To understand Buddha, forget Buddhism.

from "the innumerable sayings of tao jones"

"I have found that there is no attitude so bizarre that one will not encounter it sooner or later if one travels far enough." Gore Vidal, Creation.

"I'm an old man. Old men are unlike young men in one important respect: they are not healthy. I am going to die soon. So let's worry about something more important." (attributed to Leo Tolstoy, The Last Station, by Jay Parini)

"Life is infinitely stranger than anything the mind could invent."

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, inscription inside tea bottle cap.

if the mind
is a garden -
what are you planting?


ji bo, 2011

grasshopper flies
away
from my shadow.



ji bo, 2011

"Things are as they are.
Looking out into the universe at night,
we make no comparisons between right and wrong stars,
nor between well and badly arranged constellations.”

Alan Watts

Huang Po

"Those who hasten towards it dare not enter, fearing to hurtle down through the void with nothing to cling to or to stay their fall. So they look to the brink and retreat. This refers to all those who seek such a goal through cognition."



The Zen Teachings of Huang Po

man wakes up
drinks tea
reads morning paper.

man stops
listens
voice in head.

man says, "who's there?"
no answer.
man says, "same old nobody."


ji bo, 2011

Winds Of Autumn
Even in a person
most times indifferent
to things around him
they waken feelings
the first winds of autumn

Saigyo (1118 - 1190)

who is it
that forgets
the moment?


ji bo, 2011

dreams

breaking news:

top general has dream
drop atom bomb;
preacher has dream
burn down church;
bus driver has dream
give everybody free ride;
Willie Nelson has dream
sing cowboy opera;
prostitute has dream
become nun;
nun has dream
become prostitute.

flying saucer has dream -
toss Earth into black hole.

what is dream?
big mystery.



ji bo, 2011

e=mc2

Albert Einstein
now traveling at speed of light
through curved
Universe.


ji bo, 2011

earth science 101

biologist
studies bird,
bird
studies biologist.

bird flies into space,
biologist drives to lab.

biologist writes
book
about bird.

birds sings
to universe.



ji bo, 2011

Experience Chan! It’s not a lot of questions.
Too many questions is the Chan disease.
The best way is just to observe the noise of the world.
The answer to your questions? Ask your own heart.

Master Hsu Yun (excerpt)

answer to
Big Question -
"who knows?"



ji bo, 2011

bow

bow even to those who don't bow back.
bow to moon as general principle.
bow to wild flowers.
bow to mad dogs and caterpillars.
bow to morning sun.
bow to approaching tornado.
bow to mountains and sky.
bow to broken toys.
bow to enemy and obstinate creatures.
bow to Universe.
bow to self.



ji bo, 2011

sangha -
all beings
even rocks.



ji bo, 2011

"A rat drinks water at a river,
but not more than it needs."

Zhuangzu
(in the river of heaven by Robert Aitken)

how to stay young

"Don't think too much. Thinking takes energy. Thinking can make you look old."
from Ten Tips From A Shaolin Monk On How To Stay Young

Shifu Yan Lei

Deer Isle, Maine

In the end
is the beginning.


ji bo, 2011

Fundamentally, not only are we wide open to whatever intellectual garbage comes our way, but we've got a big "Welcome" sign out.

Lama Yeshe

True friends are about a willingness to experience the same frequency without turning the channel. And then turning the channel without worrying about losing the frequency.

from "the innumerable sayings of tao jones."

To understand a cicada’s song, shed your skin.



from "the innumerable sayings
of tao jones"

tea time

life is one
big
hurricane.

ji bo, 2011

Tilopa

Six Words of Advice from Tilopa

Let go of what has passed.
Let go of what may come.
Let go of what is happening now.
Don't try to figure anything out.
Don't try to make anything happen.
Relax, right now, and rest.

when traveling, take map;
when flying, take plane;
when walking, take path;
when swimming, take snorkel;
when laughing, take breath;
when crying, take handkerchief;
when visiting galaxies, take rocket ship;
when meeting monkeys, take banana;
when skydiving, take parachute;

when meeting Buddha, take nothing.

