Tag: creative writing

determination

I am only a witness,
transparent eye
a non judgemental mirror —
or at least a mirror who keeps
her judgments to herself

I am the nursery rhyme before it’s written,
the angel before the fall
the dream before the nightmare
the ring before the call

I hear the future coming,
still feel the distant past,
see outcomes from our actions
that for years & years will last

I weep for sad beginnings
I laugh at mad hellos
see insanity all around us
and suffering only grow

I am ready to escape this
ready to depart
ejecting all attachment
burning all my art

I have not one creation
of which I am proud
except those that come from virtue,
those soundless,
those I’ve vowed

I sow these seeds in silence
for my words have caused much pain
all contaminated actions
seemingly in vain
(* focus on intention *)

I hear the whistle blow,
a hundred miles from home
smell the fields of mountain thyme
growing round the purple heather
and still cannot decide
if to stay or go

until I walk the streets
see the suffering
hear the cries
smell the stink
feel the terror
taste the drink

then it all comes rushing back,
each and every pleasure,
that I’ve had it all before
— it’s time to think!
I cannot do this anymore!
I won’t!

So with reliance, offering, requesting,
my life I do lay down
only for something better
more meaningful, profound

with diligent, stable practice
(which, finally, I’ve found)
and compassionate, loving heart
I fall upon the Bodhisattva’s ground

I bow before the new moon,
and rising with the sun
try to take things lightly,
because all is mind and none is one

Tags attachment, Buddhism, creative writing, emptiness, karma, love, nature, pleasure, poem, Poetry, reality, renunciation, samsara, transparent eye, witness, writing

Buddhism Good Fortune Poetry

once free

Do you know what it is
to be without

fear, sorrow,
deluded doubt?

Do you know what it is
to be truly free

from anger, hatred,
and misery?

Do you know what it is
to go within

where all is pure,
without sin?

Do you know what it is
to exist in peace

where all causes for unhappiness
have ceased?

Do you know what it is
to know your mind

limitless potential,
joyful, kind?

I have finally found
such instructions pure
as my name imputed,
an unmistaken cure

now to follow
this joyful path
it alone is happy,
clear, unmatched

who will join me?
may it be all
with equanimity, love,
we shall heed the call

and finally discover
Enlightenment unbound
dreamlike true existence,
once unknown, now found

Tags Buddhism, creative writing, emptiness, freedom, happiness, karma, love, peace, poem, Poetry, reality, realization

Buddhism Dreams Philosophy Poetry

the speed of love

in grade six,
we were asked to
define love

I plagiarized Chicken Soup for the Soul
           after we were force-fed its trite passages
           (so it seemed to me – I hated it)
     strong past life imprints
             tearing present apart
     of course I got caught
I lacked the language
     the metaphors
                 – the red, red roses –
                 I knew I did
     how could my eleven define love?

only years later,
     the unchanging definition was given to me
only years later,
     a pure example, to be echoed
absorbed into my roots
                          my Guru
          – how shall I mind to be
               an echo of utter purity? –
          so now love is my wish for all others,
                                                    for you
                   to be happy
                     effortlessly & evermore
                                         & quickly

Tags Buddhism, chicken soup for the soul, creative writing, emptiness, happiness, joy, karma, love, love is a red red rose, poem, Poetry, reality, the speed of love

Poetry

way out within

there is a portal
escape route out
no need to scream
no need to shout

is it above us?
or is it below?
it cannot be without
it is within we go

and when we discover
the truth that lies therein
that all is mind, is empty
pure and free of sin

only happiness resides
in our pure, loving core
only a kind, peaceful
consciousness, forevermore

(the question is,
do you want it?)

