There is no rule or formula
that can tell you what to do.
There is no calculation
that you can always perform
that will determine the best course of action
for every situation.
But one thing we can rely on is that
if we learn how to be present in the situation
without getting caught in self-centered thinking,
our chances of taking action
that best serves the situation will be far greater.

by Diane Eshin Rizzetto
Waking Up To What You Do
A zen practice
for meeting every situation
with intelligence and compassion

XV

Tuco turned the phrase over on his tongue,
“Waking up to what you do.”
Long ago, he thought he knew
what he did. Now, he wonders, what do I do now?
The horse moves forward slowly, careful.
And Tuco moves back into yesterday
as the horse moves down the slight slope of the hillside.
 
The morning had begun as back country mornings do.
Slight smell of pine and sage coming awake
as the sunlight slowly fills the side of the mountain range west
of camp. The light edges toward the trees, the hills around him.
Eastern light comes last
as the sun beams down into this valley.
Birds have been waking, squirrels rustle, crows caw above.
The crow circles slowly. Finds nothing and moves on
cawing to the partner slowly circling eastward.
Slowly, slowly, circle, circle, east, upward spiral
then drifting down to tree branch.
 
There is no calculation, Tuco sees,
there is presence to what is
here
now
wafting across
the morning light.
There is, in the air,
waking up to what you do.
 
The horse dips his head
to graze on fresh grass.