Divinity, now

Here stands a man, full of splendor and pomp
His walk has a swagger and his face a smile
Nothing can stop his progress forward
As he wins, whether through wile or guile

His plans are made on a majestic scale
And he amasses wealth day and night
Success is an elixir that he drinks anon
As he climbs constantly to new heights

God doesnt figure in his scheme of things
He scorns at those who are spiritual
Indolent layabouts he thinks in disgust
Dismissing their efforts as ineffectual

He loves the possessions in his life
His car, home, work and his love
Everything fits together so perfectly
Like a hand nestling in a silken glove

And then arrives the appointed time
When a loved one departs forever
Leaving a void that cannot be filled
As he struggles painfully to recover

Now he turns his eyes heavenward
And even then curses rather than pray
God looks on with infinite compassion
As she readies a place for his stay

Chasm's edge

Life exists behind a colorful patina
As reality dances its blissful gig
Seeming order creates an illusion
Of pain filled pleasurable imprints

Here stands a pristine flower
Just blossomed in nature's womb
Evening brings along its quiet fall
As it wilts silently into night's tomb

A seeming peace exists in homes
Parents, children, family, friends
But there is a quiet despair lurking
That surfaces and calmness ends

Truth is not this play of contrasts
It smiles delightfully in the void
As life winks on and off eternal
Witnessing ever, quite over joyed

I stand on the brink cautious and clean
Clinging to the nebulous strands of life
While bliss beckons from the deep chasm
Inviting me to dive in, freed of strife

A homeless person, unclean and drunk
A shiftless beggar standing quite forlorn
In a street wise woman of wily charm
I see God in her many colorful forms

There is a need to tear free of bondage
Opening the heart to love's deluge
Which shall sweep away life's memories
Revealing truth that fills nature profuse

Master's advent

Time had come for a change in life
A waiting that had started long ago
Came to an end as spring blossomed
With the advent of a master's force

Travelling through aeons from afar
Crossing star strewn fields of light
Unerringly towards a promised tryst
He came to me as if an arrow in flight

Cosmic mother's compassion was his form
And stern admonition was quite his norm
A glance from him was enough to release
Life's torments and mind's painful disease

Energy filled the very environment around
Lifting up with effortless ease to heights
Where angels look on in ceaseless envy
As he folds creation in love and delight

He made me forget myself, space and time
As I sat entranced by his form and speech
Effortlessly he transmitted his energy to me
And struck silent I almost forgot to breath

As heaven folded into hell, sky into ground
Creation's frenzy was revealed within self
As time's fetters were struck in spirit's forge
Master's grace put me under Samadhi's spell

Anguish

Spirit dons a cloak as per its whim
Now of a colorful hue and now dull
It starts forth as per its fancy
Seeking to fulfil destiny's pull

Bursting forth unbridled in force
Casting aside worlds found unworthy
Shaping anew in creation's frenzy
Leaving befuddled mortal lives aplenty

A raging mind stands at the brink
Looking askance at a divine presence
While oscillating between two banks
Of a river that runs wild and torments

Now and then is a glimpse of light
As spirit shows itself in many hue
Death follows life in cycles eternal
As cloaks are doffed yielding to new

Who is it that cries at final parting?
There stands a sentinel at heaven's door
She welcomes us to lasting peace and love
As earthly bonds cease at infinity's shore

Infinity's mask

Time flows ceaselessly past in a steady rhythm
Sculpting new forms and discarding the old
In an endless cycle of creation and destruction
As living beings come and go in nature's fold

Relationships are formed in emotional need
And friends and family form in quick order
Only to drop off as time weaves her magic
Consuming friend and foe as death's fodder

And then comes the evening as dusk falls
Quietness pervades the busy thoroughfare
Solitude spreads her silence all around
As people return home quite unaware

And then you are left wondering at life
Where did these varied forms go you ask
And as peace envelops us in death's embrace
We realize, God smiles behind infinity's mask

Idea's echo

Ideas from our own mind are shunned
But they shall come back unsummoned
Perhaps from a more learned source
And now appreciated with more force.

Listening with awe to such an idea
And showing its glossy insignia
Is good, but shall it really suffice
If the mind doesnt leave its confines?

Truth is not meant for appreciation
It is that which channels our life
And one who gives up all for God
Is truly free from knowledge's vice

Discard the need for outer counsel
Quieten the mind in inward quest
God speaks softly in our heart
And if we but listen shall be blessed

God's gift

I heard about her abode in a place of peace
Everyone was visiting her to seek blessings
They came back to talk ceaselessly of her
About her grace and beauty all encompassing

I was intrigued by these stories of her grace
And wanted to pay her a visit once myself
My schedule was quite full and I had to wait
For an opportune moment to present itself

The day finally came when I could fit it in
And I started making careful detailed plans
My dress should be perfect and in good taste
And my appearance should reflect quiet elan

And then arose the question of what to take?
I heard that others were pouring in great gifts
I too did a careful analysis of my possessions
And picked an antique acquired by thrift

I set off for the tryst and the way was long
Misled for a while I trudged wearily on and on
A thief waylaid me and relieved me of the gift
My clothes were torn and soon covered in filth

I reached my destination in tatters and rags
Deeply ashamed I decided to quietly turn back
Still trusting my luck I decided to take a chance
Perhaps from afar, I could maybe get a glance

To my surprise I was allowed to walk in
With faltering steps I made it to her presence
Shamefully bowing my head I asked forgiveness
I was bereft of gifts, and my appearance an offense

Her graceful smile was like a balm to my soul
You gained rightful passage here - she said
Your beautiful inner grace is the greatest gift
And it had been obscured by a show of wealth

God's graceful presence is always within us
Veiling its expression is the swaggering ego
Parting the chains wrought by life's ebb and flow
Behold her beautiful presence glowing above

Life's seasons

There is a time to live and then a time to die
Such is the secret of God's plan for all life
Knowing this as truth leads to a blissful state
Which is marked by a complete absence of strife

Life's seasons are marked by varied activity
And each act is rung in and out of the stage
An actor who refuses to leave shall be railed
As upsetting the natural rhythm and pace

