Buddha in the Backseat

Trying to sort out this present moment, I am on my way to work again.  Motivating myself  to get in the car and drive in morning traffic can take a long conversation.

I try to keep peace and I make a deal with myself to remain calm and centered for the entire commute to work (which is not a very far drive).  At the first light I feel the impatience growing as I sit behind a lady who won't turn right on red.  I recall my intention and get back into my happy/angst-free state quickly.  Then, we finally turn right and I am halted at the next red light.  As commuting trips go, I have a pretty simple and easy one but I am usually overrun and there are a lot of opportunities for red lights and cars coming every which way on the well traveled road with a lot of businesses and driveways within the 8 mile 15 minute time period.  One instance I was being very aggressively tailgated and threw my hands up in disgust after I was very rudely passed and then incited a case of road rage in the driver of the truck who decided to stop dead at the next light..  As I go around the truck stopped at a green light, I speed up and enter the next lane the truck gathers speed and impeding my lane and pushing me towards the curb.  My life was being challenged and anger (not mine) was being forced down my throat.  I was in the bike lane and had another maneuver been necessary I would not have noticed or been able to perform it.  Finally the truck relented and turned left, unsatisfied that I did not return the anger.  I was shaken but surprisingly more aware of the realization that other people are in a pained state and sometimes are trying to bring me into that.

The Buddha statue was sitting among several objects placed on a sheet outside of the studio after a class on Saturday morning.  I looked over the items; books and tins and records.  I saw the Buddha and wanted him right away.  I had only $5 in my purse and sheepishly asked the price. The owner was haggling and negotiating with another customer and asked for $20, but they offered him a check.  I piped in that I had $5 in cash and it was mine.  I immediately loved the statue made out of resin or polymer.  It was about 9 or 10 inches tall and not made of expensive material or excessive artistry.  It represented a quest or desire for quiet inner peace.

I contemplated where to store his naked/unpacked body for the trip home in the car.  The armrest in the backseat was down, revealing a small cubby between the seats and I placed him securely there.  I drove home and checked on his travels by looking in the rear view mirror and marveled that the calmness remained and how cute and perfect he fit and existed in the cubby hole.

Upon arriving home I began unpacking my car of various items to take up to the apartment and reached for the Buddha statue.  I hesitated and thoughtfully wondered where he could reside in the house. After a moment, I did not see a clear location I realized he was already seated in a prime spot.

Now I see him from time to time when observing the traffic behind me and when I turn to get something from the back.  I have Buddha in the backseat to watch over my driving and bring a peaceful mind to my drive.

I renewed my vow to have a zen-ful minded inbound commute and remain as peaceful as possible.  I set off on the same old boring drive to work and at a stop light, I did my usual mirror checks and glanced in the rear view mirror.  Somehow the dawn morning light was bending and refracting so that an image of the Buddha statue was appearing somewhat hovering transparently on top of the backseat.  I knew it was a play of reflection with the mirror and lights, but this struck me as so odd and awesome that I laughed out loud alone in the car.  Hearing my own laughter out loud only caused me to laugh again and soon I had forgotten traffic and my struggle to find peace with the drive.  I was simply alive and free and in joy.

the cloud parade

I lay down on the rug of soft piled carpet, surrounded by the flicker and glow of candlight.

I look left, look right and position my head upon its right axis point perfectly neutral and relaxed.

Then I roll my left and then right shoulder under my body, aligning my entire spine and relax my tail bone to the floor.

Fully grounded and supported by gravity. The cats march around inqusitivly and act as my sentry in the night air.

The outer door is open to the warm spring breeze.

The half moon is directly over the eave igniting the sky with brillant yet soft moonlight.

Then I see cloud upon cloud moving swiftly from left to right, very fast paced, like a rolling ocean.
They are passing the window as a cloud parade.

Some are proud and full andothers are sparser, some down to tiny puffs that linger seemingly behind the others, trying to catch up.

I feel a personality in each wave of white; an aliveness, almost see faces and beings and a wave of hello.

Then I realize the sky is blue even at night.
I can actually see through the darkness and see the blue sky that is there, unlit by the sun. What a revelation.
The sky IS always blue.
I relax even more deeply and find that the cats have lain down as bookends on either side of my hips.

They too share this moment and I know that they live in this space most of the day. Aware, awake, in awe of being. Being in the cloud parade.

Spacious and gracious

my tongue runs dry.

telling tales, selling wares, paying tariffs, being hassled by sheriffs.
the time has come to meet me in the space i am now.

the greeting, full and fleeting.

my blood runs cool and falls to my feet.

then rises again filling my soul body with a cleansing breath.

a nod to the divine, prayer to heart; my hands raise without thought.

agile bodymind takes practice.

musings of a tethered soul

I am the love and light of the divine spirit and one with the Universe of all ages.
These lines will help keep me bound with in the confines.
These spaces will open to bring in the light.
There are those that do not understand the language I speak.
There are those that raise my voice to the stars.
The choice present to be seen by the one it is for.

Staring into the fifth dimension beyond space, light, lines and stars and yet... within...

full circle

Majestic Moons follow me on my path tonight.

Giving me comfort showing me the path is right.

Telling me softly, surely to follow my heart's light.

I am not alone in the path of this moon tonight.

Rocky roads and hidden dangers have brought me to this bend.

Balancing and beaming I find a way into a den.

A place so welcome and comforting, it holds the power of my now;

It heralds the everlasting impulse of my first breath.

To plug into this divinity, to know how one belongs.

I do what I do in the path of others. Many paths; some to cross with others, some to quietly move along.

We sit, ruminate, enjoy and laugh at irony.

The truth sitting heavy and real in the present, the pain light and in the past.

The fear an imaginary hold on the future and may never come to pass.

To come around is to know that you will go around again.