The Zen Wheel of Life Mandala
A Song of Luminous Wisdom and Love
by Tai Sheridan
Published by Tai Sheridan at Smashwords
Copyright 2010 Tai Sheridan
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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Books by Tai Sheridan
Buddha in Blue Jeans Series
Buddha in Blue Jeans: An Extremely Short Zen Guide to Being Buddha
Relax...You're Going to Die
Secrets of True Happiness
Buddhist Classics in Modern Verse
Celestial Music: Sutras of Emptiness
The Lotus / Diamond / Heart-Wisdom / Loving Kindness Sutras
The Bare Bones Dhammapada: Big Mind Big Love
Buddha's Essential Teachings
The Buddhacarita: A Modern Sequel
The Poetic Saga of Buddha's Life From Birth to Enlightenment
The Zen Wheel of Life Mantra: A Song of Luminous Wisdom and Love
Based on the Bhavacakra - The Wheel of Life Mandala
Zen Classics in Modern Verse
The Light of the Ancient Buddhas: Ballads of Emptiness and Awakening
Based on Keizan's Transmission of the Light
Rice Eyes: Enlightenment in Dogen's Kitchen
A poetic version of Dogen's Tenzo Kyokun on enlightened living and practice
Snow Falling in Moonlight: Odes in Praise of Dogen's Shobogenzo
Twelve Poems based on Dogen's Shobogenzo:The Treasury of the True Dharma Eye
Warm Zen Practice: A Poetic Version of Dogen's Bendowa
Whole Hearted Way
Spiritual and Collections
Buddha's Golden Light: Collected Works of Tai Sheridan
Patanjali: The Liberation of Spirit in Modern Metaphors
Dedication
To the infinite mystery
The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.
Thomas Merton
The Bhavacakra is an ancient mandala that presents the most significant wisdom teachings of Buddhism. It is used to contemplate the causes and conditions of suffering, and as a guide to spiritual transformation on the path of non-dual wisdom, loving kindness, compassion, and equanimity.
I have written the The Wheel of Life Mantra as a poetic expression of the Bhavacakra. The poem opens by introducing spaciousness as the ground of being, the womb of existence within which the wheel turns. This is symbolized in the Tibetan tradition by Yama, the Lord of Death, and represents the infinite realms of time, space, impermanence and the unconditioned nature of being.
The Wheel is constructed of four concentric circles around a hub, each circle representing different areas of human experience and awareness. Beginning with the innermost circle and moving outward, they represent dimensions of anguish, consequences, psychological experience, and the workings of consciousness. The wheel itself is an expression of the essential Buddhist teachings of no-self (nothing exists as a separate entity), impermanence (everything changes), and co-dependent origination (all phenomena arise simultaneously in reality in the present moment).
The Wheel is usually associated with he Tibetan school of Buddhism. The essential wisdom of the mandala is also deeply embedded within Zen writings, lectures, poetry, and art. The Wheel, like all Buddhist teachings, is an encouragement to find the way to peace, love, and light.
May all beings be happy!
The Zen Wheel of Life Mantra
Buddha's generous song
of Luminous Wisdom and Love
The Zen Wheel
turns on the axis
of emptiness
Its myriad spokes
seamless moments
of infinite time
Its garments
luminous dark
spaciousness
Whole heartedly enter
the mysterious way
of the unconditioned
The wheel
contains the whole
of myriad existences
Delicately held
by jaws of death
King of Impermanence
Transform anguish
into warm presence
May you live beneficially
Pay close attention
to the great commingling
May you harm no more
Meet the obstacles
of six realms
May you transform your character
Refining your attention
each arising moment
is the whole of it
Travel the wheel
liberate all
from apparent isolation
The Zen Wheel of Life Mantra
Buddha's generous song
of Luminous Wisdom and Love
I enter the circle
of bewilderment and anguish
the truth of unhappiness
I am the pig
groveling in lust
chasing mind filaments
I entitle myself
to desire myriad things
an illusion of true fulfillment
I am the snake
sidewinding hatred
bashing people and things
I entitle myself
to strike out at the world
an illusion of true fulfillment
I am the rooster
crowing self importance
a world unto myself
I entitle myself
to self centered living
an illusion of true fulfillment
Oh wise buddhas shine on me!
