Friday, January 27, 2012

converse...

why?

why do I have to?

novices ask, and ask
this one...the most

the tired monk wants to
dig zen deep
but he's got no roshi response

a back and forth of technique

tweed jacket teacher...no
fatherly love
pleas, emotion, logic,
a converse of silence

the tired monk responds:

duty

13 comments:

  1. Yes, why indeed? And, sometimes, 'duty' is the only answer, with some people, that one can come up with.

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  2. Novices aren't generally satisfied with that answer, I have found!

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  3. The question, the answer and a wealth of unexplored territory in between.
    I love it for its sparceness, but I'm a die-hard fan of the tired monk.

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  4. I love this life wisdom........and love it that the novices will learn duty - something most young ones arent taught any more. I so love the Tired Monk!

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  5. "Dig zen deep". I'll remember that one.

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  6. Pithy choice of subjects for conversation! All the more clever when one side of the conversation is but a single word.

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  7. Why? This question could drive a saint crazy. Duty is a pretty good reason for why.

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  8. Fabulous.
    Novices, still children inside, will always ask. "Duty" is a good response, better than the age-old Mom one: "Because I said so, that's why" but I suspect the real reason is impossible to explain: "Because, in the long run, you'll be glad you did."
    I enjoyed this a lot.
    K

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  9. tweed jacket teacher...no
    fatherly love
    pleas, emotion, logic,
    a converse of silence

    And probably a case for 'unlearning' ?

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  10. The monk says "duty" but I often wonder if holy people themselves don't question as much as "we" do ... but the difference might be they question, and "duty" is enough to keep them going for a while until they find an answer. Which isn't altogether a bad thing... Some of us give up too soon...

    Love this "pithy" style and I'm trying to adopt a bit of it for my long winded self... :)

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  11. Straight and to the point, But there is a lot unsaid between the quesion and answer, and that is part of the charm of the poem.

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  12. if only the one word, duty, were enough. (although less is almost always more, except in those rare circumstances when it is less.)

    it seems to me there is a lack of understanding between, not only generations, but people in general, and this lacking is impossible to avoid for we are each on our separate journeys.

    i think of the words i try to use to show my daughter. but in the moment to her it is only a flaccid word. until she inflates it with meaning, i might as well smack myself with a wet fish:)

    xo
    erin

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