The "Lion's Roar" is the fearless proclamation that any state of mind,
including the emotions, is a workable situation,
a reminder in the practice of meditation.
We realize that chaotic situations must not be rejected.
Nor must we regard them as regressive, as a return to confusion.
We must respect whatever happens to our state of mind.
Chaos should be regarded as extremely good news.

by Chögyam Trungpa Rinoche
essay in Spring 2006 Issue of Parabola

XXXVI

Owl was muttering again,
Coyoté heard him long before he saw him.

When Coyoté came round the stream bend
there was Owl reading a magazine, muttering.

Coyoté walked past Owl and sat on the log
nearer the stream. He faced Owl as he sat.
And he just watched
casual.

Owl looked up as he turned the page.
"You respect whatever happens to your state of mind?"
he asked. Ah, Coyoté thought, one of those days, eh?
He just shrugged
and watched.

Owl tended to work himself up over things.
So Coyoté just waited.
Owl went back to the page he'd been reading, he read aloud,
"We realize that chaotic situations must not be rejected.
Nor must we regard them as regressive, as a return to confusion.
We must respect whatever happens to our state of mind.
Chaos should be regarded as extremely good news."

Owl turned his gaze on Coyoté.
Coyoté just waited.

Owl exploded in chaoitc exposition,
"Of course chaotic situations must not be rejected!
That's how we get our food!"
And he stared at Coyoté,
shaking as he stared,
calming slowly.

Coyoté just said, "I like the line,
'We must respect whatever happens to our state of mind.'"
He looked at Owl.
Owl settled into silent stillness.
A grin slowly forming.