Tags Buddhism, consciousness, creative writing, emptiness, enlightenment, escape, karma, poem, Poetry, reality, realization, renunciation, samsara, suffering, what do you want, wish

Buddhism Philosophy Poetry

the space between

I look up to see
the space between
the spring’s bright leaves,
framing failing light

the eve’s chill falls
as the day’s warmth lifts
dew dances on the lawn
while my brook babbles on

as of late, my words betray
what my mind creates –
for with incorrect name
my suffering’s made

beneath me now
the earth is cold,
this rock is hard,
I’m feeling old

so many lifetimes,
all the same
wasted, wasted
all in vain —

now depend on heart-filled meaning,
mindfulness, do practice, pray
the power of delusions, cease!
and all bad habits, slay!

anew my happiness is born
here and now today
and with constant prayer & blessing
will never pass away

how lucky are these eyes
to behold periwinkle skies
how lucky are these toes
that walk where wild grows
how lucky are these hands
that touch the living earth
how lucky is the mind
appearing Bodhichitta birth

how lucky to be giving
to create the cause of wealth
how lucky I may nurture
to create the cause of health
how lucky to be kind
that I may create the cause of peace
how lucky to hold compassion
so all hatred, anger cease
how lucky to be patient
and know beauty will ensue
how lucky to be loving
and again feel love so true

Tags blessings, bodhichitta, Buddhism, compassion, contemplation, creative writing, emptiness, happiness, karma, love, nature, poem, Poetry, reality, realization, sky, virtue, writing

Poetry

reconciliation

… how to reconcile
if I feel great suffering
I have caused such suffering

and continue to do it still

… now I must cease
turning the wheel of sharp weapons
and turn the wheel of Dharma instead

… how strange
to have obliged such ignorance
with each delusional teardrop

… how strange
to feel the harm I cause
and still I do not stop

Tags Buddhism, cause and effect, contemplation, creative writing, happiness, ignorance, karma, poem, Poetry, short poem, suffering, three poisons

Poetry

breaking down

rattle
    thrum
           POP
              smoke

this time
not to be ignored

life never goes up in flames
just sizzles and fumes
unfavorably

ends not with a bang,
but that goddamned whimper

three hundred thousand miles

(sounds better than five hundred thousand
kill – om (ah hum) – metres)

and you drop dead
(I surmise only one of us wanted
that camping trip)

smoke
        siren
      embarrass-
             meant-for-someone-else

smiling ‘I’m sorry’s,
hoping to get out

(dashed hopes)

just in case you were still wondering:

you’re here to
stay put

(is that an order?)

Tags abstract, art imitates life, creative writing, death, escapism, ignorance, Impermanence, karma, poem, Poetry, reality, reframing, temporary exsitence, wisdom

Poetry

Unilluminated

having over-assumed wisdom
having been used for others’ own ends

I am puddled

a fractal coastline
after catastrophe

…

where should I find fault?

Tags cause & effect, creative writing, emptiness, gather all blame into one, hatred, ignorance, karma, poem, Poetry, reality, self-cherishing, wisdom

Poetry Saturday Expressions

f*cked | Session 19

If I cannot have pleasure
free from all pain
while enjoying samsara’s treasure

I must be addicted to pleasure
and addicted to suffering
in absolute equal measure

Tags addiction, attachment, creative writing, fucked, happiness, pain, Philosophy, pleasure, poem, Poetry, Saturday Expressions, suffering

Poetry

A sad song

I am hurting
deeply wounded
to my core
only this time –
it’s not personal
it’s nothing I’ve done or haven’t done
at least not recently

it’s not who I am, rather
it’s who I’ve been

it’s not what I didn’t do
it’s what I’ve done countless times over

self-cherished, ignorant
      born into imprints, big boots to fill
innocently believing in myself

not as an enlightened being
     but merely inherently existent
                    (betraying myself)

harmfully, forever non truth
making up our non reality
collectively

O, to escape a cage that has no bars!
Where’s one run? Where’s one go?

we dance and shake and make do
     and then – handed instructions,
mapped, a perfect escape route
     tested, tried, and true
     a happy result, always

I would dare – but alone?
why will no one come with me?
will no one come with me?

Tags a song if i could sing, Buddhism, cause and effect, creative writing, emptiness, ignorance, imprints, karma, lyrics if I had rhythm, Music, never actually alone, no separation, past lives, poem, Poetry, reality, samsara