《 Autumn Pond 》

The crane dreams in the wintery mists
The autumn waters flow far in the distance
~ Chan Master Hongzhi Zhengjue (1091 - 1157)

This calligraphy was inspired by the Silent Illumination retreat I had attended with my first teacher, Master Sheng Yen. Autumn is a season of stillness; the air is crisp, water is still, like the mind of meditative stillness. This is the practice I apply in the midst of hustle and bustle living in NYC, riding the subway, constantly in the crowds. But when our mind and body have enough stillness; the noise, the yelling, the crowds can not irritate us as much.

And when our mind is still, we are more able to see clearly of our thinking patterns, our reactions, our chattering and by knowing, we are able to break the patterns, transform our ingrained habit energy.