Prayer & Meditation

This has been the response to my prayers lately. Gentle and...

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:30:52 -0400

This has been the response to my prayers lately. Gentle and encouraging. The faithful loving kindness of God.

Recorded with my Taylor 12-string, T. Mead mandolin, Casio Privia and viola.

Lyrics:
I will not let you fall.
I will not make you crawl.
I know it gets so hard.
I know you feel so far,
from the life you thought you’d have.

I finish what I start.
I will complete this sacred art:
take sorrow and turn it to joy,
take hopeless and turn the void,
to the life you ought to have.

I am not fickle,
I am constant and do not tire.
I am not deaf,
I hear your every heart’s desire.
I will not leave you,
alone to face the fire.

Take hope in what I say.
Each night precedes the day.
And when the stars have gone,
My light will lead you on,
to the life I called you to have.

This mandala has a lot of trinity, growth and hope woven into...

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:30:40 -0400

This mandala has a lot of trinity, growth and hope woven into it. I am growing happy with these little drawings again. :) Prints available here.

The King's Feet

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:31:04 -0400

“Curb your speech. Restrain your mind. Commit no evil deed.” -Buddha

“It is respect to bow down to the King’s feet, but it’s a fault compared to other gestures.” -Rumi

“Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” -Psalm

You have shown me stretches of your way in Your mercy.
I have failed so many times.
Thank You for Your forgiveness and grace.
Please purify my will and intents.
Please guide my life back to Your chosen path.
I am sorry for my hubris and willful disobedience.
Thank You for Your love and mercies.
Amen.

Easy

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:30:46 -0400

“Right speech, harmlessness, restraint, according to the monk’s discipline. Moderation in food, at peace in remoteness and solitude, devotion to higher meditation.” -Buddha

“The root of all your jealousies is come from God who is beyond all comparison.” -Rumi

“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame[…]” -Psalm

Putting myself to shame is easy.
Keep me from wrong action.
Putting myself to shame is easy.
Guard me from wrong thoughts.
I know the way but am not taking it.
I know the way but lack intention.
I know the way but get distracted.
I know the way but my heart falters.
Putting myself to shame is easy.
Guide me to right actions.
Putting myself to shame is easy.
Give me courage to travel on narrow ground.
Putting myself to shame is easy.
Replace my will with Thine.
I know the way.
Help me to walk it.
Amen.

Life's Narrow Cord

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:30:32 -0400

“Unwholesome action, hurting self, comes easily. Wholesome action, healing self, takes effort.” -Buddha

“You will be split apart by whisperings, dear heart, if you distinguish joys and trials.” -Rumi

“My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.” -Psalm

Woozy.
Tired.
Confused.

Low blood-sugar and the delayed realization.
Fragile.
The balance we sustain.
Moment by moment.
Life’s tightrope.

Continue to grant me the wisdom and skill
to trot along the narrow path to Your way.
Amen.

Meditation Psalm 69:1-3 This is an experiment in musical...

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:47:00 -0400

Meditation Psalm 69:1-3

This is an experiment in musical meditation. I focused on Psalm 69:1-3 and then let myself create music on my viola. This is completely improvised without prior rehearsal.

Psalm 69:1-3
Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold.
I have come into to the deep waters; the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.
My eyes fail, looking for my God.

Like Ocean Waves

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:30:59 -0400

“The one who drowns in God desires more drowning, his soul tossed up and down like ocean waves.” -Rumi

“The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” -Psalm

True faith,
the tossing up and down of a soul that does not fear.

“Sometimes it causes me to tremble.”

I do not fear drowning when I grow weary of breathing.
When daily life feels more burden than blessing.
I must accept Your ways,
whether they take me up or down.
(to the precipice or through despair)

You have protected me from harm.
Thank You for Your blessings and grace.
Continue to revitalize my world-weary heart.

I love You.
Amen.

These Ancient Doors

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:30:26 -0400

“What’s ‘we’ in words? The ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ I’m not affirming. I am essenceless negation. I found identity in the impersonal state; I wove it into the impersonal state.” -Rumi

“Lift up your heads, O you gates, be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in.” -Psalm

There is recklessness in barring the doors to keep out the cold.
A heart is meant to warm the extremities of the body.
Open the ancient doors of my heart
and abide there in glory, O Lord Almighty.
I find identity in Your overwhelming presence.

Amen.

The Scent And Flavor

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:30:27 -0400

“The thirsty may seek water in the world, and in the world the water seeks the thirsty.” -Rumi

“Do not be far from me for trouble is near and there is no one to help.” -Psalm

My life is not soaked in desperation.
When I’ve called upon You, You have answered.
When I look to You for help, You have helped me.
When I needed a blessing, You have blessed.

How many times has Your unseen hand guided and protected me?
But, like an infant craving a secure embrace, I cry and rage at my fate.

Letting go is all about being ok with losing.
When I crave nothing, nothing finds me.

Seeker - have you strayed from your seeking?
Have you lost the scent and flavor of truth?
(Did you expect a different aroma?
Is it bitter and not sweet?)

Rescue me from the fire
blazing through my thoughts.

Tame the tiger of my critical nature.

Restore my soul to peace.
Amen.

Walking in the city, I was reminded that just a year ago I...

