Just a Box of Rain

October 25, 2024: Phil Lesh, legendary Grateful Dead bass player, consummate musical visionary, and family member passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family.

Box of Rain

Look out of any window
Any morning, any evening, any day
Maybe the sun is shining
Birds are winging, no rain is falling from a heavy sky
What do you want me to do
To do for you to see you through?
For this is all a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago

Walk out of any doorway
Feel your way like the day before
Maybe you’ll find direction
Around some corner where it’s been waiting to meet you
What do you want me to do
To watch for you while you’re sleeping?
Then please don’t be surprised when you find me dreaming too

Look into any eyes
You find by you; you can see clear to another day
Maybe been seen before
Through other eyes on other days while going home
What do you want me to do
To do for you to see you through?
It’s all a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago

Walk into splintered sunlight
Inch your way through dead dreams to another land
Maybe you’re tired and broken
Your tongue is twisted with words half spoken and thoughts unclear
What do you want me to do
To do for you, to see you through?
A box of rain will ease the pain and love will see you through

Just a box of rain, wind and water
Believe it if you need it, if you don’t just pass it on
Sun and shower, wind and rain
In and out the window like a moth before a flame

And it’s just a box of rain, I don’t know who put it there
Believe it if you need it or leave it if you dare
And it’s just a box of rain, or a ribbon for your hair
Such a long, long time to be gone and a short time to be there

Kinda says it all, doesn’t it?

Phil’s song Box of Rain is perhaps one of the greatest Zen sutras ever written, in my “Gratefully-saturated-Zen-Dead” opinion. It speaks me of truth, joy, comfort and hope as it would to anyone who listens with their heart. Box of Rain has offered its gift to me throughout my life in times of sadness, hopelessness, confusion, melancholy and times of longing and heartache.

But most of it all it remains an anthem to taking things as-it-is, turning your face to the light though the shadow may remain upon you. To me it is a profound testament to glimmering hope, inner vision, strength, oneness and the transience of all things, especially this life we live.

Phil, one more musical prophet has joined the Angel Band…Such a long, long time to be gone and a short time to be there. We’re glad you’re there.

So click on the link and give a listen for yourself…and for Phil.

_{Deep Peace & Great-ful Love}

_Issan

SCHEDULE 10/27-11/2

FRIDAY: 6:30am, Zazen, Dokusan and Service, Issan Sensei

Noah’s offering

My mind has been disturbed as of late

This great swing of yes clarity oh yay this 

To 

What am I doing!?!

And then this morning 

As I found my breath cooking oatmeal on the stove

I saw the bubbles pop up

So gentle so cute!

I don’t know much about wonder 

But I am seeing

Humor 

And how the tragic and the comic may live within the other

And how the little boy and girl dressed as pumpkin and Minnie Mouse 

Sitting next to me on the subway

Can be like a tickle or a sun slipped celebration 

Making that dark tunnel rejoice for a brief just right

Moment in the day

…and he sent a video:

Title: Asking for help from spirit

Alternative title: You are four and you want your mom to pick you up.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kGFpHVi0uYqx6wI4r0a7G6eMVh6olx2O/view