Full Moon upon the Water: My Tattoo

I got the idea for my tattoo from The Tao of the Jump Shot by John Fitzsimmons Mahony and Bill Walton. Their chapter The Moon in the Water had an image of the Chinese characters for moon and water. I had always wanted to get a tattoo and had been looking for something to go on both sides of my ankle. It was perfect and the meaning was good too. The chapter focused on being in a state of readiness in life and while playing basketball. When the moon appears in the sky the water reflects it instantly just as it is. Over time I felt the meaning was to see life as it is not how you want it to be.

After I got the tattoo I found the following poem.

Each night, I gaze upon a pond,
A Zen body sitting beside a moon.
Nothing is really there, and yet
It is all so clear and bright.
I cannot describe it.
If you would know the empty mind,
Your own mind must be as clear and bright
As this full moon upon the water.

--Chiao Jan

It kind of says the same thing, but has more depth to it in a very Buddhist kind of way.

I was twenty-seven when I got my tattoo. At thirty-two I became a Christian. Even though I had changed my entire philosophy on life I never regretted (and still do not) having my tattoo. It serves as a reminder to me and an illustration to others of where I came from and how I got to where I am with Jesus. It has opened many doors to have conversations about God with people.

While reading the poem above the other day I realized it has a similar feel to my favorite verse in the bible.

Be still, and know that I am God.
--Psalm 46:10

I believe all truth is God’s truth. That does not mean that there can be no truth outside of Christianity. I bow to your Buddha nature my fellow travelers. May God bless you and keep you.