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:30:28 -0400

Walking in the city, I was reminded that just a year ago I regretted not taking a picture immediately when I saw these in bloom. Their flowers fade and fall so fast. This year, most of these trees had already faded as well, but one stood out, sheltered by other trees. Letting us enjoy a few more days of its vernal glory.

The sun blooms. Sol brings light, warmth and direction. Its...

Thu, 09 May 2013 18:30:36 -0400

The sun blooms. Sol brings light, warmth and direction. Its light and heat moves the wind across the earth. Likewise, the Spirit of God brings insight, compassion, direction and strength. Let us open our hearts to divine truth.

Turning Gears

Wed, 08 May 2013 18:30:42 -0400

“The wise man, by vigor, mindfulness, restraint and self-control, creates for himself an island which no flood can submerge.” -Buddha

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” -Psalm

Like a broken machine or discarded toolbox,
I am unable to fulfill the purposes for which I’m wired.
Constantly out of place.
A gear in the wrong mechanism.
This thumping drum surrounding my days.
Dissonance - the friction between mismatched pairs.
Mismatched ambitions.

Knowing what ought to be done and doing the other.

The teeth wear down, sharpen, then shatter.

(Fatigue,
Confusion,
Lack of Clarity,
Sloth,
Malice,
Pain,
Sorrow,
Fear.)
: The symptoms of this out-of-place-ness.

We display our understanding through our diligent actions.

You’ve shown me the way.
Please give me the resolve and courage to follow it.
Amen.

Mandala Prints by Daniel ML

Tue, 07 May 2013 18:41:35 -0400

Mandala Prints by Daniel ML:

I’ve made photographic prints of some of my mandalas available on redbubble. Please consider purchasing a print if you enjoy my art. Thanks for checking it out!

Hidden Faults

Tue, 07 May 2013 18:30:32 -0400

“Delightful are forests, where more worldly men find no joy. Being free of the pull of desire, saints, who seek no worldly pleasures, find delight in such places.” -Buddha

“Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.” -Psalm

Hidden faults and those obvious.
Shame is the sign a man has a conscience.
In many ways I am unworthy of grace.

Please forgive my hidden faults and correct my inner ways.
Awaken the slumbering saint within me.
Please purify my will and intent.
Please use the portion You’ve given me to Your glory.
Amen.

Foes

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:30:45 -0400

“It is good to see the holy ones, to live with them is always happiness.” -Buddha

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes who were too strong for me.” -Psalm

Where is the space and avenue I should seek?

I have experienced seeing and dwelling with the holy ones.
I have experienced Your hand rescuing me from dark waters.

These things I know: I recall them with fondness.

I know my ways are far from Yours
I understand my rebellious nature.
I know I have no right to ask anything of You.

Thank You for caring for me.
Please forgive my many wrong ways.

I love You.
Amen.

This mandala was drawn while slowly waking up, sitting on the...

Wed, 01 May 2013 18:30:23 -0400

This mandala was drawn while slowly waking up, sitting on the balcony in the early spring sun. Out from the void a triune spirit. From the spirit, fire and wisdom. All nature recognizes the light of truth.

Rise Up! Rise up, you sleepers! It’s time. It’s time...

Wed, 01 May 2013 16:06:00 -0400

Rise Up!
Rise up, you sleepers!
It’s time. It’s time to open your eyes!

Rise Up!
Rise up you soldiers of the light!
It’s time. It’s time to put on your armor.

Rise Up!
Rise up you prophets of the dawn!
It’s time. It’s time to sing a redemption song.

Chorus:
He said, “Come to me you who are weary. Come to me and I will give you rest.”

Pour Out!
Pour out your offerings!
It’s time. It’s time to praise the One who gave us life.

Pour Out!
Pour out your spirit upon us!
It’s time. It’s time to speak with tongues of fire.

Pour Out!
Pour out your alabaster sorrows.
It’s time. It’s time to weep at Jesus’s feet.

The God Behind The Storm

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:30:40 -0400

“By making yourself as still as a cracked cymbal, not retaliating, you achieve nirvana.” -Buddha

”[…] he soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him - the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning.” -Rumi

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.” -Psalm

When storm clouds gather
and the whole earth shakes,
thunder resounds
and lightning speaks:
“CALAMITY!
MISFORTUNE!
TERROR!
LOSS!”
— become still
as a discarded instrument,
silent as Sheol

and wait.

wait.

Wait to see the bright visage
of the god behind the storm.

Selah.

Listening Heart

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:30:40 -0400

One may recite a hundred verses full of vain descriptions, but a single verse bringing peace to the listener is worth far more.” -Buddha

“The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of Sheol coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help.” -Psalm

Bring peace to my listening heart, Lord.
Your word is worth thousands upon thousands.
Enlighten these yawning days.
There is so much darkness entwined in these moments.

Bring peace to my listening heart, Lord.
Your ways are worth thousands upon thousands.
Guide my thoughts to Your righteousness.
Guide my actions to right-ness.
Correct the hue and shadows of my life.
Remake me into Your image.

Bring peace to my listening heart, Lord.
Your mercy and grace are worth thousands upon thousands.
Permeate Your presence into my moments.
Open my spirit to the flavor and aroma of Your being.

Amen.

"Have an abundance of confidence, good conduct, effort, concentration. Be aware and attentive, put..."

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:30:24 -0400

“Have an abundance of confidence, good conduct, effort, concentration. Be aware and attentive, put aside this great mass of suffering.”

- The Dhammapada, Buddha