Morning Greetings of the Song Sparrow

The sweet, sweet song of the song sparrow greets me as I leave for the B Street Zendo each morning, as if to say "hello, hello, hear me — I am truly a gift!"

After the evening sitting meditation, the time keeper (jikido) chants the Evening Gatha:

Let me respectfully remind you

Live and death are of supreme importance

Life passes swiftly by and opportunity is lost

Let us Awaken — Awaken

Take heed

Do not squander your life

‍The Gatha evokes Mary Oliver’s poem, "The Summer Day," whose last line is, "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Both call us to be grateful for this life. To realize the ephemeral nature of this life and the life of all beings. The fleeting nature of time, as it swiftly passes by.

Are we squandering our life if we don’t recognize the preciousness of it, the impermanence of it, and appreciate it and be grateful for it? Perhaps it is as simple as that?

Basho’s poem evokes appreciation for the moment, and yet longing for the moment at the same time:

Even in Kyoto—

hearing the cuckoo cry,

I long for Kyoto.

The song sparrow’s sweet, sweet greeting is here for us too.

Song Sparrow

Photo By/Credit

Rick Bohn/USFWS