Yesterday we had one of our winter rengas up at Harnham Buddhist Monastery. Just a small group this time, but the renga unfolded over the course of the afternoon as usual. We decided to ring the changes by creating the schema with verses inspired by the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, another one of the lists Buddhism is fond of, interspersed between the traditional season, moon and love verses, with some left open.
The Seven Factors of Enlightenment are Mindfulness (sati), Investigation (dhamma vicaya), Energy (viriya), Joy or Rapture (pti), Tranquillity (passadhi), Concentration (samadhi) and Equanimity (upekkha). You may or may not spot these verses but it was interesting to notice this renga naturally seemed to lean towards the light, suitable for our theme and for the season.
Warm wishes for a light-filled and kind 2015.
L
x
Half Moon Plantation
*
Facing north
frost on the roof tiles
another short day
*
the flock’s breath
rises beyond the hedge
*
all our words
flow past
riverine, brackish, Anglo-Saxon
*
we walk in the dark
to the Half Moon Plantation
*
wait!
there are more of us
than I counted
*
Bulgarian Daniel asks
of Pali in English
*
even though the details
don’t matter
all there are are details
*
chisel marks in stone
how much arch is air?
*
startled grey heron
struggling upward
such awkward beauty
*
the last miles in mist and then
to climb out of them
*
he gave up
deciphering nature
orchid, begonia, geranium
*
the gift of green tea
much more than its flavor
*
a hut under attack
splinters, blood and excrement
left by an obstinate crow
*
no words come
success
*
after breakfast
they discuss
fire extinguishers and assembly points
*
food for the lion
longevity for the gazelle
*
borrowed light
does not warm you
but shows the way home
*
on the shore of the lake, gorse
bright yellow in December
*
to hold on like Philae
saving energy
getting closer to the sun
*
close your eyes
collect the sparks.
§
A ‘Seven Factors of Enlightenment Renga’
at Harnham Buddhist Monastery
on Saturday 27th December 2014.
for Peter Angelucci and Melanie Cook
Participants:
Ajahn Abhinando
John Bower
Linda France
Geoff Jackson
Botanical 