"Interbeing" and Joy

A Young Thich Nhat Hahn 

Last July I shared a few of my spiritual beliefs with others during one of our virtual Unitarian Universalist Services. One of my core beliefs is that our lives are imbedded in an interdependent web of existence. We Unitarians are challenged with defining our own theology or world view. We are free to draw from several religious and non- religious sources and traditions.  The Buddha's teachings are one of my sources.

Thich Nhat Hahn, a global spiritual leader, poet, peace activist, and  Buddhist monk coined the word “interbeing” to emphasis the deep interrelationships between all things.  As an example of interbeing, Thich Nhat Hahn refers to a biologist named Lewis Thomas. Thomas says that our bodies are occupied by countless tiny organisms which are even more numerous than human cells. Without these tiny organisms we wouldn’t be able to think, to feel, or to speak. Furthermore according to Thomas , and I quote Thich Nhat Hahn, “The whole planet is one giant, living, breathing cell, with all its working parts linked in symbioses."  

The 95 year old Thiền Vietnamese Buddhist monk now lives in the Vietnam monastery that ordained him when he was sixteen. For years he was exiled from Vietnam. During those years, he established Plum Village, an engaged Buddhist community in France, that now has two monasteries in the United States and others throughout the world. On November 11th, 2014, a month after his 88th birthday and following several months of rapidly declining health, Thich Nhat Hanh suffered a severe stroke. Although he is still unable to speak, and is paralyzed on the right side, he is an inspiration through his peaceful and courageous presence.  Learn more about him: follow this link. 

Autumn especially reminds me of how all beings are interconnected on this breathing Earth and I include sandhill cranes. This one plus a mate and a chick visited Wingra Park across the street from our apartment.  One morning while doing the qigong "crane" movement on our apartment deck, two flew overhead ---human being connected with crane.

 Sara Burr, a Wisconsinite, points out how the cranes are now "markers of the season" in her poem Almost Extinct Once. 

Above us twenty-six red-capped cranes fly 

soundlessly except for the noise of air 

responding to the heave of their wings,

and to their low slide across the sky, teaching 

their juveniles sky-dives and graceful glides. 

Once almost vanished, now a marker of the season, 

the cranes of Dane County depart at dusk 

from their feeding fields, where leavings 

from the harvests are lavish. A village of fellows 

flap and splash about their soggy marsh, 

welcome arrivals.

During October evenings as the sunset

 trails its ruddy fingers along the planet's edge,

 a growing cast in the long grass wetland hoots and rattles, 

gabs with incoming families of three or four and flocks

 of twenty-six or more. The deafening noise of nature vibrates 

through the neighborhood like an alleluia evensong. 

The assembly grows large by November, hundreds 

gather here for their communal journey south, then, leaving

 silence, depart well before harsh winter ice hardens the bog.

While tending Prospect Gardens I often sense  interbeing, as when I reconnected with this friendly black cat. Blackie came sauntering down the dirt section of Prospect Avenue towards the Gardens, tail straight up and meowing a loud "HELLO."  We last met in the Fall of 2020. 

I returned the greeting as Blackie approached for  pets, belly rubs, and ear rubs; all received with pleasant purring. Blackie followed me down the steps where Ann, my wife, was weeding. After receiving more pets from Ann, Blackie continued on his way, tail still straight up. I hope we meet again before winter sets in. Until then, be well.

A few weeks ago, as Ann B. and I were finishing tending the Gardens, we connected with Courtney. Here she is, pausing as she picks up the plant material from Prospect Gardens. Shortly after taking the picture, her team member arrived to assist.  

Courtney is with Madison's City Engineering Division. After each work session, I email her "boss" Ryan for a pick up. Thank you Ryan, Courtney and others who provide these needed pickups. The prompt and efficient extra service is greatly appreciated. 

A shout out to two other City Engineering Staff, Carissa and Maddie. I value our connections and your advice and support freely given over these many years. Thank you. 

Carissa is a landscape architect and Maddie is the Greenway Vegetation Coordinator. Both have major responsibilities for the many green spaces throughout the city. These include rain gardens and the plantings in traffic islands designed to slow down street traffic.

Maddie was instrumental in creating the recently installed Roger Bannerman Memorial Rain Garden across from the intersection of Virginia Terrace and the Southwest Path. Roger, an urban water quality expert for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, championed rain gardens to address flooding and managing rain runoff. Roger pointed out the inter-connections between rain gardens and managing rain runoff, especially during major flooding such as the one that hit Madison in 2018. Many Madisonians held their breath during that flood and filled sandbags as record breaking rain fell, which flooded streets, businesses and basements.  Roger and his wife had three rain gardens in their backyard. The Bannerman’s basement, unlike their neighbors’ basements, did not flood. 

 

Like rain gardens, Prospect Gardens and other prairie gardens along the Southwest Path, maintained by volunteers, are part of a web of inter-dependent connections. Earth, human beings, plants, insects, wildlife, rain, and Lake Wingra are all linked.  Reestablished prairie remnants beautify the earth along the Southwest Path corridor while reinforcing human connections among the volunteers. Prairie plants, with their complex root systems, help reduce rain water runoff from reaching Lake Wingra. Water remains at the sites and pollutants are filtered out by the plants' roots. Migrating butterflies, like this yellow tail, take refuge in the prairies along with monarch butterflies.

 I spotted the yellow tail feeding on Joe Pye weed while walking through Prospect Gardens on a serene late summer day. This prairie plant is the offspring of one received, at least ten years ago, from friends Gary and Jane.  

 Gary and I taught social studies at West Bend West High School during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Gary and Jane were avid gardeners before moving from their home into a senior living complex near West Bend. Their gardens won several community awards. Daughter Jenny is now the avid gardener with bountiful gardens surrounding her home.  Human connections continue to be replenished because of plants. 

