A different language
photograph by Benjamin Demian
A different language
by Trudy Grienauer
language
too small
too narrow
too cob-webbed and dusty
too meaningless
too misleading—
try to open your mouth
but whatever you’ll say
won’t be true
and yet—
you won’t stop trying
as your heart is overflowing
not this
not this
say something
and it’s not it
always beyond
always more than
unsayable
unconceivable
the sage says
“the teaching’s voice is total silence
amid ringing wind chimes”
silence is the deepest prayer—
and yet
and yet
opposites collide
glow and explode
as language is pushed
to its limits—
luminous darkness
vibrant emptiness
silent song
burst the orderly borders
topple the rules
and transform the singer—
rip out her lame tongue
and give her flames
to speak with
Quote from Master Hongzhi Zhengjue (1091-1157), translated by Taigen Dan Leighton
Trudy Grienauer
is a spiritual companion trained in the Pacific Jubilee SoulGuiding program. She has been a student of Zen Buddhism since 2005 and currently practices with Vancouver’s Mountain Rain Zen Community as a distance student. Trudy explores her creativity as a poet, photographer, cook, and choir singer. She draws inspiration from hiking and gardening.
Read about Trudy's spiritual accompaniment practice here.
