I may not, but I do....

I may not always believe you all the time
but,
all the time I do believe in you

I may not always trust what you say
but,
all the time I do trust in you

I may not feel good sometimes when you are around
but,
all the time I do feel good to have you around

Beyond polarities and judgements is a place where we meet
but,
without resistance enjoy each other for a while

Beyond words is every experience which embodies profound paradoxes

with neutrality I always see them both,
but,
in my humanness,
I may not be as neutral to both
favoring one more than the other,
but,
now I know that I am
consciously favoring one and not the other

What I wanted was right there...

All I ever wanted was peace and harmony
Little did I realize that it was right there within me
All I needed to do was to appreciate
the other, and
the disharmony and chaos
as the keys for my own growth

When I walked the river trail before
there was much tumult everywhere
sensations, thoughts and feelings
waters flowing
birds chattering
predators preying
wind blowing the leaves
bees humming all around

Now the trail is still the same
sensations, thoughts and feelings
waters flowing
birds chattering
predators preying
wind blowing the leaves
bees humming all around
but it all happens on a fabric of peace
on a backdrop of stillness
in a vast space of silence

Everything is the same but perhaps not

An enchanting Sunrise this morning

Grey skies greet this frosty morning
but for a fleeting moment
edges of rain clouds turn reddish orange
as if blushing to see the Sun awaken
but for a fleeting moment
the reddish orange yellow hues
become diffuse hiding the source
then a downpour  with many layered sounds
of raindrops kissing the earth
warmth of the glow infuses and diffuses in every drop
tiny sparrow seeks shelter under the eaves
beloved's joy dances in the entirety
smell of rain radiates from parched grounds
the heart quietly sips this lovemaking
but for a fleeting moment
an enchanted Sunrise gives way to the day ahead
knowing full well that clouds come and go
but the sky remains

इन्सानियत की बात

निकल पड़ा था मै घर से 

ढूँढने अपना भगवान

दिखी सड़क पर मेरी इन्सानियत

दबी हुई कूड़े के नीचे

नज़र चुरा के मैं चला हौले हौले 

कहीं देख ना ले वो मुझको

लग जाये ना अनंत बेगार इन्सानो की 

रह जाये ना भगवान

बोली कराह कराह के

मुझी से मेरी इन्सानियत

ढो रहा है तू अपनी लाश

जब तक मेरी बुनियाद नहीं तुझमे

नहीं टिकेगा कोई भगवान॥

A perfect mirror....

Want to see your Self in a mirror?
Go to any tree
Hold it in embrace
In perfect neutrality
Now look within your heart
Wait in natural ease
Let the tree mirror
Your self to you
Settle down for a few minutes
You will be intoxicated
By your self
That you may not
Be able to walk straight

A prayer...

Let the mind be natural

Let the body be

Let the heart be open and flowing

Let there be curiosity

Let every inbreath be a surrender with gratitude

Let every out breath be a response from that

When there is nothing left to surrender

Let there be silence

I was alive but perhaps I did not live...

Darkness is not black
Silence is not silent
Stillness is not still
Emptiness is not empty
Meditation is not meditate-ing

Somewhat less than 30 years ago in my undergrad intro to public speaking class I wrote a speech about meditation and called on the class to try it for some of its, then sparsely, published benefits. I remember the teacher rebuking me for making a speech with religious orientation. I was a rebel, so every speech from then on was somehow related to meditation. Needless to say I squeaked out with barely passing grades.

So, nearly thirty years later, I share my own detour from my own speech to others and my coming home with this:

Meditation is not sitting, with eyes closed, and silent with nothing on the mind in an empty room. I would challenge any religion that claims to own meditation. On the contrary, meditation is not even a verb- its a state that happens when, perhaps, all the senses connect to the whole and all happens just as it should. Everything happens as before- the mind chatters, the desires rise and fall, anticipation happens, memories replay, some foods create a lot of gas, some people piss you off, aches and pains come and go like the seasons, etc. But, something gradually changes or maybe it goes back to its own way.

The doors are everywhere; the key is in the heart; open it, and walk right in.