Buddha Thought Comes, Goes

for George L Savage
8/18/17-04/20/08


I


As with the practice of no mind,
Buddha thought is there, not there.
My dad knew that
long before he knew he knew.

In his passing, I ponder his life,
his thought and action.
Imperfect, yes, and yet....

my mind turns to that old trailer on the dream property.
The chicken ranch plan gone, the trailer held tack and saddle,
and grain for chickens and horses.

One day, so long ago, I open the door
to gather grain to feed horses
and stare at the bobcat perched
on a bag
and considering its prospects
now that the door has suddenly
been flung open.

It leaps across my head
leaping out and away
to the wild
it knew
and loved
as life.

And I
dumbstruck
turned
as thought
came
and went.


II



Years later
I still struggle
with Buddha thought
here, not here.
There, not there.

The dad of my youth
would have thought
me addled
if I mentioned
this coming
and going.

But later
he came to understand
patience
in thought
and not thought.
In the doing
and the not doing.

Dad was a teacher
who learned
each time
he taught.

I try
to master that
and to honor him
as I try.
RD Savage
04/26/08
© 2008


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