Preparing Prospect Gardens for the winter on October 2nd provided more opportunities to feel interbeing. Badger fans streamed by on their way to Camp Randall for the Michigan game, as fifteen volunteers weeded, cut back plants and began thinning out some that are aggressive, such as the tall saw tooth daises. Their large brilliant yellow flowers in early Fall are beautiful. Yet saw tooth daisies are not good neighbors because they grow fast and crowd out other plants. Thinning them is needed to have diversity.  

While preparing the Gardens, connections were made with these seven freshmen from West High. Starting at left side of the top row is Zoe, Lila and Jerry. Sitting in the middle row and starting on the left are Goan, Daniel and Isabelle. Belisma has the bottom row. All but Lila are Leo Club members. Thank you very much.

Thank you Club Advisor Tessa also for renewing our connections. Several times last season club members, now graduates, helped tend the Gardens.  

You all worked hard before and after a break during which all enjoyed Ann B's homemade cheesecake squares. Sorry Goan about the encounter with stinging nettles. My recovery took almost 24 hours and included taking antihistamine. 

Stinging nettles can be both nasty and beneficial. As I took a break from writing this blog and I walked  through Prospect Gardens, I met Andy for the first time.  He was harvesting stinging nettles, anticipating filling the large wooden woven basket strapped on his back.  I learned that during the Fall, stinging nettles have a "flush" of new growth. Andy picks the new leaves as well as the tops of mature plants and uses them in recipes.  Andy assured me that blanching the leaves removes the chemicals that cause stinging. His family favorites include lasagna layered with nettles and other wild plants and creamy nettle soup. Andy brews tea from the tops of mature plants.    Here's a link to a soup recipe for the adventuresome.

Here's Lila and Belisma on a break from cutting back the false indigo. They are best friends. Robert Frost's famous poem still captures the sweet spirit of friendship. While working I am sure Lila and Belisma took time to talk.

  A Time To Talk

When a friend calls to me from the road

And slows his horse to a meaning walk,

I don't stand still and look around

On all the hills I haven't hoed,

And shout from where I am, 'What is it?'

No, not as there is a time to talk.

I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,

Blade-end up and five feet tall,

And plod: I go up to the stone wall

For a friendly visit.

Ann N. gives a wave as she loads the wheel barrel. Ann is a long time volunteer. Ann brought four dormant Columbines which we planted with hopes they bloom next Spring. Last Fall, Ann provided Columbine seeds which I wintered and planted in early Spring. None came up and I don't really know why.  

Behind Ann N. is Erica who lives a few blocks from the Gardens. This was Erica's first time volunteering. Bill C. was another first timer. Ann R. and her husband, Mark, returned for another time, as well as Jody. The band on Mark's watch broke and after searching for it, we thought it was lost.  After Mark and Ann left, the watch appeared, to my surprise, while I was raking up cut material.  A small event worthy of celebrating. 

Thank you Ann N., Bill, Ann R., Mark, Erica, and Jody. May our connections continue.

Spending time with the West High freshman caused me to recall the friends I made in high school that are life long friends. These early connections have stood the test of time. 

Here's me as a freshman and the year is 1958. I am the tall skinny kid in the center of this class officer picture. Crew cuts were still in style and I had mine until the Beatles arrived on the scene. 

As vice-president, I can't recall what I really did. Probably not much. I remember my classmates Lester and Gary, my lifetime friends. I roomed with Lester and Gary when we all attended UW-Madison. Lester and I arrived in Madison in his 1957 two-tone green Chevy with some apprehension mixed with excitement.

Before attending Madison, we commuted daily to the then UW-Madison two year center in Green Bay. We all lived at home. I recall one trip when Gary was driving a beat up car with very rusty floors in the back seats. A Beatle song was blaring on the radio and I was keeping the beat by stomping on those rusty floors. Gary shouted to quit stomping or my foot would go through those weakened floor boards.

Gary, his wife, Kathy, and Lester and his friend, Eunice, will be with Ann and I for this year's UW Homecoming. Joining us will be my brother Lou, and his wife, Corine, and hopefully my brother Tom and his wife, Todd. Tom had hip surgery in August. We did not celebrate the 2020 Homecoming because of the pandemic. This year will be special as we restart the decades long tradition of celebrating our alma mater, friendship, and family ties.

Sensing "interbeing", as it manifests through friendship, family ties or tending gardens can also include experiencing joy. I offer for your contemplation this poem about joy by Hafiz, a 14th century Persian poet. Thanks Kate for posting this on your front yard pedestal.

Created for Joy

I sometimes forget
that I was created for Joy.

My mind is too busy.
My Heart is too heavy
for me to remember
that I have been
called to dance
the Sacred dance of life.

I was created to smile
To Love
To be lifted up
And to lift others up.

O’ Sacred One
Untangle my feet
from all that ensnares.
Free my soul.
That we might
Dance
and that our dancing
might be contagious.

May you find yourself dancing as the trees change color, the cranes migrate, and the purple aster flowers of Prospect Gardens become brown seeds that will feed birds during the winter. Blessed be. 

  

  

A Time To Talk

By Robert Frost more Robert Frost

When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don't stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven't hoed,
And shout from where I am, 'What is it?'
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/a-time-to-talk-by-robert-frost

A Time To Talk

By Robert Frost more Robert Frost

When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don't stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven't hoed,
And shout from where I am, 'What is it?'
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/a-time-to-talk-by-robert-frost

A Time To Talk

By Robert Frost more Robert Frost

When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don't stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven't hoed,
And shout from where I am, 'What is it?'
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/a-time-to-talk-by-robert-frost