I wrote the following gathas (poetry) during the Spring 2026 Engaged Buddhism Training Program offered at the Dharma Bum Temple (DBT). My favorite aspect about this training was learning how to meditate and incorporate this practice into my daily life. Having been a curious soul and a traveler around the world my entire life, I am currently at a phase where I am learning to dive deep inside my own body and mind. I see meditation as an act of self-love—spiritual growth—and a way to truly be present for others. If it weren’t for having an accountable person for mutual support in our daily meditation practice during this DBT program, I would have never been able to develop a meditation discipline.
These gathas come from my mind, body, and soul… Words based on observations during my immediate present, verses that came to mind when sitting in silence during meditation, my own distractions, and the breath as a reminder to be still. May this poetry inspire you, dear reader, in any useful way.
The Spring 2026 Sangha
In this sangha,
we are all different.
We are all one.
We give the world hope.
On Volunteering with Animals
Helping foster senior dogs,
I witness suffering.
This is not easy,
I am making a difference.
Gratitude I
Sitting down at home, meditating…
Feeling grateful for a place to sleep,
my parents laughing in the kitchen,
the sun rug that holds me strong.
Gratitude II
Sitting down in silence, being a lotus,
I make time and space to meditate.
Brown almond eyes slightly open.
Grateful for the work shoes I see,
the world does need me. I smile.
Gratitude III
Water awaits. I see it. I long to drink it.
“Focus on your breath,” a silent whisper.
Smiling softly. At peace.
Bodhi Tree at the Temple
Standing under the Dharma Bum Temple Bodhi tree,
I notice the veins on its leaves. Heart-shaped beauty!
Sunlight above, a California blue sky day.
The Temple’s Zen Garden
In this Zen garden,
quietude one breathes.
Silence is noticed,
despite the freeway 163.
No Performance, Free from Costumes
In this moment,
I don’t need to be anywhere.
I don’t have to be anything.
Performance unmasked. No costumes.
My soul is free. I simply breathe.
20 Minute Meditation
Just 20 minutes of silence.
One deep exhale, a second, a third.
My exhales have become waves.
I am the Pacific Ocean.
La lámpara
Pájaros cantando,
mañanas de primavera.
Los escucho al meditar,
sonrisa de Mona Lisa.
Giro la lámpara a mi ser,
al origen de estar viva: respirar.
**The Lamp
Birds chirping,
Spring mornings.
I hear them as I meditate,
Mona Lisa smile.
I turn the lamp inside me,
to the life origin: the breath.
***A lâmpada
Passarinhos cantando,
Manhãs de primavera.
Eu os escuto enquanto medito,
Sorriso de Mona Lisa.
Volto a lâmpada para mim,
Para a origem da vida: o respirar.
Health is happiness
Health is happiness.
I deserve nutritious food
for it feeds my mind, body, and soul.
Health is the path I love.
Hospital Hallway
Noise all around me.
A hospital gurney pushed by many.
Doors to the Emergency Department open.
Suffering all around. I see it.
Serenity inside me, I persist. I keep helping.
3 Mile Run Reflection
I ran 3 miles out in nature,
chose to then sit and meditate.
Under this tree:
Bliss is here.
Bliss is now.
Morning Drink
Drinking my hot drink in the morning,
my mother notices my hands,
same movement holding the cup as grandma.
She lives in me.
Petite Mandarine
Sitting down in silence,
slowly chewing this mandarin.
Bright orange nourishes my body.
Bright mindset to be for those around me.
Pacific Ocean Meditation
There they are, surfers riding waves.
Here I am, sitting on the sand, my back expands.
Lotus pose, hands in unison on my lap.
Another California sunset.
This moment is everything.
Confession
Confession to make:
I no longer bite my nails. Thank you, meditation!
Letting go of some anxiety, an old me sheds.
Letting in peace, I meditate.
Not a Monster
Breathing out. Annoyance is not me.
Counting my breaths. I’m not a monster.
Just one of those rare rough days.
Breathe.
April Showers
Windchime sound. Rainy night.
This is peace. This is love.
Dad yawning.
Impermanence is beauty.
Breathe.
The Fidgety Back
Breathing in, I’m breathing peace.
Breathing out, all is well.
Back slightly fidgety for the first time.
Breathe. Expand yourself.
**Eating in Peace
Happiness is eating breakfast.
Nourishing the mind and body.
I am worthy.
To enjoy… One bite of food at a time.
Paz al comer
La felicidad es desayunar.
Nutrir la mente y el cuerpo.
Mi ser lo vale.
Disfrutar, bocado a bocado.
*Special thanks to the Dharma Bum Temple for welcoming me to participate in the Spring 2026 Engaged Buddhism Training Program. I am also grateful to Brad, my daily meditation accountabilibuddy as he called us during our program, for his kindness and encouragement with our practice.
**Translations by the author, both gathas (The Lamp and Eating in Peace) were originally written in Spanish.
***Special thanks to Solimar Hillier for editing the Portuguese translation completed by Romina Espinosa.
Author: Romina Espinosa