Engage in life with a detachment absolute
Knowing that we are spirit's manifestation
As conduits of God's immense flow of grace
Our lives are totally devoid of imperfections

Supplant ego from the center of universe
It is rightfully her place of blissful repose
A wily transgressor shall not gain control
Nor shall on simple life attachment impose

As the vessel completes its quiet journey
Traversing stormy oceans of unknown depths
A state of peace awaits beneath a flowering tree
Where life surrenders its last and final breath

Secret of Prayer

Human prayers are countless and fervent
They ask for a specific result or an event
Some ask for riches and dawn of health
While others want increase in life's length

All such prayers reach their source divine
Which is compassionate and always present
But some are seemingly answered instantly
While others arent, God being stoic and silent

But every prayer that is made for a result
Combines a divine portion with its contrast
And God receiving all such pleas equally
Will from ego's trap, holiness surely extract

And that will be delivered to source per plan
Which will cause the right event to transpire
At times contrary to a mere human's desire
Leading to angst and railing against God

But we dont understand all of God's plan
Our ego is alas quite diminished in scope
A prayer is needed even if it is unanswered
Because God's grace flows from quiet hope

Trackless path

What do you do when you have nowhere to go?
There doesnt seem to be a destination in sight
At least not in the sense that the world sees
But there is one beyond mere shade and light

A world that is shining and filled with bliss
Inhabited by denizens that are made of love
In an arc that spans creation and destruction
There spins a wheel of eternity quietly above

There is a chasm that opens up in front slowly
As life moves inexorably towards its climax
There is a trail that winds through tall peaks
Now up and now down with a dual impact

But it is a mere pause in an infinite journey
That links together limitless lives eternal
In a sparkling diadem of God's grace and love
That allows hope to spring forth perennial

Where is God?

Silence enveloped me like a comforting cloak
From its still, profound depth subtly she spoke
It was perhaps the dawn or maybe the dusk
Time ceased to matter as it merged into source

I was waiting on the cusp of two infinities
For a gracious prescence to arise from within
It had been immanent in my life's moments
But now it was time to see it apparent and pristine

I had heard it in the rushing noise of a stream
As in the intricate vista opening up yonder
The cyclical rhythm set in motion at birth
Was further proof of divinity's blissful order

God is not a judgemental entity sitting at a distance
She has been with us across timeless existence
As a lotus she blossoms on the stillness of mind
A Fundamental truth that is our blissful essence

Eclipse

Light suffuses the darkened sky
Bright ruler has left his kingdom
Leaving behind a pearly jewel
Casting subtle light as a diadem

She waxes and she wanes quite
That is her rhythm of blissful life
Serving as inspiration for a poet
Lightening the load of great strife

Reflecting a greater glory beyond
She teaches us the truth of freedom
Our life is a reflection thus of truth
That leaves us in life quite seldom

Now and then a shadow is cast
Plunging the orb into an eclipse
But like life's challenges will pass
As God pulls us out of the abyss

Tread softly

Dont hold on to life with grim purpose
Maximizing length is not its final goal
Keep a gentle hand on the rudder
Steer life clear of treacherous shoals

Desist from planning the last detail
And measuring every step to the end
Lose track of yourself and meander
Wandering into every turn and bend

Thirst not for understanding nature
While diligently labelling its variety
A rose shall smell no less fragrant
Whatever the name given by society

Labor not trying to save up for morrow
Cataloging and figuring out best deals
The sands of time shall run as per norm
And despite industry, our life it shall steal

Live many lives across time's labyrinth
There are plenty of chances for creation
God perfects a single wild flower in aeons
And lives are infinity's constant summation

Final Visit

I wait in eager expectation for her arrival
She is the beloved who haunts my dreams
But she is coquettish and shall not comply
And is fleeting like the lightning gleams

I sit by the window looking out in front
Maybe I will see her coming in the distance
Then I shall have time to check my home
Is it in a fit state to receive her presence?

Alas it is not yet to be, and my wait is in vain
She deigns not to visit my abode so decked
From my vantage point I see her presence
In the falling leaves, and as age's dread

I have expressed my desire to meet her
In countless ways perhaps since I was born
But in spite of the many trysts in the past
I still wait with eagerness heart quite torn

Everyone that I accost has a story to tell
About how they met her graceful form
I know that I too shall one day be thus
Breathless as she arrives in the early morn

Hope

Grace leaves quietly without bidding farewell
When the offered truth is cast aside sans care
If there is a mental transition it might change
And transform its final good bye into an aurevoir

Truth slips quietly through the daily thoroughfare
It plays hide and seek as we sift through life
As our grasp tries to clutch futilely on a mirage
The sands of time move inexorably as in a sieve

An opportunity is presented to deal with love
But is quickly squandered as we prefer rules
Conditioned responses are the norm of of life
Even though they constantly render us fools

As the infinite arc of heavenly splendor proves
Spirit is the moving force behind all our lives
But we forget it every moment of our busy days
And struggle vainly in our pursuits as ego thrives

A barren landscape can be the final result of strife
But even that may be a harbinger of faith and hope
Because replenishment is the code of infinite nature
As the Divine mother applies portrait's final stroke

Eternity's refrain

An unbroken sequence of moments leads to my death
She awaits with patience at the end of a winding road
The goal might be obscured at times by valley and crest
But there is no escaping the final tryst as time flows

There are some who travel the high road of pious morality
And then some who struggle on the low road of addiction
But the river of time nonetheless doesnt recognize plurality
And guides every life, low or high, to the ultimate destination

Struggling with the burden of talent, the low road is painful
An assumption of innocence deadens the pain on higher path
But both are still only illusions, as evidenced by heart's trouble
Failing to understand this, conflict blossoms as a repeated act

Surrendering the illusion at the feet of blazing blissful light
A lightness of spirit manifests as a slowly spreading sight
Cutting asunder the cloying embrace of attachment's pain
Death comes to teach us lessons that are eternity's refrain

Cessation of Fear

I had a ritual that I indulge in at times
Driving my car to a park not far off
I run through a verdant landscape
On a trail that winds among woody outcrop

It is a long trail - of perhaps 10 mile length
And swinging through trees and verdant bushes
It offers an experience of spirit quite blessed
The mind tends to free itself of confining meshes

