Saturday 31 December 2011

THE SAME OLD SUN IN A BRAND NEW YEAR


The same old sun shines in the morning 


As the same old sky still covers the sea


The same old mind watches the heavens


As the same old heart still yearns to be free


It’s the same old memory that keeps me going


As the same old soul still seeks happiness


It’s the same old life that flashes before me


As the same old clock still ticks away


Yet, wake up! It’s a brand new year today!

Monday 26 December 2011

BONE ASH


Bone ash, spreading in the winter breeze 


Bone ash, feeding the forest trees 


Bone ash is all you are!


Bone ash, is all I''ll become 


Bone ash;   all our pleasant memories!


Bone ash; the pain of all your miseries!


Bone ash; our hope and trust !


Bone ash; our love, lost to the dust!


Bone ash;  the final reality 


Bone ash; our humble eternity!

Friday 23 December 2011

CARES AND TROUBLES


Be thou beware! Oh awakening mind

Of cares are troubles that you will find

With newfound wisdom you may engage the world

But untold cares and troubles, often unfold


Oh searching soul! These cares and trouble are of many a kind

Differing strategies, just to sabotage the mind

Some cares and troubles, are rid by insight

And,  some are rid by restraint

Some cares and troubles, are rid by use

And,  some are rid by endurance

Some cares and troubles are rid by avoidance

And some are rid by dispersal, and some by cultivation

Such are the cares and troubles of differing kinds

The ones that sink, the even so slightly distracted minds



Oh diligent mind! What are the cares and troubles got rid by reflection and insight?

As, reflections may be unwise, or reflections may be wise

So are its fruits of this very device

 Reflecting unwisely, on self and its self-importance

Cares and troubles, that have not yet risen, rise and, those risen, increase.

Ideas of self, and its self importance, entangle in opinions and views

A jungle of views and a wilderness of views

Enmeshed in the net of overwhelming views  

The broth of sorrow and suffering, readily brews

However, reflecting wisely on the selflessness and humility

And insight into the dependently rising curtain of reality

Cares and troubles that had not yet arisen, never rise and, those risen, vanish

Such are the cares and troubles, got rid by reflection and insight



Oh diligent mind!   What are the cares and troubles got rid by restraint?

Senses without moderation

Indulgence without self-control

Seeing and hearing without moderation

Speaking and acting without restraint

Such are the cares and troubles got rid by restraint!



OH diligent mind! What are the cares and troubles got rid by use!

Foods for sustenance and not for pleasure

Medication for pain and not for intoxication

Material goods for necessity and not for greed

Talents and skills developed out of duty and not for pride

Such are the cares and troubles got rid by use!


OH diligent mind! What are the cares and troubles got rid by endurance?

Torpor and sloth, when they overwhelm you

Lust and desire, when they distort your senses

Heat and cold, hunger and thirst, when your goal lies is beyond them

Hurtful language, for the sake of compassion

Inevitable suffering by the virtue of acceptance

Such are the cares and troubles got rid by endurance!



Oh diligent mind!   What are the cares and troubles got rid by avoidance?

Places that preclude, unwholesome deeds

People and company who make you crave for unwanted needs  

Actions that foster unhealthy habits

Habits that produce unwholesome consequences

Such are the cares and troubles got rid by avoidance



Oh diligent mind!   What are the cares and troubles got rid by dismissal?

Dismissing unwholesome thoughts

Not tolerating, rejecting, and  discarding,   all thinking that leads to hatred or violence.

Not tolerating, rejecting and destroying, thoughts of lust, greed and delusion  

Such are the cares and troubles got rid by dismissal!



Oh diligent mind! What are the cares and troubles got rid by cultivation!

 Nurturing and practicing,  attention and detachment

 Avoiding passion controlled actions

 Learning to desist, overpowering impulses
 
 Understanding suffering and joy; calmness, and concentration

Thus cultivating mindfulness

Such are cares and troubles got rid by cultivation!



