For a period of time,
from birth to the end of life,
we assume various kinds of costumes,
such as the splendid attire of a queen,
a begger's tatters, a monk's robes,
or the fine clothes of a rich man.
Almost everyone goes through life dazzled by those costumes.
By taking off and throwing away all those costumes,
we become naked.

by Shundo Aoyama,
Zen Seeds - Reflections of a Female Priest

VI

Owl, the reader, sat on his book.
He sat by the stream
as Coyoté quietly approached.

Coyoté paused by the creosote bush.
Owl muttered, flipping pebbles into the stream.

Coyoté waited.
Owl looked across the stream, and muttered.

Coyoté sat down.
Owl mumbled, "Time? What is time?"

Coyoté watched.
Owl peered across and muttered, "What is sound?"

Coyoté tossed a pebble in the stream, "kerplop."
Owl paused, stared.

Owl saw Coyoté's reflection.
In the stream. Flicker flowing past.

Beside his.
Yet behind. Beyond.

Owl muttered.
Turned.
Stared.

Coyoté said nothing.
Owl said, "Hey."

---

The all-important factor is the attitude
toward life
of those who possess things.
All that we need to do is to change
our attitude toward life.
How can we change?
To put it simply,
do not look beyond yourself.
Do not seek happiness somewhere else
or at any other time -
tomorrow, next year, or in the next life.
It is at all times
"here and now"
that we must straighten our posture
and sit upright.

by Shundo Aoyama,
Zen Seeds - Reflections of a Female Priest

---

VI coda

Owl stared at Coyoté.
There was
nothing
to say.

Owl hugged him.

Coyoté spied the book behind Owl.
With Owl's bookmark in it.
Fluttering
gently
in the breeze.