Still Water Gathas
Written by Still Water members at the December 30, 2004 mindfulness practice evening
In the Mahayana tradition, which encourages mindfulness in daily life as well as in the meditation hall, gathas are short poems used in familiar situations each day, to remind us how we can open to the moment and transform our lives.
The traditional gatha has three parts: the occasion, the vow or intention, and the specific conduct that one promises to undertake.
On December 30, 2004, participants at the weekly Still Water gathering wrote gathas for the New Year, to remind themselves of their deepest intention and aspirations. Because the evening occurred several days after the Asian Tsunami, many of the gathas poignantly address those moments when we are become aware of and are touched by great suffering.
Touching Suffering
Sarah S.
When my heart looks out upon
unbounded grief and trauma,
I vow to hold this
close to me,
not like a heavy rock,
but like a newborn baby.
Judy
When I see the photo of a mother touching
the forehead of her drowned child,
I share her grief across the ocean.
Julia
Feeling Great Suffering
When I see great suffering in the world,
I will
breathe in the pain of loss and horror.
I will breath out compassion, deep
presence and hope.
I will breathe in the wide canyon of grief.
I will breathe
out holding, comforting.
Joan
Hurtful words
tell me someone is hurting.
I embrace myself
with compassion
for our pain.
M.
When tens of thousands cry out with great pain
I vow to see their
pain as my pain,
relieving their suffering
as I would my own.
Marie
Aware of the suffering in the world
I am one with the flow of
pain.
Balancing compassion and wisdom
I will help in ways that nourish the world
and myself.
Sarah
When I feel deep sorrow
I vow to open my heart to others’ suffering
so that I can lend a helping hand and a helping heart to them
and not
be consumed by my sadness.
Mike
When I hear others’ suffering, I cringe—
For both their pain, and the
distance caused by my running from their pain.
I vow today for my heart to leap
to touch their hearts,
and feel the force that guides the stars guides us all,
too, and makes us whole together.
I vow to have compassion for my own hurts, so
I no longer feel like running away from theirs.
Daily Life
David
In my workshop,
the wood, the glue, the tools
are a gift to me from the
universe.
May my contributions
transform them to a gift for others to use.
On my bike,
the air filling my lungs,
the muscles flowing with the terrain,
I
experience my body
and how I am one with the universe
Julia
Doing Laundry
Folding laundry is like lovingly
dressing my
children, spouse and self
with clean, fresh smelling flowers.
Alex
Walking through busy days
I stop and remember
the beauty of the
present moment
Lynda
Taking a step
I vow to stop,
breathe before
I speak,
slooooow
down, to
open to the
present moment.
Ann-Mari
Walking in Winter
When I see bare branches
against the grey sky,
I remember
the roots
spreading wide below the ground.
I vow to look closely
for the buds of
new leaves.
Anonymous
Being in a hurry
I am away from my body
where my home is now.
When I am playing
I wish everyone to find
the place where they are free
and I
vow to help one
be there.
Mark
Moving this food from
my bowl to my lips,
I vow to fulfill my
needs
for consciousness, pleasure, and health,
and devour it with gratitude,
or
joyfully put it back in the bowl.
Ruth
When I am called upon for help
I consider the qualities of the
calling.
I remember that though I have a calling, what I hear is another’s.
My
help answers the other’s
calling and my own.
M.
When I come to Still Water
my heart opens
to be with each person
just where
they are.
When I am attracted to food
I stop and reflect:
Is what I want
my real need?
Peter
Making this contribution
my heart feels as full as the sea.
Gratitude, generosity, and responsibility
are three sides of a triangle.
Giving is receiving.
Relationships and Parenting
Alex
Being with others
I vow to be present more fully
and to hear what they need
from me.
I remember my desire for connection.
Joan
When Penina is fussy
I remember with compassion
that she is a separate person
who gets to be fussy.
When Penina is fussy
I remember with compassion
that everything is as it
should be in this moment.
Peter
Talking with my partner
I understand and am understood.
May
I listen deeply
so that gems make themselves known.
May I speak
mindfully
so my words create joy and connection.
Playing with my little child
we are dancing, connected.
My
joy knows no limits.
Work
Alex
Going to work
I vow to do all I can for the good of the project
and see the light in all those who I encounter.
Judy
When I am frustrated by interruptions at work,
I pause, bow, and make room
for all who enter.
Anonymous
When working for the accumulation of dollars
I vow to be free from fear and
greed.
Feelings
Judy
When I feel impatience grab
at my throat,
I pause, bow and hum gently in
silence.
Marie
When judging and my ire rises
I will breathe and not speak
look deeply with
compassionate eyes
and listen with an open heart
Joan
When I feel yelled at
I remember my loving arms
around myself.
Peter
Feeling sad
without words, without thoughts, without movement
I let my heart open as wide as the sea
and allow it to weep.
Anonymous
Among anyone
I want to be seen to let
them come in and dissolve
any
loneliness.