Beloved Time

After a weekend of wonderful busyness, the hound and I potter around slowly outside. With each meandering moment and every lengthy pause, during which the next blade of grass presents itself for inspection, fluidity comes dissolving back into the morning and I surrender to the discipline of having no particular place to be.

Tomorrow sees the arrival of beloved family. My parents will be in town, bringing with them twelve days of precious time during which we will dwell in the simplicity and endless kindness of their presence.

With life lived an ocean away from family for so many years now, we switch gears into the new pace of an extended visit with the ease of long practice. Rooms are rearranged, deep cleaning and tidying occurs, the hound feels the mood and begins to await the arrival and, in the midst of the ordinary, a deeply contented happiness bubbles just beneath the surface.

We will be driving up the coast to San Luis Obispo this weekend where my father will give beautiful teachings on the buddha nature to the Bodhi Path sangha .

I sit beside the Culver City Hall fountain, soothed by the water as the late afternoon sounds of sirens and traffic drive by. The sun glints now and again, the palm trees sway above and I think of how fortunate I am to be alive and close to such a pure teacher of timeless teachings and how little I do to deserve it.

I know all the details of karma, but I do not really believe it
I have heard a lot of dharma, but never put it into practice
Bless me and evil-doers like me
That our minds may mingle with the Dharma
Patrul Rinpoche: Words of My Perfect Teacher