Thursday, March 27, 2008

poetry form oneness

Two birds, one of them mortal, the other immortal,

live in the same tree. The first one pecks at the fruit,

sweet or bitter; the second looks on without eating.

Thus the personal self pecks at the fruit of this world,

bewildered by suffering, always hungry for more.

But when he meets the True Self, the resplendent God,

the source of creation, all his cravings are stilled.

Perceiving Self in all creatures, he forgets himself

in the service of all; good and evil both vanish;

delighting in Self, playing like a child with Self,

he does whatever is called for, whatever the result.



Self is everywhere, shining forth from all beings,

vaster than the vast, subtler than the most subtle,

unreachable, yet nearer than breath, than heartbeat.

Eye cannot see it, ear cannot hear it nor tongue

utter it; only in deep absorbtion can the mind,

grown pure and silent, merge with the formless truth.

He who finds it is free; he has found himself;

he has solved the great riddle; his heart forever is at peace.

Whole, he enters the Whole. His personal self

returns to its radiant, intimate, deathless source.

As rivers lose name and form when they disappear

into the sea, the sage leaves behind all traces

when he disappears into the light. Perceiving the truth,

he becomes the truth; he passes beyond all suffering,

beyond death; all the knots of his heart are loosed.



A fish cannot drown in water,

A bird does not fall in air.

In the fire of creation,

Gold doesn't vanish:

The fire brightens.

Each creature God made

Must live in its own true nature;

How could I resist my nature,

That lives for oneness with God?



Mechthild of Magdeburg

Late and starting to rain, it's time to go home.

We've wandered long enough in empty buildings.

I know it's tempting to stay and meet those new people.

I know it's even more sensible

to spend the night here with them,

but I want to be home.



We've seen enough beautiful places with signs on them

saying "This Is God's House".

That's seeing the grain like the ants do,

without the work of harvesting.

Let's leave grazing to cows and go

where we know what everyone really intends,

where we can walk around without clothes on.
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Contemplative Questions

Here is a set of questions that would provoke you and put you through some soul searching. They are not about religion nor about ethics. They are merely about you.

They are not meant to serve as solutions nor are they meant to lead you anywhere. These questions are meant to serve as tools to discovering yourself.

1) Do you perceive the Presence of a benevolent force guiding, protecting and shaping your life? What name do you give that Presence? When did you best feel this Presence?

2) What is your opinion of God? Is your opinion drawn from religion, books, parents and or your personal experience of life?

3) Do you pray? Do they get answered? How often?

4) Do you think it is possible to relate to the Divine? What relationship would you opt?

5) Here is a story for you - Two fierce enemies once did a penance to placate god and receive boons vying with each other. God appeared to the first man and asked what he wanted. He said "give me twice of whatever you give my enemy". Then God appeared to the second one. Even before God could say anything he asked, "God, would you please tell me what my enemy asked for? On knowing his prayer request, he said, "then God, blind me in one eye."
Now what would you wish for yourself, your best friend and your worst enemy if God gave you a chance?

6) Have you ever experienced a coincidence or chance that seems to have involved so many people and factors that you can't stop wondering if a mastermind was behind this operation? If yes, do you savour the experience often and have you shared it with someone close to you?