It is a blissful time spent in solitude - people rarely seen
One such day I was running under the sun's bright sheen
I made my circuit and came back to my parking spot
I leaned against the car and turned my eyes heavenward

The world seemed a calm and peaceful place - full of love
I sensed a movement nearby and opened my eyes to look
A man was standing nearby - he seemed an ominous crook
There was noone else nearby and I sensed fear in truth

He approached soon enough and quickly pulled out a gun
Holding it against my forehead he uttered a quick threat
'Give me your wallet m** fu**' - profanity wide spread
I was too stunned to think, transition from peace to dread

I somehow looked into his eyes and saw a surface of hatred
But then deeper within I saw other emotions quite suppressed
His father not known, and his mother a drug addict hopeless
She financed her habit by selling her body, to men shiftless

The child was thrown on the living room rug, quite neglected
He yearned for affection and looked on, feeling quite rejected
His mother was rarely lucid, and made him feel very unloved
Pretty soon he was on the streets, by fate pushed and shoved

All this I sensed in a flash, not quite knowing what to do
He became impatient and his hands jerked in a staccato
I realized then that the transaction couldnt be completed
I didnt have my wallet - and his purpose seemed defeated

He was enraged at my tardiness and slashed at my face
The gun barrell hit me on the left cheek causing blood's race
'Why dont you bring your wallet mo** fu**' - he cursed
And then said - 'I will take your car then pri** in its place'

I somehow couldnt feel any pain and looked into his eyes
He seemed disconcerted at my direct glance deep inside
Grabbing my shirt he slashed at my face again on the right
And I felt blood spurting out from a gash symmetric each side

I fell to the ground and rolled over as he snatched the keys
Jumping into the car he uttered more hate filled speech
With a screaming of tortured tires he pulled out of the lot
And pumping the gas, he left, as my blood started to clot

I lay there for a while and the surroundings were peaceful
After a while I managed to sit up - fighting oblivion's pull
Thanks to a good samaritan passing by I contacted the police
Quite soon they arrived and started taking down my stories

I went back to my daily routine after filing the proper complaint
A neighborhood doctor attended to my face and reduced inflame
With stitches on both sides, I could hardly move my facial muscle
Every move I made reminded me of the harsh morning tussle

Soon enough I got a call from the authorities - they had him
I went to the police station and saw my car parked in front
Going into the station I was told to identify the assailant
I requested a meeting with the desperado - reaction different

Why? - asked the inspector in charge - he was somewhat alarmed
I responded with a shrug - 'I dont know' - an act to be performed
I was led into the room where he was seated and he stared at me
His eyes were filled with desperation as he stared quite balefully

'What are you going to do mo** fu**?' - he said spitting on the floor
'How do you like them stitches?' - he laughed as saw my facial sore
Once again I found myself looking at a rejected child left to grieve
I stared at him without speaking for a while and then turned to leave

His derisive laughter was ringing in my ears as I approached the inspector
He was anxious to see justice served and looked at me as an avenger
'I am not pressing any charges' - I said to his utter disbelief and shock
'Why on earth not?' - he said - but I was not in any position to talk

I walked out and went to my car and leaning against it looked heavenward
I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye and it was the freed bird
He came closer and said : 'What you pri** - you think you are quite noble?'
'I think you are just a piece of sh**' - he said with slurred speech wrathful

I said - ' I am waiting here to complete our transaction - did you forget?'
'What transaction mother f**?' - he said, reaching inside for a cigaret
'You had wanted my wallet a few days ago when I didnt have it on me'
'Here it is now - you can take it as a gift and it is quite filled with money'

He laughed aloud - ' You must be one of those sick hin** mo** fuc**'
'You are a wimp man and you deserve to be robbed you weak pushover'
So saying he grabbed the wallet from my extended hand, and ran
I stood my ground awhile and wondered at this strange divine plan

Several days later I was back at my old ritual and started to run again
My face had healed well and I was able to smile and even sing in refrain
I somehow didnt feel any trepidation at visiting the scene of my assault
Nature was unchanged and in its impeccable beauty - never did default

I finished my run on one such day and came back to the parking lot
I leaned against the door and noticed a small note stuck in the wiper slot
Fishing it out I looked at it - in almost illegible writing it said - 'thanks'
Puzzled for a moment - I looked around at trees standing in silent ranks

Realization then dawned on me as I understood who had written the note
It was unsigned but nonetheless its author's identity was never in doubt
I felt bliss flooding through me at the second interaction's contrasting hue
I looked heavenward and said - 'Not me divine friend, but thank YOU'

Release

There are those who struggle to meet deadlines
Without realizing that their life shall become one
While their moments are spent in this pursuit
They have no time to play and gambol in the sun

Knowledge is sought in amounts that are large
And its means are supposedly defined in schools
But it seems to be very difficult to hold and confine
As its essence seems to slip away not subject to rules

Every gathering that I am invited to seems the same
I hear people talking about their activities of import
They seem to want to achieve and therein be happy
But their goal seemed to me a very exacting despot

I saw children equipped by their own parents for this
A life of milestones: hypertension and attendant disease
Material possessions abundant, yet, impoverished soul
Prematurely aged children saddled with pain unreleased

I staggered home seeking release from control's shackle
The very love that should comfort shall alas also confine
Love's sweet voice shall be drowned in stern admonition
A quiet heart shall stand on the sidelines, silent in pain

Time

Time is like a flowing river that winds its way to sea
Its current is measured in ancient rhythms quite slow
But its sense of purpose is unerring as it slips effortless
There is neither joy nor despair in its ebb and flow

There is a place under a spreading banyan tree
Which is located at a nostalgic spot on its banks
A broad jetty is set at that point for a ferry pier
And people congregate there in daily swelling ranks

I have sat at a point not far from the jostling crowd
Witnessing the passing throng of varied visage and hue
Their pace is frenetic as they approach the crossing
But the river quietens them with its showering dew

She doesnt distinguish between the sinner and saint
But gladly escorts them on her back to their goal
And when the dance finally ends she embraces them
Drawing a final curtain on the drama enacted ashore

