Monday, February 27, 2006

Kabir

all your life
you spoke of
harmony
peace
unity

yet
you had to
transform
your body
into flowers

that
disciples
divide you
bury you
burn you.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Ignoramus and Master

“O Master, this Alien troubles me so!”

“Come, Ignoramus tell me what bothers you?”

“The Alien is asking me to think. You know how difficult it is to think. It is so easy to follow others.”

“Yes, but it is good to think sometimes. What does he say?”

“He asks me, ‘What do Earth people regard as most valuable? Why?’ I don’t even know who I am, why I am. How can I answer all these questions?”

“Alright, tell me how do you know that you are?”

“I have this body. You can see that.”

“Only a body?”

“Oh well, I have a mind too”

“What about joy, fear, anger...”

“Ok, emotions too”

“What about sudden insights?”

“You mean those “Oh yes!” moments when everything falls into place. When, even I understand.”

“Yes, your perception in action”

“And what makes you seek all these answers?”

“My spirit?”

“And what makes you unique? You know there is no one exactly like you, never was, nor will be.”

“My essence?”

“Yes.”

“So I have a body, mind, emotions, perception, spirit and essence?”

“Yes. We speak of these attributes for analysis and better understanding. They act in unison. They change, grow in time.”

“I understand.”

“Later we may talk of more attributes. Now go and think about spirit and perception.”

“Me, Ignoramus? Think!?!?!”

Friday, February 17, 2006

i?

i watch
winds dance
oceans surge unbound
suns glow
earths hum
skies stream through me.

i am within
i am without.
i am nothing
i am everything.
i am nowhere
i am everywhere.

i?

Thursday, February 16, 2006

consciousness

oh Lord, take my
body away.
it is too small
to hold me now.

Monday, February 13, 2006

Buddha

O Wise one!
Why are your eyes half closed?
Can they not bear to see
the pain, the folly, the suffering?

O Serene one!
O Bodhisattva!
Why do your lips still smile?
Has your spirit moved beyond all?

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

business at ten

he weaves
dense traffic

on his
hand driven
tricycle

to sell
bright sachets

that he may
eat once
at nightfall.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

boundaries

we draw boundaries
around ourselves.
bodies
minds
souls.
i can not do this.
this is beyond me.

we draw boundaries of
class
caste
color
ethos
culture
ethnicity
nation
gender
language
race
region
religion.

we adore boundaries.
why!??
for they make us feel so
safe?
superior?
secure?
in our tiny cocoons?