Poetry & Prose "Speaking the Essence"

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“Nothing is constant except no-thing.”

Tolerance and equanimity of conditions, combined with sublimation of the ego to the divine principal in this eternal moment, amidst stress, anger, desirous clinging and ignorance of phenomenon - acceptance of what is offered, responding in context.

Be aware of the divine principal in people and things, be it morally perceived as good or bad, it is the lesson of life, reject nothing - learn from everything.

Breath and awareness are divine endowments - be aware, relax, and breathe… it is vital… it is important… it is the Protocol of NOW.

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In the beginning I blossomed as bud, leaf and branch.

Progressively regressing achieved the trunk, quite naturally returning to the root - borderless expansiveness confirms the singular gradient.

Nothing has changed from the beginning, this is the one constant.

I will blossom no more – how ordinarily miraculous This.

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If you prefer the sunshine over rain – wasting precious time is your endeavour.

Flame burns bright, radient amidst boundless darkness.

A sharp sword severs purse strings, naked and poverty stricken it seems all one can do is shine.

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Remember…

Before outside and inside there is nothing.

During outside and inside there is nothing.

After outside and inside there is nothing.

Never forget to remember the forgetting.

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The Way is not like anything…
Nor is it like nothing, but all the while it is something...

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All knowledge and intelligence is built on non-knowing and self-discipline of body and mind, all great beings endeavor to master these first.

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What there is to know
is not what we know…

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Fear

Ignorance manifests fear, which cultivates greed and anger.

Fear is the mechanism by which the ego castles itself from the world and others.
Fear strives to create a world of "I know" instead a world of “show me the wonder in it all.”

Fear separates us from discovery and union with that which created and supports our breath and being.
Why fear? Can you live forever?

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“The sacred
and the mundane…
are not two”

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A T T E N T I O N!
D A N G E R!

Be aware… take care,
Relax, be fearless - proceed with caution.

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Singular Gradient

The Phenomenal and nominal universe is but a singular gradient –
The unfolding Oneness without beginning and end…
we are extensions of this…
The singular gradient experiencing its “self” experiencing This is the Way.

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I am…
only when I think I am,
who am I when non- thinking?

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Gathering …

Tethered firmly between heaven and earth,
five gates flung wide; sixth in repose, four elements remain nameless.

Breathing in, breathing out… coursing through the center, entering the base flowing upwards… maintaining the thread subtly and actively returns
The myriad things to One.

Body mind and spirit converge -
Blatantly unseen It binds the ten thousand things…

In mute eloquence gather and flow between space and time.

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Beginning, middle and end - not three

Be aware of all thoughts, perceptions, feelings and sensations in your physical body within space and time of moment – discard high, low, this, and that– dwell here indefinitely.
Cut off all figuring and calculations as you penetrate the eternal moment.

Suspended by the golden thread… rooting yourself and body in the firmament.
Realize the breath as it cycles through your center like the ebb and flow of the oceans edge as it comes and goes freely among rocks, hard places and obstructions… flowing steadily to and fro – ceaselessly yielding to objects and forces flowing in, through and around… persistent yet yielding, direct and inevitable as nature and essence dictates.

Realize the great void and expanse of eternity is this exact and only moment.
Act in context to all stimuli – feel and be aware that what is done, said and thought in this eternal moment manifests the past and future within the realm of time and space.

Be aware of This, acting accordingly… nothing is lacking… all is as it should be.

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Eternal spring

Flowing-perpetual warmth abiding in solid cool rigor, coaxed gently from its slumber by mind’s unraveling measure, signaling creation to create what can never be created – manifesting what has always been; Its arrival inherent in its departure, departure inherent in its arrival.

So IT begins… Rejuvenating sunsets, reviving the heavens, beckoning birds, awakening soil and stirring seeds with infinite potential.

A child’s bright face uncovered and beaming.
Wandering, rain visited grasses, numberless purple, white and yellow crocus demanding attention.