Monday madness

A rising sun traces the mountain's silhouette
It takes it time to perfect the lustrous outline
A bird raises its head from under its wing
And debates whether to wake, rise and shine

Every plant and flower are slowly transforming
Gently easing into the day forming ahead
Maybe they will bloom or perhaps fall to earth
Either outcome is possible, none quite preferred

But between arching sky and the solid earth
There seems to be a state of great confusion
Well, it has been determined that it is Monday
And beings of intelligence are out in profusion

They need to go to work, and do so with angst
Not one among them are filled with happiness
And they struggle and moan through the day
And defying natural instincts, court dreariness

God's service

What do you do when you are one with ego?
There is no alternative but to battle fiercely
Limits are imposed on that which is infinite
And an abundance is deluded as being scarcely

We take arms against self created devious foes
And wage war with conviction born of ignorance
Contradictions rise up on all sides mocking us
Yet our spurious beliefs are our main sustenance

What do you do when you are one with God?
There is no alternative but to provide service
Because you see only yourself everywhere
And you cannot help but be boundless peace

There are no delusions in such a world view
And as a result there are no contradictions
A life starts out on a rising arc of blissful light
And traces a loving pattern in distant constellation

Self delusion

Fear gripped the soul of the tormented man
He was separated from his family and friends
A sequence of events transpired causing this
And he had no power to enable life to transcend

He had to leave his secure life and home behind
And his mind forced him to leave for distant land
There he suffered from self created mental blight
And berated himself and the world in daily rant

I cant come back to a lonely home: he cried out
And reached back to see if a chasm could close
He weakened himself through self piteous grief
And denuded himself of divinity's power and force

I come home to an apartment that is in solitude
And I never once feel that I am quite alone
Because God's grace is all pervading without limit
And thus it is impossible for me to be forlorn

Impenetrable self

Life as we see it is a mere projection of the mind
But the imagery is created such that it seems real
The creative power of the universal mind is thus
It makes us believers in our own illusory veneer

Elation and depression rise up as if waves in a sea
One moment riding on crest and next in a trough
The individual life seems chaotic and quite random
As if like an autumn leaf tossed about in a tempest

No matter where life may take us in its journey
Whether in a joyous enclave of family and friends
Or in solitude amidst the eternal silence of grace
We are ever the indestructible truth in essence

When love departs unannounced taking final flight
As attachments chain us to grief that is intolerable
Remain confident that your essential self remains
It is inviolate and pure, and by sorrow impenetrable

Purpose

A flock of birds cut across the sky on a migration path
Trees swayed in the wind that swept across the hills
Flowers essayed their sweet fragrance in natural shower
While bees plyed their minstrelsy in voices quite shrill

Day followed night with a periodic rhythm undisturbed
High cliffs presenting a proud visage crumbled to dust
While plains were lifted aloft to form the next new crest
Life's cycles moved per a timeline that remains untouched

Birds decided to court and mate as per their natural instinct
Nature provides them with the material to build their nest
And quite soon it is filled with life waiting to move aloft
No sense of attachment between parent and offspring is felt

Life always manifests in nature as per an unseen plan
There is a purpose that drives the creation of new life
All the resources needed for fulfilment are provided
And when the goal is met the soul shall always take flight

My purpose is becoming clearer with the passing of time
I was in error regarding my goal but that was rectified
An unsolicited message came from a source that I trust
Which showed me the final steps in a dance of blissful light

Cutting loose

I used to stand on the sidelines and mock at the warriors
They were on the battle field holding back the daemons
I was the pretender to enlightenment laughing aloud
As carnage and pain manifested in plenty without reason

Stopping beside a warrior who was fallen and dying
I preached to him about the futility of war and death
His weapon slipped from his hand and his eyes closed
He was beyond pain and hearing, his life off in stealth

As I moved on, the battle's fury continued unabated
Men who didnt hate each other stood opposed in battle
One of them called to me for help: Take arms if you can
Preaching can wait, the fight is on, come show your mettle

I paused and then goaded by his voice picked up arms
As I stepped out into the field bedlam arose around me
Engulfed in its gory violent fury, I wielded my weapon
Striking with might I struggled on to vanquish the enemy

I recalled the advice given by the God head long ago
But it was difficult to keep emotions out of my heart
I understood that the soldier had a code of his own
It was ingrained into his being and was never apart

I stopped the preaching that was a part of my mind
And participated in battle with fully focused strength
I cut down enemy after enemy in my forward march
Until as per law I encountered a nemesis in my front

With a single stroke she cut my armor into tattered slice
And with a deft thrust and parry my sword to ground
Receiving a mortal wound at her hand I fell to earth
As I lay dying, her form enveloped my being all around

I realized then that the path to enlightenment was legion
There was the calm sanctuary of the forest and its peace
And then there was the brutal field of battle with death
Both ways led to the same goal, leading to final release

Mountain and me

The hills were wearing their summer's brown coat
Dust was rising from the roads in a timeless dance
Trees bent their heads in obeisance to the wind's flow
A timeless peace enveloped nature's green expanse

Travelling up a winding trail that led to highlands
I saw the valley below appear intermittent in view
There were the sleepy denizens of nature all around
Life pulsated from leaves and flowers laden with dew

Pausing awhile near a rocky outcrop on a hillside
I leaned against nature's shoulder for a brief respite
Her breath was soft on my face as a gentle breeze
And her caress brought peace to a heart in fright

Time seemed to stand still losing its artificial divisions
Seconds, minutes, hours, and days coalesced seamless
There was no distinction between me and the mountain
We had combined into creation's graceful union of purpose

Seaside Stroll

I walked aimlessly on a beautiful beach today
The eternal roar of the waves a primordial echo
They were relentless in their pursuit of land
Never once did they take a respite from overflow

I watched the constant ebb and flow of current
Bringing in water from distant shores sightless
Timeless vistas are opened up to these liquid dunes
Their might shall form and fell worlds effortless

I had nothing else to do, no deadlines awaited
My mind was crouched still as a waiting leopard
An infinitesimal thoughtful impulse was enough
To unleash the creative surge of thought outward

The sea was a patient sculptor forming the earth
Its task takes timeless aeons but perfect in the end
I let time move past me in waves sculpting me thus
Creating as it will without interfering in its intent