Ram Dass, Atlanta 1978

when life is in transit,
release emergency break.


ji bo, 2011

In order
to explain
life
one must
live.


ji bo, 2011

“As an hour, so is this life”

anonymous Roman writer

"Democracy destroys itself because it abuses its right to freedom and equality. Because it teaches its citizens to consider audacity as a right, lawlessness as a freedom, abrasive speech as equality, and anarchy as progress." Isocrates (436–338 BC)

Sri Ramana Maharshi

Wanting to reform the world without discovering one's true self is like trying to cover the world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes.

Sri Ramana Maharshi

The rebellious years of youth give way to the decades of apathy that follow. The antidote to this common affliction is more rebellion.

from "the innumerable sayings of tao jones"

"The important thing is the obvious thing nobody is saying."

William S. Burroughs

LISTEN TO THE BIRDS

Listen to the birds.

That's where all the music comes from. 

Birds know everything about how it should sound and where that sound should come from. 

And watch hummingbirds. They fly really fast, but a lot of times they aren't going anywhere.



Captain Beefheart

The world is full of maybe.

from "the innumerable sayings
of tao jones"

big rain, big umbrella
little rain, little umbrella.


ji bo
2011

An old drunk is lucky; a young drunk is stupid.

from "the innumerable sayings
of tao jones"

when talking
to Coyote
always cover
your ears.


ji bo
2011

be careful
not to become lost
in
i-clouds


ji bo
2011

when eating mushrooms
avoid poisonous variety;
magic mushrooms send you on big trip!
when traveling in this manner
good idea to have special travel agent!

ji bo
2011

holy cow!

"If you meet a sacred cow on the road, it's time for a BBQ!"

from "the innumerable sayings
of tao jones"

no-self blues

what is one thing
100% permanent
always there
absolutely dependable
big ultimate reality
?

change....


ji bo
2011

when coming to fork
in road,
stop -

have tea.


ji bo
2011

Master Kong says -
"At what point does a circle begin?"

Answer?





ji bo
2011

Jack Crow,
thought dead -
came for breakfast!


ji bo
2011

oldest language:
dance.

ji bo
2011

mindfulness

If you're mindful of being mindful, are you being mindful?

from "the innumerable sayings
of tao jones"

streak
of blue -
Jay!



ji bo
2011

one tornado
is one
too many.


ji bo
2011

without a doubt:
no problem!


ji bo
2011

end of world

Attention!

An important announcement from
United Nations Global Steering Committee -

End of world delayed
one billion years.

Back to work!



ji bo
2011

Alan Watts

“Really, the fundamental, ultimate mystery -- the only thing you need to know to understand the deepest metaphysical secrets -- is this: that for every outside there is an inside and for every inside there is an outside, and although they are different, they go together.”

5 minutes
from now -
still now.


ji bo
2011

"A physicist is just an atom's way of looking at itself."

Niels Bohr

what is meaning
of zero?

nothing.



ji bo
2011

Toshiko Takaezu

“An artist is a poet in his or her own medium. And when an artist produces a good piece, that work has mystery, an unsaid quality; it is alive.”

to see
far end of Universe -
quit looking.


ji bo
2011

"People edit their awareness of what is underneath their minds."
Allen Ginsberg

nothing to say,
don't say it.


ji bo
2011

The King of Alabama
Iron Mountain, 1994

Life -
tech support
optional.


ji bo
2011

Tatsuya Nakatani
Gong Orchestra
Birmingham, Alabama
May 8, 2011

thinking

every thought
affects the Ground of Being -
so watch your back!

from the "innumerable sayings
of tao jones"

aikido

Do not fail
To learn from
The pure voice of an
Ever-flowing mountain stream
Splashing over the rocks.