Trees rejoicing in warm gentle breezes – windows flung open in welcome obedience to
time worn promises of renewal to that which was never old.
Unabashed seduction of mind and body with whisperings of reconciliation: titillating with the vow to be – even though it never was.

This continuum – this spring buoyantly shuttles consciousness in relentless currents of replenishment.
Swirling eddies of serene reflection momentarily divert my passage – humbly accommodating my seeing, feeling and contemplation of its offerings.
Gently resuming it’s meandering, presenting a kaleidoscope of opportunities to marvel at – to revel in, never failing to surpass its last offering.

Resistance is futile against its relentless torrent of sublime experience and unfathomable giving.
And to those whose spirits lie suspended in hibernation… relax your brow, unclench your teeth and let loosen your grip – effortlessly dissolve yourself in Spring’s deepening caress.

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Next – the Future
Now – present
Before – the past
All – this moment

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Vast Functioning…

Pervading everywhere – functioning with out activity.
Thinking verifies its presence – but not its purest function.
Its presence inherent in activity – activity not inherent in its presence.
It penetrates with out intrusion.
It captures with out striving.
It intimately informs when accessed.
It is ever intimate in its knowledge.
Its sword is non-thing – compassion its strength.
It is divided but not separated.
It sees without looking.
It feels without touching.
The green pine tree is colorless: white snow is not white.
The fish swims not-knowing It – a bird flies because of It.

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What there is to know is not what you know.
How to know more than you know?
Know non-knowing.

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What the Buddha taught...

Sitting in vivid darkness
Watching Its unraveling…

being in accord, It is only This.

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Essence embraced…

Saturating multiple functions – it’s flowing through cuts into One.

Lift the hand lower the hand – stillness in motion.
Reach to grab it – there it is… Open the hand – here it is.

Serenely intense, suspending all activity – Pure and vibrant –
fully manifest it in this.
Embrace the Vital Essence – in an instant utter stillness.

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Take a step in a place
you have never left –
Moving forward… enter between the breaths.

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Caught in the swirling…
Pierce its very center -
Entering be free

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Tear up the sail…

Leaving the vessel to wander the currants –
Unencumbered by the whim of another
Freedom peace and tranquility masters the vessel.
Not knowing where it will be led
Not knowing what waits beyond the horizon,
Just drifting adventurous in the dawn.
Appreciating twilight as swells lift and lower this vessel until the drifting has ceased.
Attention! Attention! The ceaseless dawn…

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Intimate absorption –
Cutting me away.
One constant thing.

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Moving forward…
Take the backwards step From the place of knowing.

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Lucidly going forth,
Stillness gathers and receives –
Vast functioning unobstructed.

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YO! Are you there?

Yup – don’t you see…
Rays of morning sunlight slanting through the blinds.
The flower in the vase.
Yup – don’t you feel…
The scent of a magnolia blossom.
The caress of the one you love and who loves you.
The throb-throb-throbbing in my chest
My mind and body during vigorous exertion…
The weight of my boots – the heft of my leather jacket.
Yeah! I am here, you still there?
Yup – don’t you see…
Thoughts of my doings –
Thoughts of my sayings –
Doing of my thoughts –
Doing of my sayings.
The face of my friends
The face of my dog,
My not comfortable shoes – my not un-comfortable bed.
Yup… still here. You there?

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Moonlit pond – still and clear…
ripples by themselves.

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The source of all things –
the source in all things, where is it not...

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The Way

Seeing no-thing with the eyeball being wholly absorbed.

The natural path is natural –
Many streams find the ocean.

Senses flow – Emotions color – Essence gathers.

Radiant is the Vital Essence–
Form flow through the Center.

Action finds its way – make no effort – follow no plan.
In non-doing the Way is done.

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I…


I am the body
Yet – the body is not I.

I am thought
Yet – thought is not I.

I am emotion
Yet – emotion is not I.

I am
Yet – I am, is not I.

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Coffee cup…

A mute white cylinder with shaded gradients, curves, texture and lines
Just sitting in its cup-ness, solid smug and short – is the cavity its secret – so simple is its perfection.
The handle brilliant, complete in itself and lacking nothing.

