Theos-Talk Archives (February 2005 Message tt00711)

SMOKEY THE BEAR SUTRA
BY GARY SNYDER
Once in the Jurassic about 150 million years ago, the Great Sun 
Buddha in this corner of the Infinite Void gave a discourse to all 
the assembled elements and energies: to the standing beings, the 
walking beings, the flying beings, and the sitting beings--even the 
grasses, to the number of thirteen billion, each one born from a 
seed, assembled there: a Discourse concerning Enlightenment on the 
planet Earth.

"In some future time, there will be a continent called America. It 
will have great centers of power called such as Pyramid Lake, Walden 
Pond, Mt. Rainier, Big Sur, Everglades, and so forth; and powerful 
nerves and channels such as Columbia River, Mississippi River, and 
Grand Canyon. The human race in that era will get into troubles all 
over its head, and practically wreck everything in spite of its own 
strong intelligent Buddha-nature."

"The twisting strata of the great mountains and the pulsings of 
volcanoes are my love burning deep in the earth. My obstinate 
compassion is schist and basalt and granite, to be mountains, to 
bring down the rain. In that future American Era I shall enter a new 
form; to cure the world of loveless knowledge that seeks with blind 
hunger: and mindless rage eating food that will not fill it."

And he showed himself in his true form of

SMOKEY THE BEAR
A handsome smokey-colored brown bear standing on his hind legs, 
showing that he is aroused and watchful.

Bearing in his right paw the Shovel that digs to the truth beneath 
appearances; cuts the roots of useless attachments, and flings damp 
sand on the fires of greed and war;

His left paw in the mudra of Comradely Display--indicating that all 
creatures have the full right to live to their limits and that of 
deer, rabbits, chipmunks, snakes, dandelions, and lizards all grow in 
the realm of the Dharma;

Wearing the blue work overalls symbolic of slaves and laborers, the 
countless men oppressed by a civilization that claims to save but 
often destroys;

Wearing the broad-brimmed hat of the west, symbolic of the forces 
that guard the wilderness, which is the Natural State of the Dharma 
and the true path of man on Earth:

all true paths lead through mountains--

With a halo of smoke and flame behind, the forest fires of the kali-
yuga, fires caused by the stupidity of those who think things can be 
gained and lost whereas in truth all is contained vast and free in 
the Blue Sky and Green Earth of One Mind;

Round-bellied to show his kind nature and that the great earth has 
food enough for everyone who loves her and trusts her;

Trampling underfoot wasteful freeways and needless suburbs, smashing 
the worms of capitalism and totalitarianism;

Indicating the task: his followers, becoming free of cars, houses, 
canned foods, universities, and shoes, master the Three Mysteries of 
their own Body, Speech, and Mind; and fearlessly chop down the rotten 
trees and prune out the sick limbs of this country America and then 
burn the leftover trash.

Wrathful but calm. Austere but Comic. Smokey the Bear will Illuminate 
those who would help him; but for those who would hinder or slander 
him...

HE WILL PUT THEM OUT.
Thus his great Mantra:

Namah samanta vajranam chanda maharoshana Sphataya hum traka ham mam

"I DEDICATE MYSELF TO THE UNIVERSAL DIAMOND BE THIS RAGING FURY BE 
DESTROYED"

And he will protect those who love the woods and rivers, Gods and 
animals, hobos and madmen, prisoners and sick people, musicians, 
playful women, and hopeful children:

And if anyone is threatened by advertising, air pollution, 
television, or the police, they should chant SMOKEY THE BEAR'S WAR 
SPELL:

DROWN THEIR BUTTS
CRUSH THEIR BUTTS
DROWN THEIR BUTTS
CRUSH THEIR BUTTS
And SMOKEY THE BEAR will surely appear to put the enemy out with his 
vajra-shovel.

Now those who recite this Sutra and then try to put it in practice 
will accumulate merit as countless as the sands of Arizona and Nevada.

Will help save the planet Earth from total oil slick.
Will enter the age of harmony of man and nature.
Will win the tender love and caresses of men, women, and beasts.
Will always have ripened blackberries to eat and a sunny spot under a 
pine tree to sit at.


AND IN THE END WILL WIN HIGHEST PERFECT ENLIGHTENMENT

...thus we have heard...

(may be reproduced free forever)