A Lesson Means Getting Soaking Wet

Brewed Beverage of Choice: A Pot of Darjeeling Muscatel Tea

One may never know when the urge to write may hit. It comes all of a sudden and leaves no prisoner in its wake. A word, scene, smell, or sound may trigger it and one goes with it until it is completely worn out and exhausted. That is what happened to me as I was riding the light rail out to work on Tuesday. While reading a Zen text, The Blue Cliff Records, a thought hit and instantly my pen was extracted from its most temporary home, my bookbag. I did not know what was happening, nor did I try and fight it. It was a reaction, an instinct. Much like my dog, Tess, setting a robin in our backyard, my pen is drawn when a thought hits. And after it was all done, I felt like I needed a cigarette. I was spent. My mind completely withdrawn from its fling with imagery ecstasy. The result is what follows. There will be no more because it is all that needs to be spoken. Enjoy...and let the mind devour it in its utmost erotic and esoteric pleasure.

Lesson #1
Riding his mule to town
The monk sits backward.
A passer-by questions,
'Kind sir. How will you know
when you have reached town?'

Smiling cunningly.
From the mule, the monk climbs,
removes his flask, pours
water over the passer-by,
then retreats to his sullen companion.

Prosit! (smiling cunningly!)
the zen brewer