The Dead-end Up Here

Descended from heavens among the stars and the sky With all heavenly attributes of Peace, beauty and perfection. Suddenly there it comes The need to compare, to exceed Desire to excel and penchant  to win. All that remains of my heritage Is a faint wistful memory. A sense that something is missing That  once  was  mine. The terrible loss leaves me cold Anger  takes hold, frustration anchors in me Punishes me for that step I took out of heaven into hell. This same step I take every day Every moment and with every thought. I have become so good at this Deluded to the core. Intent was to make it better Make heaven more heavenly But how do you improve Perfection? Answer, You do not. You ruin it. And I did Creating in the process The hell I inhabit. It is not too late Never too late. It is just a few steps back To leave hell behind. To see the fear as toothless Greed unable to please All seeming pleasur...

Well, not really. If you fully understand the nature of your life you know that everything including what you may consider to be you is ephemeral. It is possible that there is something more or less than what you know but since you do not know it now, it's unlikely you would ever know. It will all change and eventually perish. In fact the conventional wisdom of your body being the only thing that perishes may be wrong. Instead, something of your body will remain but in a different form. Nearly all of it will simply change and reincarnate onto a flower, another life or simply dust. But you as a person or spirit whatever you wish to identify yourself as, will disappear. To that who is asking the pointed question there is really no point in the quest. Particularly if you have been paying attention during your journey and finding that perishable is the nature of things. It is impossible to have something without nothing. So here we are living as a thing but nearly all the heav...

BODHGAYA: THE OASIS OF PEACE              Sitting in the middle of nowhere This unlikely town of peace Where a young monk abandoning all Found the truth meant for One. Sure there are enormous temples Giant statues and numerous trinkets Cute children dressed as monks Colorful garbs are but a distraction Not unlike any other pilgrimage There are thousands prostrating Praying and chanting Names and slokas of the One But peace is everywhere For the intent is clear No one here has a different purpose We all want but just One. Find a corner of peace They are everywhere There is the Japanese temple Where sharing quiet moments Of meditation, contemplation comes easy. With no one but two sparrows who call it home A  silent retreat like no other. The humble monk recognizes you as One Then he chants with force and vigor Vibrating with the banging drum in rhythm You almost understand Japanese. Of course there is the central pla...