Uncaged

Have you ever watched the little marsh pheasant?

It will caper ten times

for a little peck of grain.

It will bustle one hundred steps

for a single sip of water

Yet despite all that effort

does she ever seek the confines of the chicken coop?

Does she ever long for the hedges of the hen run?

Even though such a life

would perhaps,

provide all the comforts and conveniences

she might possibly desire —

set out before her —

every day —

the little marsh pheasant would rather run free

living out her days naturally —

without interference —

without distortion —

freely expressing her own essential nature —

the unique manifestation of her own innate

“pheasant-ness”

—

exploring her own pure potentiality

experiencing the pure, simple joy and wonder of Life

just as it is…

u

n

c

a

g

e

d

May your every breath be Infinite, Ineffable Light, Love and Wisdom

Not two

/|\

— an adaptation of a teaching from the Zhuāngzǐ, attributed to 4th century BCE philosopher and teacher, Zhuāngzǐ (Master Zhuang) 莊子