Mindlessness to Mindfulness

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Abstract

rience that took me by surprise. I had expected to be impressed with the beauty and majesty of the Ryoani-ji gardens. But I also felt overwhelmed with a sense of tranquility as I sat at the edge of the garden and stared into the patterns of the rocks. I did not expect to be captivated and yet I was. Three years later, memories of sitting in the garden that hot August day still fill me with a sense of peace and a yearning to return.</p><p id="cf57">I wrote this piece in response to Paper Poetry’s ‘monk’ prompt. I did so want to participate in the prompt but missed the deadline. “Better late than never”. Actually better, because it’s allowed me to turn this piece from a tanka into a haibun!</p><div id="fa66" class="link-bloc

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k"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/lets-walk-in-the-steps-of-a-person-living-under-vows-to-see-the-world-in-a-unique-view-7a35cf82fee3"> <div> <div> <h2>Let’s Walk In the Steps of a Person Living Under Vows to See the World in a Unique View</h2> <div><h3>Before that, let’s applaud for the beautiful submissions that celebrated World Poetry Day</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*p2fTK_USVxk3n6QHdCLTCg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

“Monk” prompt

Tanka and artwork by Thalia

The mindlessness of steady raking, cutting, pruning, shaping, back and forth, back and forth frees my mind into mindfulness; that sharp, intense awareness of how fleeting and precious this moment is.

Monk’s steady raking corrals lone scattered pebbles back to the dry stream, perfectly formed ripples soothe me into zen’s peacefulness.

Visiting the zen garden in Kyoto, Japan was an experience that took me by surprise. I had expected to be impressed with the beauty and majesty of the Ryoani-ji gardens. But I also felt overwhelmed with a sense of tranquility as I sat at the edge of the garden and stared into the patterns of the rocks. I did not expect to be captivated and yet I was. Three years later, memories of sitting in the garden that hot August day still fill me with a sense of peace and a yearning to return.

I wrote this piece in response to Paper Poetry’s ‘monk’ prompt. I did so want to participate in the prompt but missed the deadline. “Better late than never”. Actually better, because it’s allowed me to turn this piece from a tanka into a haibun!

POETRY/HAIBUN

Mindlessness to Mindfulness

“Monk” prompt

Let’s Walk In the Steps of a Person Living Under Vows to See the World in a Unique View

Before that, let’s applaud for the beautiful submissions that celebrated World Poetry Day