Self-Blood

Supposing this were the last day,
And I had to tell you all I'd learned,
I'd sum it up thusly:

That there are ways to live
That are comfortable
For oneself and for others
That do not involve any
Asking of questions.

In addition,

There are ways to live
That are uncomfortable
For oneself and for others
That involve only
Asking of questions.

The trick is this:

Do not suppose to live
In ways that are comfortable
For yourself and for others
If you expect
To ask any questions--

Unless you are quite serious about it--

In that case,
You may ask any question you like,
And we will lay gold at your feet.

But if you are not,
We will not.

January 30, 2014

Mother,
I remember the scratch of your legs
As you held me between them,
I, unable to stand, without them
Holding me up.

Father,
I remember the spring of your bed
As you tater-trapped me in your hands,
I, unable to move, beneath your grip,
Holding me still.

Brothers,
I remember the scruff of your backs
As you regarded me with indifference,
I, unable to remain, upon the couch,
Sitting in your place.

Sisters,
I remember your acquiescence
As I regarded you with indifference,
I, unable to love, without noticing you
Moving like ghosts.

Book of the Dead

May you realise,
Your ultimate nature:

Insight & compassion
in blissful union.

God's Advice to a Warrior

Yield all acts to Me,
Intent on worship, meditation,
And undistracted discipline.

I will redeem from death
Those who have joined themselves
With the eternal, changeless Mind.

Abide only in Me,
Place your intellect in Me,
And I will be your only home.

If you cannot join your mind with Me,
Unify yourself with all of Creation,
Which is filled with Me.

If you cannot join with Nature,
Be intentional in your actions,
Dedicating all you do to Me alone.

If you cannot act for Me alone,
Do not act at all,
Abandoning all desire for gratification.

Know Me first,
Unite with Me secondly,
Renounce yourself, lastly, and find peace.

Those who abandon hatred,
Who live in friendship and compassion,
Refusing possessions and satisfactions,

Find that joy and grief are the same,
Living contentedly,
Resolved, and dead to selfishness.

Whose mind is fixed on Me is dear to Me.
Who unites with all of Creation is dear to me.
Who rejects the illusion of living for the substance of life is dear to Me.

Who neither hates nor rejoices,
Who neither grieves nor desires,
Who finds no difference between pleasant and unpleasant,

Who is one with foe and friend,
Who is one in honor and disgrace,
Who is one in cold and heat and anguish and joy,

Freed from attachments to what is received for actions,
Contented with whatever comes,
Silent, homeless, and steady in mind,

All who honor this immortal code,
Keeping faith, devout, intent on Me alone,
Are dear to me.

(BG, 12:6--20)