It isn’t common for me to write poetry, but this poem came to mind sort of suddenly during the winter Chan session here at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB). After the bell rang I rushed back to my room to write it down.
A pebble wonders,
Why are there ripples in the stream?
The stream replies,
There is only one way to the ocean.
The pebble asks,
Does this stream go to the ocean?
The rain says,
The stream and the ocean are no different.
The pebble asks,
Is the ripple mine, or the rain’s?
For a moment, the world is quiet.
I’ve heard before that one of the benefits of meditation is an increase in creativity. I think I would describe my experience as just being more open to whatever is happening in my mind.