
Prologue to my poem (below): Lamenting the times in which we live, I offer this awareness. Only by choosing the spiritual practices and age old principles that guide them, may one free their mind from the self-socio-cultural illusions of their reality this freeing peoples to come together as True Selves authentically belonging in community. We are talking the age old practices and principles of exile, death, resurrection, authentic belonging.
Poem: Doing the Work of Waking Up
(as if our lives depend on it)
Impermanence and change
is our human experience
Arising and falling away
our reality in tension
The unchecked mind lurging
this way and that a rider-less chariot
The ego self, in it’s fear,
clinging to comfort, avoiding risk
Thoughts’ seed and fruits’ action
is where our suffering begins a Buddha said
Thus practicing spiritual discipline
embracing spiritual principles of the ages
Learning non-attachment/non-aversion
Opens mindfulness of seed thought and fruit action
From contaminated consciousness arises
awareness of the self-socio-cultural illusion
Seeing our predicament
now bringing mindfulness and intention to bear
One may become the botanist and gardener
sowing the new seed and reaping the new fruits
The True Self can be harvested
now mastering the tensions and illusions within
True Self manifesting equanimity
equanimity manifesting wholeness
Wholeness, compassion
compassion, loving kindness
Loving kindness, self/other healing
self/other healing, authentic belonging
Thus free of illusions, liberated souls
remembering all life Divine and acts sacred
Personally and collectively, whole again
true selves, authentically relating
One with the Cosmic Universal Creator Christ
walking each other home together
Here and now our heaven on earth
in the grace of a loving God we gather
Beloveds, doing the work of waking up
(as if our lives depend on it)
Herb Stone, here&now working poetry, August, 2019