To escape through wisdom from the oppressive narrowness of the self into the joyous omnipresence of the Self is the goal of human life.
they paved paradise
and put up a parking lot
with a pink hotel, a boutique
and a swinging hot spot
don’t it always seem to go
that you don’t know what you’ve got
’till it’s gone
they paved paradise and put up a parking lot
***
behind Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta ~ October 2016
Suffering is a good teacher to those who are quick and willing to learn from it. But it becomes a tyrant to those who resist and resent.
june 19, 2016
dearest dad
it’s father’s day. you’re in the foothills hospital. you’ve been in care with alberta health services since march 17th 2016…
and the…
professor of neurosurgery said
“your father is as strong as a bull…”
i said
wrong
nurse practitioner said
“your father doesn’t need to return to our clinic…”
i said
wrong
md looking at x-ray said
“it’s on the wrong side…your father was prematurely released by a resident doctor without looking at the tests…i’m sorry…”
i said
wrong
clinical and surgical assistant said
“your father will need a ‘relocation’ surgery…”
i said
wrong
md said
“your father will have another 5 years…”
i said
wrong
clinical and surgical assistant said
“here’s my personal number i’ll check on your father every day…”
i said
wrong
nurse said
“if you want to see a doctor from the adult hydrocephalus clinic i suggest you come before their rounds…anytime after 6am…”
i said
wrong
nurse said
“why are you here?…so sorry…”
i said
wrong
food server points at the breakfast tray and said
“here’s your father’s breakfast”
i said
wrong
resident doctor said
“oh really?…i’ll make sure the team’s nurse practitioner is here at 10am…”
i said
wrong
nurse said
“well no one from the team can meet you now…sorry…”
i said
wrong
patient care manager said
“write or phone in your concerns about what has happened to your father to our patient relations department…again, i’m so sorry…”
i said
wrong
nurse practitioner said
“does your father walk?…”
i said
wrong
nurse said
“oh your father will be in long term care…”
i said
wrong
nurse practitioner said
“your father will use the elevator when he leaves here…”
i said
wrong
nurse practitioner said
“your father had another stroke last week…the team came in…so let’s do another stunt study…then we’ll get a geriatrician…ok?”
i said
wrong
You should not be carried away by the dictation of the mind, but the mind should be carried by your dictation.
go ahead as you waste your days with thinking
when you fall everyone stands
another day and you’ve had your fill of sinking
with the life held in your
hands are shaking cold these hands are meant to hold
***
streets from the municipality of Mies, Switzerland ~ April 2016.
Whatever has its origin in desire is a disturbing element, for desires are like stones pelted into the calm lake of consciousness. Attachment to pleasure or aversion to pain both destroy the equilibrium of the inner nature.
Be silent and calm every night for at least half an hour, preferably much longer, before you retire, and again in the morning before starting the day’s activity. This will produce an undaunted, unbreakable inner habit of happiness that will make you able to meet all the trying situations of the everyday battle of life. With that unchangeable happiness within, go about seeking to fulfill the demands of your daily needs.
bones sinking like stones
all that we’ve fought for
homes, places we’ve grown
all of us are done for we live in a beautiful world
yeah we do
yeah we do
we live in a beautiful world
***
Edmonton, Alberta, random stations ~ January 2016.
Release for constructive purposes the power you already have, and more will come. Move on your path with unflinching determination, using all the attributes of success. Tune yourself with the creative power of spirit.
chapter one we didn’t really get along
chapter two i think i fell in love with you
you said you’d stand by me in the middle of chapter three
but you were up to your old tricks in
chapters four, five and six
and i’m giving you a longing look
everyday, everyday, everyday, everyday, everyday everyday i write the book
No light is comparable to the light of wisdom. The light of wisdom awaits all those who learn and put into practice the teachings of taming the mind. It shines everywhere without discrimination, like the light of the Buddha’s Dhamma which never discriminates against anyone.
old man lyin’ by the side of the road
where the lorries rollin’ by
blue moon sinkin’ from the weight of the load
and the buildings scrape the sky
red lights flashin’ through the window in the rain
can you hear the sirens moan
cold wind rippin’ on the valley at dawn
and the morning paper flies
don’t let it bring you down
it’s only castle’s burning
find someone who’s turning
and you will come around you will come around
*** NYC ~ E 42nd Street ~ room with a view + Audrey Hepburn ~ February 2015.
Now you feel how nothing clings to you; your vast shell reaches into endless space, and there the rich, thick fluids rise and flow. Illuminated in your infinite peace.
those patio lanterns
they were the stars in the sky
those patio lanterns
lighting up our lives
those patio lanterns
they were the stars in the sky those patio lanterns
You must be logged in to post a comment.