Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Living in the Present

I love this poem from the first time I read it on a bookmark many, many years ago.

It's so true to the teachings of the Buddha...i.e. be mindful.

It's a lovely piece to share.

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SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi"
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

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6 comments:

Mia said...

Beautiful.... just lovely. I see that all this death thingy is good for us eh? It wakes us up to life.

DId you know that there is a 'slow' movement going around the world.. people are deliberately eating slow food, doing things slowly, thinking slowly.. stuff like that in 'rebellion' of the speed of which things are moving.

My life as a student no is far busier than I have even been in campus. I see no one during the day .. sad.. but the good thing is that amidst my readings.. I get to ponder about life and things. And I get to cook a pot of soup everyday for food.. same soup for days.. how healthy is that ;)

Phoenix Heart said...

Ahaha, Ame, so do u "cook a pot of soup everyday"? (i.e. everyday cook same type of soup)

...or do u cook a pot of soup for a few days? :)

Mia said...

it's a pot of soup everyday but each day the ingredients do not change.. I am getting jelak.. today better eat at the cafe downstairs

Phoenix Heart said...

kakaka, change the ingredients after a couple of pots lar, i say :)

Spot said...

Heh. Similar themes.

More to life than the daily grind eh.

I've only heard of slow travel and slow food. My Italy trip is an attempt at slow travel :)

Phoenix Heart said...

"Slow" travel in Italy?

I doubt you can achieve it, as u'd prolly want to see all that u've wanted to see there, ya? :)