Paternal grief

And then there was the little boy who was his life
He was a jolly soul who never had a moment's grief
I marvelled at his emotional strength quite immense
He seemed immune to any upheaval long or brief

He never seemed to miss anyone and was content
Life's little pleasures were enough for his bliss
Wherever he was it was a content environment
He never desired anything that was not to be his

But then one day a vile serpent got into his heart
He happened perchance to sight a beautiful girl
The base emotion called "love" entered into him
And on his impregnable heart missiles began to hurl

I watched him go from a cheerful being to miserable
His mind was obsessed with the being of enticement
I remained bereft of weapons to combat this enemy
Who praised to defile a pure soul, with great infamy

I watched with despair as he went from bad to worse
His being was entirely taken over by this malaise
I had the power to move heaven to satisfy his wish
But in this case I remained powerless to assail

I was standing on a rainy day by the side of a willow
Watching the group disperse after assigning a hollow
To a marvelous human being who was a casualty
Of that despicable emotion of love filled with perfidy

I resolved then to become strong like never before
This was a game that had to be played some more
Aeons shall pass and I shall come again to overcome
That which tore life apart when bliss was to blossom

What might have been...

When my love came calling I was not at home
She waited awhile and left with a broken heart
Her visit was to shower my life with great love
But I was too self focused and decided to be apart

There was a garden that might have flowered
It was filled with potential to give ample bliss
But I was its gardener indulged in self analysis
I was neglectful and in my duty quite amiss

There was a symphony that could reach crescendo
It was a soaring leap of music to dizzying heights
I was the conductor responsible for its conception
But I misplaced the notes stopping it in mid flight

There was a life that was waiting to be fully lived
It had the capacity to fill an universe with love
I stopped the heart beat from fulfilling itself
As I turned away an angel who came from above

Life's passing

There was a moment in time when I was young
But that refers only to the external gross sheath
My inner spirit appears to be ageless in time
And has been pristine as life's experience reveals


Love beckoned to me very early in my life
It came with a rush that was quite unstopped
While to the observer it might seem a travesty
I basked in its glory and considered it an amnesty

Imperfection was given to me which was felt a curse
Accusations were made that I had conspired to cheat
But later events in my life proved that it was a blessing
That helped me overcome forces that timelessly repeat

Afflictions nestled in the vast expanses of mind and grew
There was no respite in their attacks all encompassing
But as I moved through life I learned to love them hugely
They were the sentinels guarding me from trespassing

Revelation

My vision cleared while musing on past life
Certain aspects were more easily understood
Cause and effect were revealed in the play
And many of my existing beliefs were disproved

Knowledge was revealed as an arbitrary closure
Several of them exist concurrently with other
Their attraction is powerful to an unwary mind
And for lifetimes can entrap the careless traveller

Life's attachments were revealed as self created
At each point there exists a clear karmic choice
Our hearts sometimes deceive us in false selection
And then the divine symphony is filled with noise

World was revealed as an extension of the mind
It didnt have any other basis rooted in reality
Introspection and solitude sharpened the tool
Creating a crucible manifesting heavenly sanctity

Moment of weakness

A date was set for the marriage of a fine human
I went there to witness the ceremonial union
My heart was not uplifted during the occassion
I was struggling with emotions that were alien

I felt a deep disturbance that was instinctual
Perhaps the result of a life spent in seclusion
My constant companion has been my mind
And I knew it well enough to accept conclusion

The conclusion was the harbinger of distress
It seemed to me that a trap was being closed
But to see a valiant virile hero thus chained
Was to me a climax that seemed quite forced

My mind went into a tail spin as is its wont
I went into seclusion again to face its wrath
The chaos was of monumental proportions
And needs strength to hold it together fast

My reasons are quite certainly superficial
But there are times when the instinct speaks
And in this case there was an inner force
That seemed to speak strongly of a disease

A life seems to have manifested in the dark
It cause was purely physical and not planned
This perhaps is the reason for the surface act
Which is not revealed to the eye that is biased

Perhaps there is a path that will be shown
When ages meld into lives that shall be gone
During which the causes will be fully revealed
And a single eye shall see truth as it is conceived

In the interim I will continue to be of service
To a person who holds me in a web of bondage
I will continue to work in the field of grace
To send harmony their way for pain to assuage

But I shall not become weak again as I was before
The chinks in my armor shall never become deep
My goal is set and I shall transform myself complete
To fulfil my destiny that is with grace entirely replete

Last Act

I posture on the grand stage of life to a packed audience
My act is involved and is conducted in grand ambience
The settings are elaborate and the music is scintillating
The echoes of my emotions are loud and reverberating

I create scenes of great pathos and expect applause
And the ebb and flow of emotions continues unpaused
Sometimes the audience responds and at times not
Drama is needed to sustain my boisterous ego aloft

I invest great effort in creating the story and drama
And think there is no one like me on terra firma
But then I get carried away by the clever intellect
My pomposity swells to a crescendo and insurrects

Today I check that insurrection and put it to death
The stage is cleared and the drama comes to an end
Audiences are turned away and the theatre is empty
No more shall a convoluted plot elicit mob's sympathy

Fateful task

Eternity beckons from a distance far in time
Its appearance is shrouded in nebulous mist
Ghostly forms appear and disappear in its midst
But its true form plays a game of will-o-wisp

I erect barriers between it and self by bonds
Fragile as they are they offer a sort of shield
To protect me from my destiny that haunts
A state of Grace can be forbidding indeed

Finality needs the strength not to look back
At the long road paved with life's dual experience
A door once closed should not open even a crack
When time has come to give up our preference

Memories serve as aids to strengthen the barrier
And redirecting the mind helps focus thought
It is time to break and free fetters quite inferior
A difficult task indeed, but one fate has brought

Untold stories

I recently visited the ancient land of China
My passion for teaching took me out there
The country was covered with spiritual patina
And the ancient sage's compassion unimpaired

People were industrious and many in number
Their attire was neat and friendly their demeanor
There the Tower of Babel collapses in its entirety
I was forced to fall back on signs of primitivity

