Added Views of Four Seasons Pond in Winter

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January 7 Four Seasons Sitting -- Winter at the Pond

Last Sunday morn, only a light but crispy breeze would reach down from the hills to wave a fern now and then. But, the valley was resounding from falling water cascading into the pool. Rivulets and sometimes droplets flowing over moss. Leaving a stream of bubbles popping on the pond surface.

Winter was upon all of us here -- bare branches -- fallen leaves -- some kill-frosted ferns -- a Texas valley of Japanese wabi -- "To be poor, that is, not to be dependent on things worldly - wealth, power, and reputation - and yet to feel inwardly the presence of something of the highest value" (D.T. Suzuki, Zen and Japenese Culture)

Five Ordinary Minders silently sat and joined with the pond, the cold, and each other in a winter embrace. (It was so strong, it even split some britches!)

Afterwards, over warm Starbuck's brew, our discussion eventually led to Basho's haiku about the pond (An old pond, ah! A frog jumps in. The water's sound.) as well as Robert Aitken's commentary, and even Peg's remarks, "Ha! Aitken falls right into Basho's trap, teeth chattering like an old drunk on the streets of Chicago." (We caught a picture of the frog in flight at the pool to give you some idea of what we were talking about.)

Next time, on March 11, we will try to take a picture that does justice to the pool's smooth-stone carving of Sunyata; and we will be discussing the poem that led to Dogen's tract on "Mountain Colors and the Sound of Valley Streams."

Ice storm-Austin, Texas January 16, 2007

Ice storm-Austin, Texas January 16, 2007
Originally uploaded by Jiki Syverson.

Welcome to arctic Austin, Texas! Today the city is still, the stores and offices closed, the traffic stopped, and there are flurries of snow. Ice has wrapped every twig and leaf in crystal, and there are shimmering chandeliers hanging from every eave. It's rare for us to stop completely this way. How cool and refreshing! We see the world with wonder through new eyes, tiny flakes of snow falling from improbable Texas skies. The gift of a day like this is beyond measure. Please enjoy your life.