Wednesday 31 December 2014

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

Monday 1 December 2014

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