the sleep of the hermit

Watercolor. Zhia Tiyana.

A student, filled with emotion and crying, implored, "Why is there so much suffering?" Suzuki Roshi replied, "No reason.”

An operation, late at night.

We could train a surgeon to slice away a man's soul.
To see what is left there. If he still lives. Or not.
As a man. A human being. His dogs without feet.
His table empty. His cows without nipples.
Night without day and day without night.

The operation is over. Someone else can keep watch.
The surgeon returns to his day clothes.
When he exits the building, a light rain has just begun.

james lee jobe

People are attracted to others for a lot of reasons, but kindness attracts those of the highest character. 

B. D. Schiers

A night so lovely.

The hermit doesn't sleep much at night,
in love as he is with the empty blue of the moon.
And there is that sweet rustle in the pine trees,
just a little breeze. The hermit listens
the same way a man listens to a woman sing,
Entranced. Enrapt. In love.

james lee jobe

Watercolor. Zhia Tiyana.

To me, the main thing about living on this planet is to know who the hell you are and be real about it. That’s the reason I’m still alive.

Keith Richards



And here I am.

I am here to tell the truth,
no matter how beautiful the lie might be,
or how ugly the truth.

Do you have a question for me?
Friend, before you ask, make damn sure
that you want to hear the answer.

james lee jobe

It is what it is, but we don’t know what it is.

Dona Snow

How on earth can you forgive the wrongs done to you if you don't first forgive yourself for your own wrongs? We, as humans, have some great gifts; forgiveness, empathy, and kindness are among them. Use them on yourself as well as on others!

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james