Morihei Ueshiba
The Art of Peace

Cahaba River, Alabama
post-tornado, 2011

go to funeral
say goodbye;
walk outside
say hello
to life.


ji bo
2011

Evil Eye -
neither evil
nor eye.


ji b o
2011

no waste

There is no waste in Nature -
everything is either in the process of being recycled,
or coming into being as a result of composting.
Only humans have the capacity to waste.

from the "innumerable sayings of
tao jones"

tornadoes

re: April 27, 2011

A silent prayer for
victims
of Alabama tornadoes.


ji bo

fungi samadhi

politics: concentration of power
industry: concentration of production
aristocracy: concentration of wealth
megapolis: concentration of people
religion: concentration of ideology
technology: concentration of energy
meditation: concentration of mind
nirvana: concentration pf freedom.

space eternity
clouds tea
song laughter
wind -
blows.


ji bo
2011

near Lordsburg, New Mexico

Ancient Chinese poets understood the finer points of alcohol -
just drunk enough to escape the bonds of rational mechanics.

from "the innumerable sayings of tao jones"

“It just ain’t possible to explain some things. It’s interesting to wonder on them and do some speculation, but the main thing is you have to accept it — take it for what it is, and get on with your growing.”

Jim Dodge (Fup)

bugs r us

mosquitoes
have
no shame.


ji bo
2011

T'ao the Hermit

"Even if I could learn
to follow the curb and reins,
To go against one's nature
is always a mistake."

T'ao Ch'ien (365-427 c.e.)
(W. Acker trans)

Sophia

burst of light
in sea of foam
seeing true nature
as is.


ji bo
2011

after a life threatening experience,
a cold beer is the yoga of choice.

from "the innumerable sayings
of tao jones."

music now

ji bo makes
joyful noise!

"If the world suddenly came to an end,
who would notice?"


from "the innumerable sayings
of tao jones"

All Appearances

"All appearances, inner and outer, are the
creative display of mind's intrinsic radiance."

Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche

spring - iron mountain

creative accounting

last in first out
first down last up
1+1 = 1
2+2 = 1
1-1 = 1
1+0 = 1.

the joy of mathematics.


ji bo
2011

Isha Upanishad

They enter a turbulent
darkness, who
cultivate ignorance -
a yet thicker darkness
who are addicted to
knowledge.

excerpt: Isha Upanishad
(Andrew Schelling trans.)

"To be aware that you are alive
and walking on Earth -
that is already enlightenment."

Thich Nhat Hanh
(Buddha Mind, Buddha Body)

it's the ecology, stupid!

Monk asks Master Kong, "Presidential election very complicated:
balanced budget; cap and trade; protecting oil; ozone hole;
dirty bombs; talk radio; very bad music!
What is most important?"

Master Kong says, "It's the ecology, stupid!"


ji bo
2011

inside
outside
round
square
no center.


ji bo
2011

The Pure Land

when wandering
back roads
of the Pure Land,
be sure
not to run out
of gas.


ji bo
2011

Mind
is not
a
noun.


ji bo
2011

to grow flowers
have good dirt;
to grow chickens
have good corn;
to grow trees
have good light;
to grow friends
have good heart.


ji bo
2011

what is more zen
than old Chevy pickup truck
weaving down
freeway?


ji bo
2011

recycle

when reaching other shore
remember to recycle
raft.



ji bo
2011

from what
web of light
do words
emerge?



ji bo
2011

to grow garden
think
like carrot.


ji bo
2011

world's big secret exposed -
in 10,000 years
it will still be
today.



ji bo
2011

We are dancing to the edge of life and we now move through the forests of dread and what we fear, really fear, is not some other nation conquering our plains and mountains and deserts, no, no, what we fear is that someone or something will do to us exactly what we have done to the buffalo, and to the mounted warrior on horseback with that lance and bow, what we have done to the rivers and the trees and the fine native grasses that first fell under our footsteps as we ventured into the bewitching and yearning ground.

Charles Bowden

midnight -
mountain road
hook horn moon
sinks
west;
corn rows
headlight shadow.

one minute
from tomorrow.



ji bo
2011

"Science cannot be kept safe from poetry,
the cyclotron must deal with St. Francis and his Little Flowers,
and the wolf cannot escape the force of the lupines blue with spring."

Charles Bowden (Orion, Nov/Dec 2010)

when flying saucer comes
will you
be ready?


ji bo
2011

tinnitus

shreeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeee
eeeeee
eeee
ee
e!


ji bo
2011

Outhouse General Principles

away from popular trails
awning
level bench
good view
door latch (if door)
rain proof
fly swatter
reading material
extra TP
relocate
often.

from "the innumerable sayings
of tao jones"

There are no sound reasons to believe we live in a Universe.
It's possible that billions of universes exist (give a take a few).
True believers have nothing to worry about, nor does anyone else.

from "the innumerable sayings
of tao jones."

for all affected by
Japan tsunami -

very sorry;
peace be with you.



ji bo
3-11-11

quote of the day

"Trying to become enlightened is an agenda of the self.
Letting go of that is a major victory over our conditioning."

