Earthhome Thailand Morning Reflection

The sky is pale blue with a low layer of pink languishing along the tree tops. Smoke furls off a fire wafting like a longboat on a winding river pacing itself towards the rising sun. Mourning doves coo and songbirds trill. The loud clatter of a two stroke engine grows louder, then fades. I picture a man, one hand steering, sandwiched between his wife who teeters on the edge of the motorcycle’s seat and the toddler who, with tiny hands, grips the handlebars yet while asleep with his cheek on the fathers arm that cradles the boy. 

Two monks, barefoot, adorned in rust colored cloth draped over a brighter chrysanthemum soaked robe, and an orange wool cap, walk side by side along the road towards the village with empty wooden bowls held in their arms like  babies. Their heads bowed down, no verse between them, no possessions beyond them, They have faith they will receive what they need today while praying for the well being of all who exist today. They might play a card game later, or laugh at a story told, They may think of their motherland, their parents, siblings, the story they left behind and wonder…well, what would they wonder?… would they wonder? Does a trained mind wander? Does it wonder?

A dog trots through the field with direction and determination. It is refreshing to witness a dog’s free will. She has made camp at the edge of the field. I wake in the mornings to find her there curled up and dreaming. When the men are working by the road during the day she lingers round and attempts to belong, but they send her away with rocks and jeers sending her back to the fields edge. She is an outcast. She catches frogs and mice at night to survive, wakes free in the morning, but what is freedom without love?

May all beings be free. May all beings know love.