From you I craved compassion

Compassion Mantra

From you I craved compassion
That was indeed the source of
my suffering.
I accept this pain that you have
given me.
It is my teacher.
What is the teacher? Is it
the Practice? the Journey?
self study? Contentment, purity.
Why do you ask?
Indeed, why do you ask.
Do you think I've nothing to do
all day but this? Willingly sacrifice
my selfishness.

Because from you I craved compassion
and you were my teacher.
Having already learned that lesson
from the pain of walking through
Shiva's fire
other times. Burning away the afflictions
of delusion and unawareness.
I accept this pain that you have given me.
You are my teacher.
I will practice.
I will study.
I will walk on dusty roads.
Can I possibly elevate myself
that much? Certainly nothing
is worth that. Unless that
is the only choice

Because I found compassion within
You showed me the way
pointed right to it.
Of course it was there all
the time. That's beside the point.
Because you took the bottle
and opened it.
And I had not even seen it before.
Because now the stars will never
look the same.
And your eyes.
Sometimes the architecture
of our relationship seems
incoherent.
And then I look at the stars.

The Dream of non-Suffering

Somehow you grabbed my soul
formerly protected soft and safe
within the area behind my heart
(Where souls usually reside)
and with a stiff brush you washed
it clean.
When you gave it back to me it was
rough and raw.
It had a few holes that needed
patching and I would have to
grow new pieces of soul to
fill in the gaps.

Twisting, bending I opened my heart
to you. That's how you got in when I
wasn't looking. You told me that it was
a journey.
I took the first step, the second and third
and before long it was as if I was in a dream
beyond a dream. There you were, though
I couldn't see you, only hear, "let go, don't
struggle, the pain is not really there."

I tried to stay deep within the state
of non-waking. Attachment to my
dream life drawing me in and soothing
my tortured soul. Until the end of the world
I would sleep. But no you said, I could not
become attached to the dream. It wasn't real.
And I couldn't become attached to what
was real either. It is the only way to end
suffering and the illusion that we are
the mind.
And I gave you back my soul.
And now I stay awake.

Nearly the full moon

I walk between Sun and Moon.
I walk between unbridled passion
and strict renunciation. Closer to god...
I walk between Heaven and Earth.
When the mind understands
itself then enlightenment is achieved.

Until then, practice
saluting the sun... most mornings.
Opening heart mind soul body
to the elements, to the Ether
to the journey.

Who else can undertake it?
Can you clear my thoughts
so I can rest my consciousness
on itself?
Can you calm the whirls of mind-stuff?
Where is the jungle doctor
to suck the poison of past knowing?

When we lie down at night and close our eyes
we are all alone as if we were
in the grave. Take rest until you are ready
for savasana.
In true love abides the third truth
For which we are all searching.