Dragon’s Breath

Singing Image of Fire

A hand moves, and the fire’s whirling takes different shapes:

All things change when we do.

The first word, “Ah,” blossoms into all others.

Each of them is true.

–Kukai

(The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry edited by Stephen Mitchell, 36)

Kukai (774-835) [was] . . . the founder of the Shingon (Tantric or Esoteric) school of Buddhism in Japan . . .” (ibid. p.159). When you truly embrace a bigger worldview—emotionally,mentally and spiritually—then “all things change.” Like the whirling fire, your life takes a different shape. People treat you differently . . . better. Even events conspire to move you along at a forward-moving, more joyous pace. Unique and previously unexplored parts of your personality blossom. Each with a new truth.

God was moving in the whirling fire

God was singing in the fiery wind

“And God said, ‘Let there be light’;

and there was light” (Gen.1:3).

Inspired by “Singing Image of Fire” I wrote the following poem. In keeping with the Asian tradition, I used the symbolic meaning of an Asian dragon which is a transmitter of wisdom.

the dragon’s breath of fire

sets my heart ablaze

liquid flame singing

through my veins

body lantern glowing

let there be light

Image by David Martin at Flickr Creative Commons.

Linked with Thought-Provoking Thursday.