I am. Not!

In the higher peaks of me

I tried seeing myself,

Only to realize...

I am not my Self.

In the denser forests of me

I tried smelling myself,

Only to realize...

I am not my Self.

In the broader spectrum of me

I tried hearing myself,

Only to realize...

I am not my Self.

In the deeper oceans of me

I tried tasting myself,

Only to realize...

I am not my Self.

In the farther lands of me

I tried touching myself,

Only to realize...

I am not my Self.

I tried seeing far, but

Could not see my Self.

I tried smelling deep, but

Could not smell my Self.

I tried hearing sharp, but

Could not hear my Self.

I tried tasting strong, but

Could not taste my Self.

I tried touching hard, but

Could touch my Self.

I tried, tried, tried, tried and tried…

In the vaster expanses of me

I tried thinking of myself,

Only to realize...I am not my Self.

I tried again,

And then realized…

I am neither the peak,

Nor am I the seen...

I am neither the forest,

Nor am I the smell…

I am neither the spectrum,

Nor am I the sound…

I am neither the ocean,

Nor am I the taste…

I am neither the land,

Nor am I the touch…

I stopped trying,

And then realized…

I am a distant relative of Self. 

On the rare occasions we meet, 

I think... 

Self contemplates... and 

Both of us remain Silent!

I fell silent,

And then…

In my quest to find my Self, 

I realized I am not myself... and 

Only when I and me disappear, 

The Self will appear!

I remained silent,

And…

The Self is the peak and seeing… and

Beyond the heights seen.

The Self is the forest and smelling… and

Beyond the dense smelt.

The Self is the spectrum and hearing… and

Beyond the sounds heard.

The Self is the ocean and tasting… and

Beyond the depths tasted.

The Self is the land and touching… and

Beyond the reaches touched.

The Self is the mind and thinking… and

Beyond the expanses of thought.

I remained…

The Self is the sense… and

Beyond the senses!

The Self is the thought… and

Beyond the thoughts!

The Self is silence… and

Beyond the silence!

The Self is all… and

Beyond the all!

The Self is I… and

Beyond the I!

I...

The Self Is…

I Am. Not!

@PrakashSwamy, ACC

Who am I...

When the bird soars way too high

Flies and floats with nary a sigh

Who am I…

… To doubt its aim

Of reaching the edge of vast blue sky!

When the flower blossoms casting a spell

Freeing the bud’s petals from a lull

Who am I…

… To ponder its hue

Whether it’s too bright or a bit dull!

When the furry pup wags its tail

Every time I pass her without fail

Who am I…

… To suspect its love

Pure and clear as water in a pail!

When the rain pours and lashes the city

Drenching all and sundry without any pity

Who am I…

… To curse its fury

When hail and drizzle sound like a ditty!

When the lithe peacocks sashay and prance

Waving bluish green feathers as they dance

Who am I…

… To mock their swing

That never fails to keep gawkers in trance!

When the sun rises at dawn

Waking all beings wiping a yawn

Who am I…

… To shield those rays

Without which there’s no man, fawn or lawn!

When the baby babbles and smiles

Setting alight any land for miles

Who am I…

… To block its warmth

That could cleanse the humans’ wiles!

When the brassy temple bell tolls

As its wave of sound rises and rolls

Who am I…

… To shut my ears

When AUM fills to brim the aural wells!

When the young fall in love with desire

Burning with passion like wood on a pyre

Who am I…

… To lock my heart

As inclusion ember glows long after the fire!

When repetitive routine leaves a big void

And life just goes on as if you are a droid

Who am I…

… To not remind y’all

Rat race is something you can choose to avoid!

When work life soars with many battles won

Consuming us fully as we continue to run

Who am I…

… To not look inward

Since Life’s work remains yet to be done!

When wave after wave kisses the shore

Without a pause but no need to score

Who am I…

… To stop their foray

Since ceaseless effort is realization’s core!

When illness and injury show we’re frail

As mountains and oceans stay nonpareil

Who am I…

… To not stay still

So my will to know the Truth does not derail!

When the thirst to know gets so intense

Washing away all known pretense

Who am I…

… To refuse to quench

With my Master’s Grace, forever hence!

~ @PrakashSwamy