The great corn arrives. 
The child-rain arrives. 
In a way of beauty arrives. 
Grasshopper arrives. 
From the west arrives. 
Vegetation arrives. 
Pollen arrives. 
In a way of beauty arrives.

Diné 
(Navajo)

turtle

Kanakacchapa-Sutta:

"At one time, the Buddha addressed the disciples thus: 'There is, O Bhikkhus, in the ocean a turtle, both of whose eyes are blind. He plunges into the water of the unfathomable ocean and swims about incessantly in any direction wherever his head may lead. There is also in the ocean the yoke of a cart which is ceaselessly floating about on the surface of the water, and is carried away in all directions by tide, current and wind. Thus these two go on throughout an incalculable space of time: perchance it happens that in the course of time the yoke arrives at the precise place and time where and when the turtle puts up his head, and yokes on to it. Now, O Bhikkhus, is it possible that such a time might come as is said?' 'In ordinary truth, O Lord,' replied the Bhikkhus 'it is impossible; but time being so spacious, and an aeon lasting so long, it may be admitted that perhaps at some time or other it might be possible for the two to yoke together, as said; if the blind tortoise lives long enough, and the yoke does not tend to rot and break up before such a coincidence comes to pass.'

Then the Buddha said, 'O Bhikkhus, the occurence of such a strange thing is not to be counted a difficult one; for there is still a greater, a harder, a hundred times, a thousand times more difficult than this lying hidden from your knowledge. And what is this? It is, O Bhikkhus, the obtaining of the opportunity of becoming a man again by a man who has expired and is reborn once in any of the four realms of misery. The occurrence of the yoking of the blind tortoise is not worth thinking of as a difficult occurrence in comparison therewith. Because those who perform good deeds and abstain from doing bad alone can obtain the existence of men and Devas. The beings in the four miserable worlds cannot discern what is virtuous and what vicious, what good and what bad, what moral and what immoral, what meritorious and what demeritorious, and consequently they live a life of immorality and demerit, tormenting one another with all their power. Those creatures of the Niraya and Peta abode in particular, live a very miserable life on account of punishments and torments which they experience with sorrow, pain and distress. Therefore, O Bhikkhus, the opportunity of being reborn in the abode of men is a hundred times, a thousand times harder to obtain than the encountering of the blind turtle with the yoke."

DEEP EARTH TIME

The Turtle Hill Sangha is a small group of Nyingmapa householders living in the hills of southern - middle Tennessee. There are currently only a handful of us. We occupy a small rural valley, and share approximately 100 adjacent acres.  Turtle Hill was established in 1989 in order to gain the benefits associated with studying and practicing the Buddhadharma in community. Most of us have been associated in one form or another for over 30 years, but the sangha was formed in the late 1980's when a group of seven took buddhist refuge vows...

DEEPER ROOTS

---

The freedoms and favorable conditions are extremely difficult to obtain...

This retreat in the wilderness,
 like summer in a lush place where herbs grow -
If I don't remain here, there is no way 
for good qualities to be born.

When high up in the mountains, 
don't wander back into black towns.

May I truly practice the sublime teachings. 

 If I must do something, 
 may Buddha's teaching bear it witness.

If I must do something,
mix mindstream and dharma.

If I must accomplish something,
 read the life stories of past masters.

What's the use of other things? Spoiled brat!

Take a low seat and become rich with contentment.

 Try hard to get free of the eight worldly concerns. 

-His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche
 
 

TURTLE HILL SANGHA