There were contrasts in the extreme in great city
Towering sky scrapers rubbed elbows with poverty
Tourists spun by seeing the overflow of extravagance
Carrying with them a false impression of decadence

The true spirit of the country was in its villages
Amongst the poor and the impoverished people
Who toil daily for survival in their little acreages
Their lives are filled with untold stories ample

Final tasks

A land exists shrouded in the mists of time
It is suffused with the spiritual force sublime
Setting foot in its soil immediately gives peace
Disharmony is removed leaving us at ease

A journey needs to be undertaken there soon
There are destinations waiting to give a boon
Sages are at hand ready to give their blessing
And even a bystander can give spiritual training

It is a portal that can transport to real world
A World full of light and in sea of bliss immersed
Service is the passport needed to enter the realm
And a simple way of life is a condition for freedom

I have a task waiting for me there to complete life
It is a period when I shall be a humble servant
Following which I shall traverse country wide
Immersing myself in spiritual bliss on every side

Freed bird

Freedom came unasked for in the evening of life
At the time I was struggling with bonds of love
I didnt ask for it as I was unaware that I should
But it was given at a time when I needed it most

I wanted a sign from the Divine showing the path
I desired it to be dramatic as a bush burning fast
But over the solitude of a summer weekend's muse
I realized that my life's events were grace infused

All the long days and turbulent nights were directed
Leading to a time when attachments shall quietly wane
Removing the disillusionments that were my life's curse
And leaving a silence that is complete in its wake

Future unlocked itself based on the secrets of past
Summer's uproar is followed by winter's silent frost
Quietness permeates the chaotic life leading to peace
A freed bird leaves its cage never again to suffer grief

True Freedom

I was in a prison, in fetters behind dark walls
My spirit chafed and desired to escape outside
I explored every little nook to seek a loop hole
But there seemed no way out of grim stronghold

Suddenly I was liberated and found myself free
Birds were singing and sun was shining on trees
I danced with joy and ran about like a lunatic
My cup of joy overflowed and colors shone prismatic

But I felt ill at ease after a while of this pure liberty
I would like to don the fetters again I felt morbidly
Complete freedom is not what it is made out to be
A daemon or two are not bad and can be company

I realized that peace of mind was decided internal
A calm mind originates strength that is phenomenal
Whether incarcerated and whipped by passion deep
Or in liberated glee, the detached mind is truly free

Multiplying needs

Life is driven by ambitions and well defined goals
Those who have a family are intent on their care
And those alone have themselves to tend as fare
Needs are created to keep life moving to the fore

Progression is always defined in terms of movement
And that shall not cease no matter what the deterrent
Alongwith movement shall come the material glut
There is a lack of space to store this in palatial hut

What happens when all needs are satisfied in life?
There is a temporary lull as mind is free from strife
But then we fear this state more than death itself
And our creative force is used to manifest desires

Once again the merry run around starts unceased
Age doesnt pose a hurdle and is jumped with ease
Till the last curtain drops and life's stage empties
Our play doesnt pause as need constantly multiplies

Resentment

Resentment arises at times when we lack awareness
It is like a silent wolf that preys in total darkness
An imagined insult, a contrived fault are its causes
Subtle are its manifestations that lead to many losses

A message that was misinterpreted leads to anger
It blocks flow of love and makes friend as stranger
We create our own mental prisons as its outcome
In it we sit as the self piteous forms we have become

A comfortable cloak of martyrdom slips easy on us
There is no dearth of emotions ready for us to fuss
Lifetimes can effortlessly slip by under its control
And life's lessons are re-learnt in classes we enroll

Our resentment prevents the expression of love
And an assumed air of sacrifice can be our reward
It makes life miserable for us and our close family
Why hold onto a cactus and complain of great agony?

Forgiveness and compassion can lead to a quick remedy
Otherwise life shall become a soap opera's lame parody
Filial affection and maternal love shall hopefully transform
A struggling soul into a great force with duties to perform

Vanquished daemons

And then there were those who fell into the trap of love
Their hearts are fickle and dont obey edicts from above
Seemingly noble they think of themselves yet quite base
Their obsession is with physical and difficult to erase

Their sights are set on one but they betroth another
And struggling with their emotions stray a bit asunder
Physical union seems to be an extreme constraint here
And it acts as a straight jacket creating a great barrier

Unable to understand the true purpose of the union
That is it for procreation and not recreational reason
They tie themselves into a knot unable to escape out
And still think that their objectives are without doubt

Peace deserts such a distressed soul as water in sand
There is no sight of clear truth from where they stand
Unnecessary words are spoken that are not from heart
They stand opposed as enemies that love has torn apart

There was a time when I was caught in such a trap
Until a gentle soul came along to show different path
She was in anguish and yet deigned to help poor soul
Her life is guided by Master's transmission from above

Under such guidance my life underwent a transformation
I moved from a vale of darkness to a hilltop of light
The daemons of yore fell back in impotent rage defeated
As life dawned anew with unconditional love reinstated

Life's lessons

Higher institutions of learning are widely prevalent
All of us have a hankering to send there our children
That has become a goal in itself, just to reach there
What happens after equipping thus is up in the air

Is it really a higher education that is imparted within?
What does this equip us to perform in life's precincts?
Perhaps it gives us the qualifications to earn a living
But is that the goal of life for which we shall be aspiring?

Nowhere in Nature is there a need to earn one's keep
All are accepted without reserve and never in need
In return Nature doesnt hold on tight to its denizens
They are free to enter and leave without limitations

The greatest lessons I learnt are in mundane environs
In temples, in bazaars, in homes, and in transit stops
The teachers were simple folks who taught quite a lot
About life and its pains, and how to overcome travails

Silent Infinity

There is a seamless net that cradles creation
It is a subtle force that defies comprehension
Universes cycle through its gentle current
There is no strain as it brings forth present

Thought fashions reality in primordial matrix
All of time stands revealed within its ambit
A distant effect is linked to a nearby cause
And all points in space are one without pause

God exists at all points in this infinite web
It is her awareness that is in its central hub
She is thus all knowing and all pervasive
Her grace permeates all of life quite invasive

When we give up our preferences for an outcome
Our minds stop vacillating and becomes silent
And then we see this subtle light within creation
Our heart expands limitlessly in silent subjugation

