Poems!

A Selection from the Hua Hu Ching

by Brian Walker

To the ordinary person, the body of humanity seems vast.
In truth, it is neither bigger nor smaller than anything else.
To the ordinary person, there are others whose awareness needs raising.
In truth, there is no self, and no other.
To the ordinary person, the temple is sacred and the field is not.
This, too, is dualism which runs counter to the truth.
Those who are highly evolved maintain an undiscriminating perception.
Seeing everything, labeling nothing, they maintain their awarenesss of the Great Oneness.
Thus they are supported by it.

No Title

I am of the nature
to grow old.
There is no way to escape
growing old.

I am of the nature
to have ill health.
There is no way to escape
having ill health.

I am of the nature to die.
There is no way to escape death.

All that is dear to me
and everyone I love is of the nature to change.
There is no way to escape being
separated from them.

My actions are my only
true belongings.
I cannot escape the consequences of my actions.
My actions are the ground on which I stand.

Poetic Quotation

Whatever joy there is in this world,
All comes from desiring others to be happy,
And whatever suffering there is in this world,
All comes from desiring myself to be happy.

–Shantideva