After a long break, Poem Saturday is back. But this past while, the poem that’s been wandering through my head the most often, one that I recite every night, isn’t strictly a “poem”–it’s the Evening Gatha.
Let me respectfully remind you
Life and death are of supreme importance.
Time swiftly passes and opportunity is lost.
Each of us should strive to awaken.
Awaken!
Take heed!
Do not squander your life.
Doen has been speaking often lately of the importance of effort in our practice. Keep working harder; make every thing your practice. For me, it all circles around to the Evening Gatha. Use this time well. Don’t squander your life.
It is also wonderful to know, that maybe a few houses down the street and a thousand miles away there are others reciting this Gatha as I do, having the same and also different thoughts and feelings about it and finding motivation in it to proceed in their practice. To me this helps especially in times, when I´m full of doubt or disappointment about my way, to not give up and continue putting my effort into the practice, trusting the wisdom that created it.
Thanks, Tawni, for sharing this, and thanks for this wonderful picture, too!
And thank you, Annette, for commenting! I’ve thought of you and Gertje and Phil and Volker now quite a few times when I say the Gatha, simply because you linked us through your comment. I’m so happy you’ll be here soon!