Oh diligent mind! Now I fathom the wisdom of the years

Some cares and troubles, are rid by insight, restraint and use  

And some are rid by endurance and avoidance

Some are rid by dispersal and some by cultivation

Such are the cares and troubles got rid by wisdom

Having rid off all such cares and troubles

The illusion of self and its inherent craving fall apart

The Truth beyond the self, reveals itself ;and  suffering finally stops

Oh diligent mind!  Awakened thus ! What more is enlightenment! 

Tuesday 20 December 2011

SLOTHFUL SLUMBER


Dawn has broken; and the morning sun stretches his rays


The clouds and sky brighten, and the early birds seek their prey


But I am still asleep!


Asleep in my slothful slumber!


Did I not know, last night?    

                                                                      
That the morning was just due!


Did I not learn, from every other day of my life?


That, there is a day that follows even the darkest night


And, there is light at the end of every tunnel


Why then, do I sink into a lazy slumber?


Why then, do I sleep, when I should be singing?


Singing the melody of the morning sky!


Why then,  do I doze, when should be dancing!


Dancing to the tune of the humming breeze!


Oh lazy soul of mine


Wake up and set yourself free! 

Sunday 18 December 2011

EMPYREAL MANIFESTATION


Oh empyreal one; of mystery and awe!
                                                                                 
I have been longing for even  a glimpse of  your shadow

I have traveled the seven seas, and scaled up mighty mountains

Yet, I find you no where, in the world outside!

Oh mysterious one!

How can I seek you, when you are hidden!
Hidden behind my thoughts, and blinded eyes!

Hidden to foolish woes and cries!

Lost in this futile search for your external presence

My fatigued eyes close, and my lonesome heart sinks

With dawning humility, my pointless ego finally shrinks

And at this very moment!

You manifest your mysterious self!

My enlightened senses turn inward

Inward to the beauty of this wondrous manifestation

And in this light of your manifest formlessness 

How can I not, but see you in everything!

Everything in the universe outside! 

As my inner eyes finally open!

Finally open,  to the dawn of the inner light!

When the sun doesn’t shine and the moon doesn’t rise

When there is darkness everywhere

This inner light is that, which forever shines

Shining and manifesting as your magnificence

Shining and manifesting as your presence

Oh empyreal one; of mystery and awe

Make me a manifestation of you!

Monday 12 December 2011

ECLIPSED MOONSHINE


There is silence in the sky as the dark shadows capture the silver moonshine


As the dark hands of the lurid earth, overpowers the tender glow of the full moon

                                              
Darkness fills the sky and clouds moan; as they watch the moon's futile struggle


In this unholy union of moonshine and shadow; an eclipse is born!


As the night passes, the contented earth is moved by pity and regret 


Overcome by  shame, he moves away abashedly; leaving but  a dark sighing moon!


As the reborn moon creeps from the dark clutches of the earth’s shadow


She smiles in relief and joy, and the sky brightens to her moonshine!


Far below , the oceans rise and rejoice as they greet the moon’s return


Lovers hold their hands in union, and the little birds chirp. as they fly towards the radiant sky 


The lonely tree, glows in the luminescent moonshine 


Oh ! How beautiful!

How beautiful is this moonshine !

MUSICAL FOUNTAIN


Within the silent wilderness of the lonesome mind


Beyond the mountains of words, and the deserts of ideas


There is an ethereal oasis with a musical fountain!

                                            
A musical fountain of everlasting love!


As my drought struck soul, drinks from this heavenly fountain of musical love


 Music fills my heart, and my soul overflows with love


And the love transforms my menial existence!


Yet, overwhelmed by the divinity of the  music; I cannot sing it‘s symphony!


 My lips, cannot but tremble in humility; though my heart beats to its tune


My ideas collapse, as I grapple to fathom its limitless expanse


My words crumble to its  meaning and  magnificence


My soul glows in the light of love and music; yet, I am so helpless!


Oh Musical fountain of everlasting love!


How do I sing your sacred symphony?