Oh loving bodhisattvas transform me!
Oh commingled mystery awaken me!
May my lust
transform into contentment
I am peace in life
May my enmity
transform into loving kindness
I embrace all life
May my selfishness
transform into sympathetic oneness
I am one with life
Now I awaken
the heartfelt desire
for the well being of all
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Be One
May All Beings Be Free
I enter the circle
of consequences
my activity ripples the matrix
I have acted unwisely
harming myself and others
sorrow upon sorrow
In darkness I have descended
into anxiety depression worse
the maw of great unhappiness
I drown
dragging the world
down with me
I have yet to learn
kindness begets kindness
harm begets harm
Oh let me hear
the dharma rain
of non-harming
Oh let me hear
that each action
ripples the entire cosmos
Oh let me hear
that each step
spins the earth
I am the clear one
knowing my intentions
moving with tact
I am the responsive one
studying reactivity
walking with care
I am the beginning one
meeting the world anew
each dawning moment
As light and dark
compliment each other
like phases of the moon
May all of my
actions merge
in essential goodness
The path of consequences
wends through mountains rivers
a vast heart mind
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Be One
May All Beings Be Free
Invitation
I enter the circle
of six transmuting realms
each a mirror of my being
Not only one self
many manifestations
of difficulty and grace
The three realms above
seemingly dwell in light
I forget things come and go
The three realms below
seemingly dwell in darkness
I forget things come and go
The Human Realm
I enter the human realm
face arms legs breath
stunning miracle of life
I am needs longings
I am friends family work
I am the potential human
I am dignity because I was born
I am dignity because I live
I am dignity because I die
May I live humbly
in the human family
treasuring the miracle of life
The Hungry Ghost Realm
I enter the hungry ghost realm
decrepit malnourished starving
unable to find true nourishment
I am the lonely one
I am the unloved child
I am the unwitnessed being
I am full because I am
I am full because I give
I am full because I love
May I live fulfilled
easy to please and delight
a smile in each exchange
The Titan Realm
I enter the titan realm
so many graceful blessings
lost in pride and envy
I am jealous of blessed ones
denying ego's solid grip
falling from daily grace
I am whole already
I am unique already
I am awake already
May I delight in other's joy
unconcerned with fate
content with my lot
The Animal Realm
I enter the animal realm
raw instincts arising
grabbing pushing annihilating
Primitive naïve untrained
yet to hear the celestial drum
I justify the wily senses
I am the body at ease
I am the joy of emotion
I am ground and center
May I practice sincerely
resting in peaceful moments
allowing sensations to come and go
The Heavenly Realm
I enter the heavenly realm
awake blissful reposed
delighting in play of Mind
One thought of attachment
a world of suffering born
thinking this is it! opens hell's gate
All existence my Buddha Body
without a self Pure Mind
ordinary as grass in Spring
May I welcome commingling
remembering everything as Buddha
non attachment the way
The Hell Realm
I enter the hell realm
burning in delusional thought
on fire with my harmful ways
I suffer a living death
unhappy to my core
the doors of peace afar
I am the truth of suffering
I am the opportunity of learning
I am the seed of awakening
May I suffer consciously
heal and transform
on the luminous path
Blessing
The six realms
each light and shadow
infinite circles of being
In attachment weeds grow
in aversion leaves fall
may I let go continuously
Awake in the moment
witnessing experience
I study the gap of duality
May sight seen sound merge
may I walk daily
into the mist of not-knowing
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Be One
May All Beings Be Free
Invitation
I enter the circle
of arising reality
things as they are
All points of the wheel
