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Reciting the Kieu Oracle for the Year of the Ox
“Rebirth carries a gratitude as deep as the ocean and as vast as the sky; to be born again in this world is to offer thanks to those who embody compassion.” This reminds us of the twofold birth in the Buddha’s teaching, and the profound gratitude we owe to the Buddha, the Sangha, spiritual friends, and our parents. Practicing the Four Immeasurable Minds — loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity — is to be worthy of the name Nghiêm that the Teacher has bestowed, and to make the aspiration each day to be more diligent, nourishing sympathetic joy so that happiness may spread to all.
“With one heart, not counting the effort, here at the Buddha’s gate, there is no narrowness.” This points to practicing wholehearted mindfulness in every task, from washing the dishes to chanting sutras — all are deep practice. “The bright moon shines in the sky, gently repaying past karma and opening new wholesome conditions.” We see the Dharma as the radiant moon, transforming old karma and opening the way for new good conditions to arise. “The clear water reflects the sky,” illuminating the vow made long ago, rekindling the determination to fulfill the responsibility of loving.
Entrusting this body to the cloud hermitage, the mountains and rivers are always listening deeply, like Zhong Ziqi encouraging the capacity for deep listening. The true source of the Dharma body is already present in our heart: “The bright moon shines in the sky; the source also arises from within the human heart.” To repay our debts of gratitude, we seek spiritual friends to build a close-knit Sangha. The compassion of Avalokiteshvara is already present in the garden of our heart; do not be bewildered in the midst of dreams, but open your heart to recognize and act.