Chip Hartranft

"This perilous Life is a drop of water,
A hanging raindrop on a lotus leaf;
Soon it falls back in the pond below
And is lost."

Ramayana

"When life gives you potatoes,
make vodka!"

from "the innumerable sayings of
tao jones."

Baba Gitgo arrives at ashram,
says, "How many mantras equal zero?"
top disciple jumps in Ganges River,
sinks to bottom, sees 2,000 fish,
comes to surface and says,
"forget mantras; bring fishing pole!"

Baba Gitgo turns top disciple into frog,
says, "when ego grasps at fish, become one with bait!'

asteroid blues

Astronomers suspect that life appeared on Earth
by way of an asteroid from the far reaches of the galaxy.
So next time a Zen master asks "Where were you before
your parents were born?" - feel free to say "Outer space!"

from the "innumerable sayings of
tao jones."

Tornado Day

today is official Tornado Day -
remain calm;
become friends with radar;
listen for freight train;
drink tea in place of safety.

tomorrow weather improves.


ji bo
2011

Experts: the bane of civilization;
myopia in white lab coats.


from "the innumerable sayings of
tao jones"

power
big illusion;
monkey reaches
in water
for moon.

no-power
no-mind
no-problem.


ji bo
2011

at edge
of Universe,
what next?

ji bo
2011

going bald -
slow path
to liberation.


ji bo
2011

roach runs
across kitchen floor,
too fast
for
fly swatter.


ji bo
2011

every revolution
ends
in another
revolution.


from "the innumerable sayings
of tao jones"

why struggle
with
change?


old proverb

full moon -
fried egg
sitting
in pine
tree.


ji bo
(February moon, 2011)

one of the great
unsung heroes
of life -
a warm piece of apple pie.

from "the innumerable sayings
of tao jones"

moon
is
full -
0.

thank you.


ji bo
2011

what is organic?

man goes to supermarket,
says, "what is organic?"
supermarket says, "produce!"

man goes to science class,
says, "what is organic?"
science class says, "nature!"

man goes to guru,
says, "what is organic?"
guru says, "Shiva!"

man goes to Buddha,
says, "what is organic?"
Buddha says, "Mind!"

man goes to monkey,
says, "what is organic?"
monkey hands man a banana.

man eats banana,
says "no more questions."


ji bo
2011

what part
of non-existence
is reincarnated?

ji bo
2011

to help forest
after tornado -
do nothing.


ji bo
2011

Moon in the
bird bath -
One star too.

Jack Kerouac

to make sense
of world,
watch TV news;
to make sense of universe,
read Diamond Sutra;
to make sense
of next door neighbor,
say "hello";
to make sense
of self,
practice yoga;
to become One
with Zero,
quit making sense.


ji bo
2011

"To know the pine, go to the pine.
To know the bamboo, go to the bamboo."

Basho

"May your journey be fruitful
and may your life go well."

Daido Loori, Roshi

deep in meditation -
a lone bird
calls.


ji bo
2011

snow buddha

Scientist invents thinking cap
to increase human creativity.

With thinking cap
1+1 equals 5:
very creative.

Can thinking cap create
happiness?


ji bo
2011

bindu

conventional thinking
is
pointless.


ji bo
2011

when sound
of bell
is clear
entire universe
bows.

......

ji bo
2011

"In other words,
poets are 20 times more likely
to end up in an asylum
than the general population."

BBC News
February 7, 2011

hahahaha!



ji bo
2011

cricket's song
shatters
the universe.



ji bo
2011

zero sum
game
is
neither.

from the "innumerable sayings
of Tao Jones"

Stonehouse

"This lifetime is like a bubble's
may as well let things go
plans and events seldom agree
who can step back doesn't worry..."

The Zen Works of Stonehouse
(Red Pine trans).

the path
is big dream;

give up grasping:
good morning!

