This morning I listened to Tara Brach’s meditation “Letting Life Live Through You.” It was a beautiful meditation—just what I needed today. She ended the meditation by reading a poem called Hokusai Says by Roger Keyes. I loved the poem so much that I decided to share it here with you.
Hokusai Says…
Hokusai says Look carefully.
He says pay attention, notice.
He says keep looking, stay curious.
He says there is no end to seeing.He says Look Forward to getting old.
He says keep changing,
you just get more who you really are.
He says get stuck, accept it, repeat yourself
as long as it’s interesting.He says keep doing what you love.
He says keep praying.
He says every one of us is a child,every one of us is ancient,
every one of us has a body.
He says every one of us is frightened.
He says every one of us has to find a way to live with fear.He says everything is alive –
shells, buildings, people, fish, mountains, trees.
Wood is alive.
Water is alive.
Everything has its own life.
Everything lives inside us.
He says live with the world inside you.He says it doesn’t matter if you draw, or write books.
It doesn’t matter if you saw wood, or catch fish.
It doesn’t matter if you sit at home
and stare at the ants on your verandah or the shadows of the trees
and grasses in your garden.It matters that you care.
It matters that you feel.
It matters that you notice.
It matters that life lives through you.Contentment is life living through you.
Joy is life living through you.
Satisfaction and strength
are life living through you.
Peace is life living through you.He says don’t be afraid.
Don’t be afraid.
Look, feel, let life take you by the hand.
Let life live through you.— Roger Keyes
I noticed today that with the onslaught of news about the spread of the covid-19 virus that I had begun to feel full of fear and concern. Listening avidly to regular news updates, reading articles about the spread of the virus, wondering what might happen as the virus spreads—was taking a toll on my body Living in fear and contraction doesn’t feel good. I don’t believe that this fear-based approach of focusing solely on protecting ourselves and staying safe is helpful—to any of us.
Life isn’t safe. It’s full of risks every day. Yet we don’t focus on them like we are focusing on this new (to us) virus.
What is really helpful in times like these?
For me it comes back to how I want to feel in the world and how I want to make a difference. There are two primary approaches. One is based on fear, protection, and selfishness. It’s a pushing away of everything that we are afraid of, attacking anything different, and being constantly vigilant. The other approach is based on love, trust, and gratitude. It is fundamentally a belief that no matter what happens in life, even if it is uncomfortable, scary, or life-threatening, that I will be okay. Even my death will be okay.
That doesn’t mean I will throw caution to the winds and book a cruise anytime soon. But it does mean that I will call my attention back to seeing, feeling, and experiencing the wonder and beauty of life. I will set my intention on spreading light and love instead of fear and worry.
May you walk in beauty.
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