empty of self nature
mirroring the infinite whole
Twelve links
within and beyond
cause and effect
Four circles spinning
on the axis of emptiness
flowing through each other
The Blind Man
avijja – ignorance
I wander blind drunk
on this dusty road
tripping over myself
Disconnected from
true intimacy
in the world
My hunger
for love and meaning
leaves me anguished
Where will I find
there is more
to life
The Potter
samskaras - volitional action
I live from habits
old reactions drives
views I'm stuck on
Spinning like potter wheels
endlessly busy scattered
frustrated with the mess
From what clay
shall I make a cup
to drink from
From what stream
shall I sip
to fill my thirst
Monkey Climbs a Flowering Tree
vijnana - arising consciousness
From moment to moment
body heart mind
things not one not two
Monkey mind moving
swinging thoughts emotions
within just so moments
Arrow points
meeting in mid air
a thunderous awakening
Lotus petals open
now now now
unborn past future
Four People in a Boat
nama rupa - mind body
What I call body
is an open party
for everyone onboard
Not one part of me
beats grows moves
without all others
Why do I persist
in substantiating myself
over and again
Despite my wounds
and cryptic actors
the moon always full
House Windows Five Doors
shaddayatanas - senses
Gazing at red poppies
through windows
eyes poppies sight
In spring I breathe
the fragrant nectar
of sweet wisteria
Some people
call it insight
for me no name
Wax still remains
in my ears
sounds come from afar
A Couple Embraces
sparsha - contact
In this big place
let's embrace
hold hands walking
We've never parted
yet seemingly alone
between us a thread
Where am I
a drop of rain
or one moon
A flash of lightening
a clap of thunder
no second person
A Man With Arrow in Eye
upadana - grasping
Every day world
moving around
through me
My arrowed eyes
orbs of pleasure pain
endless cycling
Yet neutrality
unconcerned about
what's under skin
With calm breathing
I settle rest
in acceptance
trishna - thirst
Some days I drink
her offered waters
other days not
My sweet tooth
insatiable madness
refined proclivities
Complete delusion
controlling life
tenacious self will
I've heard
of a middle road
gardens of peace
A Man Gathers Fruit
upadana - grasping
Grabbing ripe persimmons
overextending again
thinking all okay
Proud fool
stubborn convictions
Still seeking great heights
Round and round
wanting and resenting
reinforcing inner troops
A friend said
look within wake up
inside this mess
A Pregnant Woman
bhava - becoming
Within pear belly
mother child
not separate
No certainty
for me in birth
each moment wild
One two mixing
all born simultaneously
wonder upon wonder
Mysterious inter-being
takes up residence
in bones marrow
A Woman Gives Birth
jati - giving
A mysterious tunnel
woman birthing an infinite child
earth heaven gushing now
Life waters flow
with cosmic rain
all things family
Your mothers face
before she was born
see the whole dynamic
I am this
filling emptying
the spacious womb
A Corpse
jaramarana - decay and death
I am a corpse
on river banks
great spiritual death
Buddha awoke
the morning star
living dying treasure
Stars for eyes
mountains for feet
each breath beyond
Today a good day
beginner's mind
original blessing
The Blessing
Twelve stones
on a path to nowhere
walking with calm alertness
Honestly studying myself
courageously releasing myself
avoiding harming
May I die
the great death
and awaken Reality
From the beginning
I am Buddha
the authentic me
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Be One
May All Beings Be Free
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Tai Sheridan is a poet, philosopher, and Zen priest. He transforms ancient Buddhist and Zen texts into accessible and inspirational verse. His Buddha in Blue Jeans series offers a contemporary approach to Buddhist philosophy and awakening.
View more books by Tai Sheridan, Ph.D.
Connect with Tai Sheridan
Website:http://www.taisheridan.com
Email: mailto:tai@taisheridan.com
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