Tree reverence

Not sure what the story of this is, an ancient relief from a stupa in India at the Met, but trees are important in early Buddhism. The Buddha got up from 6 weeks of intensive meditation that led to his enlightenment, and bowed to the tree.

I counted 11 new trees planted in my neighborhood, thank you NYC.

Michael Kenna - Spring Poplar Trees, Pavia, Italy (2019)

.......... 

When I Am Among the Trees

by Mary Oliver

When I am among the trees,

especially the willows and the honey locust,

equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,

they give off such hints of gladness.

I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,

in which I have goodness, and discernment,

and never hurry through the world

but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves

and call out, “Stay awhile.”

The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,

“and you too have come

into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled

with light, and to shine.

Lost a tree

 I went for a walk and when I got home they were cutting down the tree in front of my window. It's dying, and sickley, but it still had leaves. I kept pointing to the tree that didn't have leaves this year, that definitely died, and they said it was because of the alternate side parking that left the road relatively car free. They also get work orders from the boss man. But they also said if I really was upset about it they might not have cut it down. So my walk today got my tree chopped down. I was heartened that they were modifiable, and might have listened to me if I asked them not to chop it down. They were good guys and I really liked talking to them.

They said that Covid also has a backlog in planting new trees so don't expect a new one soon, but eventually I should get a new tree. I sit there and meditate and look out at that tree, but of course everything is a lesson on impermanence. They really believe in planting a million trees, and they're all about planting trees.

He talked about the microbursts in 2010 when like 500 trees were knocked over in 10 minutes. I know the tree in the park that got knocked over, I mourn that tree often. Also Sandy in 2012 knocked down a lot of trees. I'm sure they'll be back some time for the tree across the street. There are a lot of wonderful trees on my street, even with the one I stare at when I open my eyes in mediation is gone.

The guy said the microburst was 2006, I think it was 2010, and he said Hurricane Sandy was the next year, and that would be 2007 according to him, but it was 2012. I used to not care about dates, and often people will ask date questions where I don't know the answer, but I'm learning dates, it's not so bad if you can look them up for writing.

My daughter was in such a good mood because it snowed this morning. A light dusting that was quickly gone.