In this issue:
Introduction by
Rev. Master Koshin Schomberg
North Cascades Buddhist Priory
In this edition of the Serene Reflection Dharma Association Newsletter, we would like to feature a poem written by Rev. Master Meiten McGuire, who died five years ago this month. This poem was written during a crucial period of training following Rev. Master Meiten’s experience of kensho (“kensho” means “awakening to our True Nature”). This crucial period of training culminated in Rev. Master Meiten being launched out into the unknown at the age of 77—and, shortly thereafter, founding her own temple on Vancouver Island, Canada.
In the poem, the words “Lord” and “God” refer to That which, in Buddhism, we more often refer to as “the Eternal,” “the Buddha Nature,” “the True Self,” “the Cosmic Buddha,” “the Unborn,” etc. All these terms are just words—“fingers pointing at the moon.” And, as Rev. Master Jiyu often reminded us, there is no reason to be afraid of words. The Refuge to which the words point is what matters.
A Song of Thanks
Rev. Master Meiten McGuire
I want to sing a song of thanks.
How to do it? How to do it?
Lift the heart up high to God
And sing the praises of the Lord of peace and quiet joy
Who guides me through this place so strange
And helps me in the letting go, so hard.
I’ll sing the praises of the Lord!
Hold on to the Lord all-knowing,
So calm and sure and unperturbed.
I’ll model my life to conform with That
so kind and comforting.
Amidst the stumbling and the very woe,
Thou art here, and You tell me so.
I’ll hold to Thee and let all else go,
And live within Thy gentle praises:
This will be my song of thanks: Yes! Yes! Yes!
A few years ago, I set this poem to music. It has since been recorded by Rev. Master Hector van der Marel and some congregation members and friends of Westerwolder Dharmatoevlucht in the Netherlands.1 I recommend reading the poem before listening to it in a musical setting.
Click this image to hear the musical version:
Many of Rev. Master Meiten’s writings have been collected and published by Vancouver Island Zen Sangha. A new edition of her writings, Coming Home: Taking Refuge Within, which includes some previously-unpublished works, is now available as a paperback from Amazon.com. It is also available as a free digital download on the Vancouver Island Zen Sanga website.
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1The singers on the recording are: Wyanda Yap (Soprano), Gerchien Vermeer (Alto), Roelf Wind (Tenor) and Rev. Master Hector van der Marel (Bass).