Under the recent constant assault to the senses from the news, I dreamed of a cow

In the dream, I was looking at something else unfolding, when all of a sudden, everyone turned to a commotion at a not too far distance

Huge predator birds were attacking something, in a fury

I could see their wings flapping up and down

As one sees in a feeding frenzy by a coast

Then I saw a cow, injured in the hip

She moved away from the birds, but I sensed that she may not survive the attack

There were other land predators coming from a distance as well

Then she looked directly at me, and I at her

Through her gentle eyes, she was trying to convey something to me

Our eyes stayed locked for a duration, and I woke up

So saddened by the scene, especially by the look from this white with brown or black patches cow

For two days, I was mourning for this cow, and trying to collect the feelings within that look that I felt I received

In that gentleness, there is kindness, allowing, forgiving, giving, love, suffering, but overcoming suffering with allowing,

The vulnerability is clearly there, but she seems to have passed that

Just trying to convey the essence of her to me

The essence of goodness from the earth, from all that is surrounding her,

The essence of maternal love

As someone who has lived her life, and know that the end has come, and it is ok

Maybe it is also the essence of basic humanity

Which is under attack

When I meditated that morning, the look stayed with me

I gently took it into myself as much of it as I can –

It is ok to be gentle,

It is ok to be humane, to be kind, to be allowing, to be connected to the earth for all her goodness

It is ok to have space for yourself, and to give space to others

It is ok

It is ok to be myself, to be gentle to myself, to be allowing to myself

By doing so, I may taste and feel the goodness around me, more fully

This may not be in a material way, but just in an earthy, simple way

The real way

It is said that if one lowers himself enough, then he is closer to the Dao, the real essence of the universe

I mourned for the suffering of humanity

For our tendency to measure everything in our own preconceived notion

And become prisoners of our own judgement

And along the way, bring tremendous suffering to all, including ourselves

The look will stay with me for a while, if not forever

Keeping me grounded and gentle

If I can be gentle to myself, there is a higher likelihood that I can be gentle to others as well

In my very little ways, maintain humanity and dignity for all things.