.......

ji bo
2011

cornbread wisom

"The virtues of cornbread
are sadly under appreciated."

from the "innumerable sayings
of Tao Jones"

telephone rings:
Big Stick says, "hello."
voice on line says,
"Today only, 2-for-1 deal on Salvation!'
Big Stick hangs up, says,
"salvation = zero,
2-for-1 = infinity."

telephone rings again:
Big Stick doesn't answer.


ji bo
2011

Point Reyes National Seashore
California

Chao-chou's Cow

Farm Boy milks cow every day
for 10,000 years.
Farm Boy goes to Zen temple,
bows to Master Chao-chou,
says, "I have big question."

Master Chao-chou shakes stick,
says "What is big question?"
Farm Boy says, "Does a cow have Buddha nature?"
Master Chao-chou shouts "Moo!

Farm Boy is enlightened and walks home.
Farm Boy sees cow, says, "Silly Zen master."

Farm Boy milks cow, drinks milk:
no problem.



ji bo
2011

"the breath
is the best
music
there is."

Sister Dang Nghiem

sky lantern
wet moon:
drop of dew.







ji bo
2011

deep ecology 2

how deep is deep?
how green is green?
how big is universe?
how long is time?

ask nearest electron
for answer.

be patient.

....
ji bo
2011

deep ecology

walk in green mountains:
universe breathes in,
universe breathes out.
hello!

deep ecology.

...

ji bo
2011

blue

do you need to be blue
to sing the blues?

just sing anyway.


ji bo
2011

proverb #35 -

all roads lead here,
no detours.

man looks
in mirror,
says -
I used to
know
you.


ji bo
2011

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh meets
William Shakespeare on street.

Shakespeare says, "To be or not to be,
that is the question."

Thich Nhat Hanh laughs,
says "To be or to Inter-be,
that is the Very Big Question!"

.......


ji bo
2011

dawn cracks
birds flock
to pond -
frozen!


ji bo
2011

moon -
half full
or
half empty?

.........

ji bo
2011

haikoo three

bright green bayonets
stab morning -
aloe.

"Plants, stones, utensils, each thing has its individual feelings, similar to those of men."

Matsuo Bashõ

look out window:
one million snowflakes
birds flittering
in bright sun.

crazy world.

ji bo
2011

dawn:
red sky
gray clouds
gold finch
drinks
from frozen pond.



ji bo
2011

Scientist says:

The "fundamental,"
abbreviated f0,
is lowest frequency
of a periodic waveform.

hahaha.

Chinese word for Buddha:
Fo.

very funny.

Scientist and Buddha
drink tea together,
laugh at Mind;
fO=frequency=Buddha
=zero=Void=tea=universe
=Tao=
end of poem.


ji bo
2011

quote for the day

"Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed."
Antoine Laurent Lavoisier

July 13th --
earthquake
swallows world.
July 14th --
cancelled.


ji bo
2011

mailman brings package.
housewife says, "what's inside?"
mailman says, "big surprise!"
housewife opens package,
out jumps king cobra.
housewife closes package,
says, "return to sender!"


ji bo
2011

haikoo too

bury head
inside
this moment.


ji bo

Confucianism very serious,
search for Perfect Order;
Taoism very serious,
search for Immortality;
Buddhism very serious,
search for Enlightenment;
Science very serious,
search for Unifying Principle.

idea:

invite Confucius, Lao-tzu, Buddha
and Albert Einstein to big party;
tell jokes, eat pizza, drink saké,
dance beneath one million stars.

next day, hold press conference;
announce important breakthrough -

"Best medicine is laughing,
especially at self!"



ji bo
2011

knock, knock.
who's there?
Buddha.
what do you want?
no-thing.
then why knock?
door's karma very strong.
i see.
see without eyes.
Ok.
goodbye.



ji bo
2011

Lao-tzu goes to Wal-Mart

Lao-tzu goes to Wal-Mart,
buys lawn mower;
goes home to Wudang,
says, "Void needs haircut."

Lao-tzu turns on lawn mower,
makes big circle in grass,
says, "Much better; time for tea!"


ji bo
2011

(ji bo with wordle, 2011)

ticker tao

Confucius makes appearance
on floor of New York Stock Exchange;
rings bell, says, "buy low, sell high!"
market goes up 50% in 3 minutes.