Maybe…

The opening and the handle is the answer – multiple facts and functions cooperating to be coffee cup.
Empty or full, is the function absolute; is its existence negligible as long as it performs its task?

Suppose…

The cup fell and broke – would it still be a cup?
is the tangible solid the cup
or could it be the implied use of its potential?

It seems to be …

A coffee cup just sitting there on the table with other cups,
so alike yet different – identical and unique.

Or?

Is it just a cup holding your liquid refreshment?

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Put this there with that.
Bring that here with this.
Now – Put down both.

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Motionless gathering in the dark

A single step fills the darkness...
Serene intensity of intent without motive or preference,
No-thing quietly received.

The six gates agape, ten thousand things take their place and position – Vast function evident.

Entering a dark room it is glaringly bright,
Turn on the light and it is dimmed, augmented and narrowed.

Intimately maximize the volume of your skin… it is almost done.

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Before entering…
leave this and that outside.
Now… where is outside?

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Actively non-active.
Intent…
Without reference.

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Radiant darkness

The bright moon silently illuminates mountains and rivers.

Profound darkness makes the world One – the singular flame spherically luminous at eternity’s borderless center.

Clear and lucid straight to the bottom – ripples are distinct and clearly seen.

Serenely intense is the clear sky -
Silent peal of thunder…
Storm clouds gather and disperse without incident.

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The Way…

The acquainted is distant,
The extraordinary is familiar,
Confusion does not confound -
simultaneously
upright and tasting the sky.

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Intent on the clear sky –
Clouds gather and disperse,
All the while… moonshine.

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Realizing the flames,
The wooden man enters
but is not consumed.

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Vital Essence

Fathomless unmitigated purity, the bottom is clearly seen.
It’s diametric opposite, shallow un-alleviated murkiness...
The bottom is nowhere in sight.

Turbidity increases as stirrings increase, reaction supplants action… the constant principal is interrupted and eclipsed.

Resilience reflects the great functioning purified and dynamically still –
All points of contact are bright, lucid and enlightening.
Phenomena are recognized as they appear - place and function evident.

Activities begin within mind, if nothing is initiated by mind nothing will manifest – if it has characteristics it is not the Way.

Inhale, open up, release and extend – pure Vital Essence flowing up and radiating through the center circumvents all obstructions.

Serenely intense, invigorating, singular, harmonious, silent, free flowing, reposing, and exclusively inclusive – there is nothing above it, yet its not above anything, meeting things where they are – unequaled it pervades everywhere and nowhere simultaneously.

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Vital Essence
Immaculate, still and deep.
Vividly – deviations are seen.

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Then. Now. Later.
Which One is This.

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Birds do not know,
Rocks in the stream do not know.
Do you know or not know?

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Preserve the Essence
Maintain vigilance in This –
In an instant... no-thing.

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Mindlessly
Nurturing essence,
Devoid of this and that –
all is pacified.

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Pervading
within existence and emptiness,
Vital essence abides.

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Emptiness and function
Manifesting distinctly,
Mind is not privy to this.

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Pure Vital Essence –
Neither This nor That
Can find purchase.

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Arising simultaneously…
Non-existent - Before after and in between.

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Devoid of attachments
Inside and outside,
This and That relinquished

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In the Way
They are identical…
Impossible to be found out -
Black and white.

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Unmoved by mind things…
Storm clouds without incident.

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The universe utterly still:
All activities spontaneously Thus.

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Stillness with purpose,
Perfect unborn intent -
Sincerity with out motive.

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Lucidly going forth,
Stillness gathers – Vast functioning unobstructed.

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Dragons…

There Great Compassion flawless –
Selling water by the river;
Robbing humans of their dust,
giving them no-thing for their troubles
All the while pointing at the moon in broad daylight.

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Feel it, seeing you feeling it…

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See the past
and the future
in the now.

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Ignorance dominates.
Wisdom inspires.
Realization reconciles.