Thursday 8 December 2011

UNEXPECTED RAIN


The sudden thunder awakens me from my sunny slumber
 

The storm clouds greet me by the dark and lonely sky


Startling rain drops drench me with surprise


Where was the voice of  thunder during those long summer nights?


Where were the embracing clouds when the earth and sky were barren?


Where were the raindrops when I thirsty in the wilderness ? 


Now that my struggle is over; they greet me with a rainy smile! 


When I no longer need the rain to sustain me and my pointless existence! 


I no longer wither and wilt, without raindrops to moisten my heart!


I no longer wait longingly  for the coming of the monsoon clouds


Yet, like an unexpected visitor the rain has come


Without knocking on my door , he had drenched me!


Without asking me, he had brought home the dark rainy clouds


Now that I am drenched, now that they have come


What am I to do; but to welcome them with wide open arms? 


What am to serve them :except the emptiness of my soul?

Tuesday 6 December 2011

PICTURE FRAMES AND MEMORIES


Picture frames and memories


Hopes, smiles and miseries


Of love, loss and emptiness


The eternal pursuit of happiness


Of dreams and visions that only shatter!


Life and meaning; that don’t really matter!


With bonded chains of attachment


A life free of detachment


Can  selfless frames without memory


Be free from life, and its misery? 

DON'T SLEEP TONIGHT


Don’t  sleep tonight; oh lazy mind!


The night is young and the stars are bright


The journey is  long; with no path in sight


Lost and lonely, in the wilderness of the mind


Peace and happiness, will you ever find?


The eastern sun may rise again tomorrow


But will you be awake to see it?


So tonight’s all you have; Oh blessed mind!


So Strive on with diligence;


 Till the sweetness of the  fountain of  love  overwhelms you


Strive on with diligence


Oh lazy mind!  Don’t sleep tonight!



Monday 5 December 2011

LOTUS OF MY HEART


Let the lotus of my heart blossom with love


Let me flower! Flower to the warmth of the morning sun


Let me dance! Dance to the tune of the rippling waves


Let me spread! Spread compassion with my embracing roots


Let me rise! Rise above the murkiness of my mind


Let me fill! Fill the empty sky with Love’s ecstatic fragrance  


Let the lotus of my heart blossom and shine


Let me blossom with everlasting love!


Sunday 4 December 2011

MIRAGES ON AN EMPTY MASK


Mirages appearing to and an empty mask

Who watches who, when no one does the task

No doer nor done; no feeler no felt

No player to play, the card that is dealt

If so great soul! Who is it asking, who am I?

In this world sans intentional stance

Does “self” perform a delusional dance?

Zombies marching on fate’s unfortunate belt

Or deluded bubbles trapped in their own Umwelt

But epiphenomenal fools can we be? 

Yet beyond the semiospheres do we ever see?

Problems such of agency

Free will, Soul, and clemency

Can we but wonder!


With bubble brains and divisive thought



Can we  see beyond our  inherent blunder?  


As no single word can spell the truth

And no single tree can bear a composite fruit

No divisions can describe the interdependent whole

No Components and parts can make a unitary soul  

Thus Life, magic and consciousness

Are but illusions clarified by emptiness

Biases of completeness and sufficiency

Blinded to the blind spot efficiently  

Thus are the illusions of self and sentience!

Mirages playing on the blank  screen of emptiness!  

Life, magic and consciousness!





Thursday 1 December 2011

LONESOME TREE


A lonesome tree, by  the desert plain


Left to the winds; in the wait for the rain


In dried up sorrow, and leafy tears


For better fortunes; hopes and fears


Violent gales, in a stormy weather


Hateful heat; at the verge to whither


Yet rooted to ground reality ; you silently hold on !


Nourished by life’s essence, that you have found


In Compassionate water; deep to the rocky ground!


With flexible shoots that, bend and heed


Perennial springs that, lovingly feed


And mighty roots gripping the grounded truth


No one can shake you !


Neither storms nor floods can change your course


No droughts can dry you up with remorse


Oh lonesome tree by the desert plain!

  
How mighty is your resilience!