Lao-tzu makes appearance
on floor of New York Stock Exchange;
rings bell, says, "go low to control high!"
market goes up 80% in 2 minutes.

Buddha makes appearance
on floor of New York Stock Exchange;
rings bell, says, "100 shares of zero equals infinity!'

market disappears.



ji bo
1-11-11

man goes to sleep
dreams he is butterfly;
butterfly goes to sleep
dreams he is man -

which is which?
real man, real butterfly;
dream man, dream butterfly.

no answer.
go drink tea!


ji bo.

original I Ching text

Satisfaction

Happiness lies in getting satisfaction with what we're doing.
If you're satisfied with only one dollar, you're wealthy.
If you're a billionaire but not satisfied, you're poor.
Happiness lies with satisfaction.

Abbott Khru Bah
("Buddha's Lost Children" documentary.
Very good!)

quote of the day -

"To live is to borrow;
to die is to give back."

Buddhist proverb (Sinh ky tu qui)
("Spring Essence, The Poetry of Ho Huan Hurong," trans. John Balahan)

go to sleep
have dream
wake up
repeat -

life.



ji bo
2011

life is short -
blink of eye
life is over.

don't be monkey
who reached for moon.


ji bo
2011

tea time

when feeling good -
enjoy.
when feeling bad -
remember impermanence.
when feeling happy -
be sure to laugh.
when feeling sad -
listen to jokes.
when cold -
put on sweater.
when hot -
swim in river.

yesterday is imagination;
tomorrow is big dream.
tea tastes best
in this moment.


ji bo
2011

10,000 trees
on hillside;
only dead pine
stands out.


ji bo
2011

Clint Eastwood in Outer Space

man eats mushroom,
counts to 2,321;
mushroom travels to brain
tells man to read I Ching.

I Ching says "Hexagram 18: decay" -
wind and mountain
crossing river
bottom becomes top.

man walks across Golden Gate Bridge
eats hamburger in cafe
sees clouds form words,
out come umbrellas -
sound of souls splashing on street.

man catches bus to River of Stars;
outside window man sees Picasso;
Picasso tells man:
"Look in rearview mirror,
the past is the future!

man sings nursery rhyme
a horse appears
man rides into sunset.



ji bo
2009

jet plane's contrail
pierces
the moon.



ji bo

Fo
equals
1
over
To

buddha
equals
zero
over
10,000

clouds float
like dragons
beyond mountains

turn off news
drink tea
enjoy life.


ji bo
2011

5 crows
talking
up a storm.




ji bo
2011

彎曲的道路

Sage of Sierras

Gary Snyder - great poet!
Point Reyes, CA, 2009

woodpecker -
head of fire
hatchet master
keeps trees sober.


ji bo

ji bo
(thank u wordle!)

modern food: too salty
modern music: too fast
modern cars: too fancy
modern house: too big
modern fashion: too silly
modern religion: too boring
modern love: too phony.

drink tea -
broken cup OK;
even dried flowers
remind us
of spring.



ji bo
12-3-10

Japan is exotic
Siberia is exotic
Mississippi River is exotic
Peru is exotic
Morocco is exotic
Baltic Sea is exotic
Hong Kong is exotic
you are exotic.

when in Rome
be yourself.


ji bo
1-4-11

words -
boomerangs
home to roost.

beware uninvited guests!

ji bo
1-4-11

haikoo

watching a bug
crawl across
Basho's words.


ji bo
4-6-09

snake has no legs
human being has 2 legs
elephant has 3 legs
spider has 8 legs
centipede has 100 legs
millipede has 1,000 legs
Shiva has 1 million legs -

everybody going somewhere;
no need to hurry.


ji bo
1-2-11

what is difference
between
work
and
play?

mind.

....

ji bo
1-2-11

today is one
one
one one.

enjoy.

.......

ji bo

happy new year!

man looks out window
sees big snow;
man looks at thermometer,
very cold.
man turns on radio
hears, "roads closed due to ice."

man makes tea,
takes hot bath,
says, "happy new year!"


ji bo
1-1-11

butterfly yawns
on golden flower;
life so short,
no time for nap!

ji bo
1-1-11