floating

on Sunday morning when I set out on the Main Street of the Johnson Ranch trails I carried this as a goal – have an intimate conversation with one soaring, path-sharing vulture.

The ancient Zen master Hakuin said “The sound of one hand is not a sound you hear with your ear.” Two pair of vultures paid visits the first twisting mile of the walk, and the first pair spoke with their wings directly to my eyes one word: floating.

Close by the end of the trail a single bird flew immediately over my head, and when it banked away brought my eyes to the half moon still present in the mid-day blue, blue sky. A moment later this Zen koan arrived:

‘A solitary boat without oars making its way in the moonlight.’

Therefore,…