Passed along to me from a very old friend...

Memories
Flee and
Are no more:
All are empty dreams
Devoid of meaning.

The vagaries of life
Though painful,
Teach us not to cling
To this floating world.

If at the end of our journey
There is no final
Resting place
Then we need not fear
Losing our way.

No beginning
No end;
Our mind
Is born and dies:
The emptiness of emptiness!

In this world
All things, without exception,
Are unreal:
Death itself is
An illusion.

--Ikkyu

Dan Shimp of Santa Fe passed this special poem on to me and I pass it along to all of you. It's wonderful. Much to ponder about what we hold onto in life. Thank you, Dan.

As background, Dan and I shared several special summers together in the early 1960's in Martins Ferry, Ohio, where I grew up and where his grandmother lived. We played together from dawn to dusk. What wonderful memories.

Dan and I rediscovered each other after 40+ years. Can you imagine? Dan did an Internet search on "Martins Ferry, OH meditation groups" and my name popped up on his computer screen. He made his way over to Conscious Living and sent me an email, which I just replied to.

Life is a gift. Celebrate it every day. I am thankful for the Martins Ferry part of my life, and thank Dan for helping me to remember the good times.