The Little Bird, my teacher

23 Days of Yoga TT 3/29-4/20

For every five days there was a day of rest, all together 4 Cycles
On the Day11 which was the rest day after Cycle 2 ended
it was exactly middle way in training, the Midway Interval

That afternoon I was on my way out to teach art
as I walked along the road to take the MRT
I discovered a little bird laying on the gravel
looked like it just passed away, still soft with luster,
so peaceful as if asleep
when I saw it I felt soft sorrow in heart
I walked forth several steps to find myself retrack
I felt I ought to do something
so the little bird would not be fetched by wandering dogs or cats
or be run over by cars

I took out a napkin and picked the little bird up
and put it in the near by big pot of bonsai
there the little body can rest under the shade
still getting a little sunshine
able to absorb dew and be close to soil
at that moment, I felt the weight of life in my left palm
so real, beautiul and fragile
I held in my hand, this little bird's entire existence
it has died and returned to nature

For brief seconds I felt a little fear
I caught myself with surprise with this little fear
and it brought me to comtemplate on life
the meaning of living and dying
and I grew this sense of respect in face of death

I felt trembles in this light of awakening
the little bird's coming into my life, even for that little while
reminded me the value of life

to cherish what exists in the now
to respect the realness in living

This was just a little incident
yet it has set ripples in my heart
on that day, the little bird became my teacher

It has taught me a lesson: to be gentle and kind in respecting life
from the beginning, the in between, to the end

Life is but compassion and so beautiful.