you
Faith and doubt go hand in hand
But feelings do not define you  
We are more than we understand

Awake
Take heed
You have all you need
Reality cuts like a knife
Do not squander your life

At the moment of our birth
We begin to leave this earth
But that is no tragedy
Just how it has to be

Let me respectfully remind you
We are not alone
 the Dharma will hold you and bind you
 Buddha, Sangha are your home

Awake
Take heed
You have all you need
Reality cuts like a knife
Do not squander your life

Let Me Respetfully Remind You

I vow not to kill
(Seems like a pretty low bar)
But I know I will
When I don’t see who you are

Your pain you share with me 
But I don’t fully hear it
I behave so carelessly
And kill your spirit

I vow not to steal
Again, minimal 
But when I don’t share a meal
I should feel a little criminal

I have enough
I need nothing more
I am well loved
But I want to be adored

And here and now
I deeply bow
And vow

Regarding sex, I’ve been vexed
Thoughts and actions kind of shoddy
I vow to respect in every respect
The dignity of your and my body

And I vow to not bear false witness
And set my self apart
To care care of my only business
To heal your heart

And when I feel anger arising
I vow to see it as fear
And refrain from criticizing
Just breathe and be here
clear


I vow to be free of delusion
Let go of ego and drama
I vow to take refuge
In Buddha, Dharma, Sangha

I take refuge

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