Happy Birthday to Hema Chava

There are times when life decides to manifest
Supremely holy are such glorious instants
It is a mystery as to why it happens thus
But Divinity has its own plans nevertheless

Such occassions are cherished in life
By your parents and your family groups
They are blessed to be in your company
As you are also nourished by those roots

A birthday is a celebration of creation's glory
Because it tells of progression in divine story
When Spirit decided to manifest to fulfil goal
Set in ancient times perhaps on distant shore

On this occassion I take pride in wishing you
For a great life ahead that is granted to few
And may you be blessed by God, dear Hema-ji
For bringing to your friends boundless energy

God's children

Life might have its ups and downs incessant
Keeping the final goal in mind is important
That is the emancipation of the trapped soul
Which gets born and trapped in deep shoals

Life is a continuum and never in isolation
Today's thoughts are future's foundation
Thus never be overwhelmed by life's pace
It is a spiritual crucible that destiny makes

Our heart has to be filled with love unconditioned
That is the goal of all our spiritual development
Manifesting a specific outcome is quite tempting
But without proper foundation it is exhausting

Awesome power visits us when we are thus
But this is not of the kind that overpowers
It is the subtle force that causes all creation
Aligned with it we become God's children

Unconditional love

There is a cause behind everything that is material
It is a wonderful thing that is subtle and ethereal
Unseen it creates wonders of light and color fill
The holy and the profane are unified in its imprint

It creates the barren outcrop of shattered rock
And the verdant layers of forest on the hilltop
The parched desert sands are rolled into dunes
While the boiling lava shatters out as dense fumes

Nothing is left out of its love filled immense ambit
Everything is unified by its grace as lofty flight
Wonderful colors unify in brightest beams of light
Visible to a new born but unseen by elderly sight

Unconditional love it is called by inadequate word
It is that which the Divine Mother gives to us
Rejection and indifference are repaid in its currency
And filling my heart with it is the greatest sanctity

False life

I crave for freedom from the confines of time and space
There doesnt seem to be any peace within its grey walls
I have been looking actively for a chink in its grim visage
But the expanse is seamless leaving no escape path at all

I keep thinking about what lies beyond the twin fetters
Surely I dont have to die to experience freedom endless
Sleep seems to relax the rules of time and space daily
But I am unaware of their operation as I slumber deeply

The prison seemed to me external and thus I chafed
Who created these walls that conspire thus to restrain?
It is intolerable that we are offered a few grains of gold
In return for submitting ourselves to bondage of soul

It finally dawned on me that the prison couldnt be without
Because I create my own gilded cage, with mind's support
I read into life meanings that are quite contrived and false
Thus rejecting an offered hand of love for a life full of dross

Pristine State

I am the infinite, that from which all flows
My home is that of Spirit, subtle, pulsing glow
Its origins are the foundations of immense bliss
And in that I reside self aware without limits

Time has ceased to exist as is confining space
There is only a seamless reality creating grace
A mere thought triggers a flurry of manifestation
And colorful Worlds spring up in a single instant

A veil drops down as if on a vast sweeping stage
And Spirit is separated from itself in divided state
Bewildered and confused roam the children of Divinity
Seeking comfort and peace they forge bonds of fragility

When roaming through the corridors of worldly prisons
The Heart struggles vaguely remembering old visions
Turning away from that which is outside to dive within
A silver lining is seen leading to Graceful state pristine

Overflow of grace

There is a time to manifest what is needed in life
The way is not one of stress or one of great strife
A subtle force exists underlying this vast universe
Its action is the cause of all that rises up manifest

The highest possible action is one of harmony
That is in alignment with truth as a symphony
Everything works together in a perfect dance
The partners swirl together as if in a trance

The greatest belief is in the innate power within
Its expression is directly proportional to faith
Grieving over past and future worries are needless
Meditating on the inner grace is a pursuit matchless

The power of Spirit is waiting quietly to be unleashed
It causes miracles in our daily life that is unceased
I am a gatekeeper of a portal that shall remain open
Creating a conduit through which grace will overrun

Fallen warrior

The struggle was on to get an answer to some questions troublesome
Was the spiritual way the right one or was it a refuge from impotence?
These were fundamental questions that released the mind seldom
It was the rise of the marauding hordes that blocked all deliverance

This is a battle that is faced all alone as the journey was started thus
The hand is empty bereft of weapon and the warrior stands defenseless
His fortitude was the cloak of peace conferred by an iron clad belief
In the worthiness of purpose that was like a scimitar in its silken sheath

The inner doubts start gnawing at the irresolute soldier on the field
Leaving him hollow and sinews straining on the brink of utter defeat
Looking up for guidance at the distant star of kindly life giving light
He utters a prayer seeking the solace of Divinity's true path bright

The lessons taught paled into insignificance faced with lessons to learn
A dual faced tempstress felled him from within with a slow keen burn
Knowing that his life is not interrupted but is a seamless smooth tapestry
His eyes close slowly shutting out external stage unable to witness travesty

Dark night

Depression came unbidden as I sat through the dark hours of night
It was quiet all around as the day was done and sun was out of sight
I had completed a journey from a far off land where I went to serve
There was a person whom I had to uplift to a level that he deserved

On return there were the familiar surroundings of a simple dwelling
I had spent a long time in its confines and it seemed time for an ending
A new age was required to start and change always bring forth stress
But nothing is accomplished without change which leads to a redress

My energy levels were low as I sat in the familiar alcove in prayer
I seemed to have reached a spiritual isolation leading to moods greyer
The bliss that I seeked was playing hide and seek, taunting me on
I strived to hold it close using meditation as my constant companion

The long hours of night slowly melded into the grey shades of dawn
I placed the questions troubling my mind at the feet of divine icon
The phobias, the neuroses, and the worries were my humble offering
Divinity was non-judgemental and accepted them returning a blessing

Dangerous interlude

My wish is to transcend that which is material in nature
Life has proceeded along predictable lines into future
Now the time has come to relinquish and to finally rest
Doffing the tattered and worn mask after passing test

Several moments have coalesced thus forming days
Life's building blocks have been created in many ways
Roles have come by in succession as dictated by fate
Now the tasks are done and it is time for a clean slate

