Emptiness and rhythm

Of what is the world made? It is made of emptiness and rhythm. At the ultimate heart of the body, of the world, of the universe, there is no substance. There is only the dance.”
--Adapted from George Leonard, "The Silent Pulse," quoted in Mu Soeng Sunim, The Heart Sutra, Ancient Buddhist Wisdom in the Light of Quantum Reality.

I have been absorbed in the rhythm of migraine since last Wednesday, and yet life goes on happening. There was time with Bella. I led another meeting of Soulforce, the group of activists and meditators preparing to use public meditation as a form of social justice activism. (Our big city-wide meeting is next Saturday, after which the actions will begin!) And today Sue led a half-day meditation retreat, including the quotation from Mu Soeng Sunim’s book above. Emptiness and rhythm. There is only the dance.

Finally, our duties met and cared for, we stepped out on the porch into the magnificence of the star magnolia tree she planted thirty-some years ago. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, the emptiness was full of life, and the rhythms were palpable. Nothing left but gratitude.

Now she has her granddaughters for the evening, and I am at home resting my head and re-gathering my forces. Not much energy for commenting, but I am here, a bit shopworn and weary, but happy.