Unmanifest at times when there is a lull in the waves
And manifesting only to fulfil tasks as karmic slaves
Not accumulating any moss as I speed as spear thrown
In my life thus far I have been a simple rolling stone

There havent been attachments of any great intensity
Neither corporeal or material have had such propensity
But my mind's greatest foe now is that of indolence
I struggle greatly with this menace for my deliverance

Beckoning goal

I had gone to the ancient land with the intent of severing bonds
Summoning the divinity within I prayed for an intervention
Assuming a stance that was truly ego beguiling me in its folds
I thought that I could quickly manifest a clean separation

Attachments were stifling and ego chafed at the bondage
Seeming happiness beckoned from the frontiers of freedom
And I was ready to make the leap forward with great courage
At last I would be free to roam about in a blissful kingdom

But as my meditation progressed there was a moment of respite
Severing the bonds were not the answer to torment of soul
My captivity was not the result of clinging by external sources
But was my response to an environment imposed by force

Cleansing my mind and filling my heart with unconditional love
Caused my mental clouds to be dispelled and clarity to restore
A way ahead became clear as to leave me spell bound with joy
I saw a future that was miraculous and boundless as the sky

Healer's dilemma

Healing is an important aspect of the awakened spirit's chores
It is a measure that is significant only in these terrestrial shores
Many are the efforts undertaken by humans in its great attempts
But erroneous ways of healing cause greater damage than it prevents


A true healer is one who believes completely in the Spirit's power
Perception of the highest order is an accompaniment to provider
There is no element of doubt in the mind of one who shall heal
A true understanding of nature shall hidden pathways reveal

Rearranging nature's ways are not to be undertaken lightly
There are times when the natural order of things are inviolate
And exerting effort to transform it shouldnt be done blindly
Thus causing more damage to future lives that are implicate

Seeing a loved one suffering can be a traumatic experience
And seeking to remove its cause a natural human instinct
But the enlightened soul sometimes holds itself in check
Seemingly callous, yet observing unfolding destiny's imprint

Final tryst

A new pact has been formed between me and the Supreme
It is based on unconditional love and complete surrender
There are no fine print in the contract to review and screen
And no force is powerful enough to tear this bond asunder

I finished one of my many journeys around the blissful world
It was a spiritual journey in company of one of my divine masters
I was a careful and earnest student and lessons were multi-fold
At every stage my mind was opened to vistas where spirit enters

The importance of unconditional love was made clear to my mind
Through lessons that were small and large coming in succession
Many messengers arrived bearing divine symbols of differing kind
Their arrival was unheralded and were woven in life's procession

I learnt the art of prayer and the way to ask questions of the Spirit
When my entreaties werent responded to, I tended to quickly despair
But the Master at every stage was on hand to decipher Divinity's limit
And my life's journey advanced quietly towards the final blissful tryst

Peaceful chaos

I sometimes fret and fume captive to thought
The mind has its own capricious way no doubt
A heaving mindscape is not suited for reflection
It carries with it life in a spate of confusion

I have to take pause to establish a reference
Vantage point of peace as a lighthouse resort
Unconditional love needs to manifest constant
Standing as a bulwark against thoughtful assault

Life's simplicity is constantly obscured by Ego
It is ready to take up arms and position offensive
The meditative stance is the counter to help forgo
That which is oppressive and stifling, reprehensive

I became a convert recently to a different view
A state of bliss and love is its premise anew
Nowadays my constant strife is to maintain balance
As my vessel battles storms in mind's ocean immense

Unasked boon

A supremely holy force beckons with intensity
I came to this ancient land with other goals
But I have been transformed within in entirety
Alchemy of the highest order has been performed

I saw glimpses of a future state of deep peace
There was only unconditional love to release
Neither foe nor friend was exempt from its flood
Its pull was inexorable as was its blissful spread

Never before had I experienced anything so holy
I am blessed to have been chosen for such bounty
There was no remembrance of having asked for boon
It was a precious gift given not an instant too soon

The way ahead suddenly became quite simple and clear
A lifetime of stress vanished alongwith resultant fear
The spiritual forces rise up constantly to enlighten
Nature rejoices outside with rain as accompaniment

Transformation

For a while I strained to modify world external
My meditation was focused on manifesting result
I was trying to bend the world to my will and wish
But its evanescent nature was not amenable to effect

Frustrated I turned away from meditation in disgust
I wanted immediate gratification of all my requests
Shouldnt God just manifest in and fulfill my desires?
After all my intentions noble, other's good to transpire

Soon I realized that external world cannot be changed
Not by mere thought evidenced in weak meditation
A transformative hold on other's life is a ego's wish
No matter how lofty the intent seeking manifestation

A true moment of epiphany burst forth at that moment
I transformed my meditation into a process of cleansing
Alchemy was needed to convert the martyr to messenger
My heart was filled with grace through complete surrender

Ecstasy

Sometimes the path ahead seems a bit confusing
It appears that forces are controlling the way
But the truth is that God is always in charge
Even though it appears that chance holds sway

Our choices may appear to be many and equal
But they are in truth guided by plan eternal
One of them is the right choice for our life
And that is the path which has the least strife

Surrender is all that it takes to travel there
A strong belief in the grace of the Divine Spirit
Our willingness to give up all attachments is key
And then Spirit will guide us to our final destiny

But our fear can sometimes hold us back indecisive
And then our spirit chafes, restless and in agony
We feel that our current state is not to be forfeit
But grace inexorable pulls us towards personal ecstasy

Grace

An effulgence of grace shall manifest itself
Where I move in timeless moments of eternity
My very presence is meant to comfort and heal
Those souls which torment themselves needlessly

As lives struggle on bereft of hope and joy
When there is a deep yearning within for bliss
I come as a dawning light in the eastern skies
Heralding the onset of brand new joyous times

There is no strain or associated stress in this
It is like the unfolding of a flower at dawn
As sun shine blossoms forth from an early morn
Hope springs anew in every heart waiting long

The power to transcend limitations of mere matter
An ability to assume the natural power lying within
Come, join with the Supreme, in transforming life
From a sequence of days, to moments of joy sublime