The path of action is one I have often taken,
even advocated, so why does it seem
to elude me these days?
The intellect, ever mind-full,
providing endless amusement, observations.
In the end, is this helpful or simply deterrent
to accepting the fullness of existence?
The yin, the yang
and the space in between where,
seeking equilibrium amidst chaos
of life even in the slow lane,
I garden, walk, wakefully witness
all the nuance my senses can hold.
I ask myself, if I had to release one faculty,
a child’s bargain really,
what would it be?
Heavens, I could not relinquish sight
though inner vision sustains me,
nor forego twilight dusting dervish skirts
over seas calm or torrential,
cocked ears discerning petrel from pueo,
tang of salt wafting under nostrils
fusing flavor with fragrance.
Life extends wonders to feast upon,
pyrotechnic sensations
in the thrall of sensual explosions
telegraphing sumptuous messages
to a mind freed from fruitless occupations.
It is indeed a fine line between mind-full-ness and mindfulness Bela. The latter term derives from the Pali ‘Sati’, meaning ‘memory of the present’, as doubtless you are aware. And that is altogether a tricky concept, one that we can so easily extend in practice into a mildly neurotic recursive mentation, wherein presence itself is subjugated.
I like your expression pointing to a wakeful witnessing, which sounds altogether more passive and accepting of the play of the senses. The way in which you embrace these subtle ideas so gracefully and vividly never fails to impress, and I find I both need and want to read each of your pieces at least three times to absorb more deeply upon each run.
Many congratulations Bela on yet another magisterial offering.
All best wishes, Hariod. <3
Hariod, you are such a sweetheart. Always appreciated. And yes, fine lines are what I’m being drawn to discern, these days. I know some of this poetry is obscure to many, and I apologize for that (reading 3X!). Yet it is what is coming through me for expression. Ever the faithful scribe, I simply jot it down and refine the phrasing. Many blessings, and again, my thanks. <3 Bela
I would be curious to know Bela, though it may be impertinent to ask, how close the first draft is to the final; or in other words, is more time spent on the honing than the initial creation or vice versa?
Not impertinent at all, Hariod. I consider it stems from curiosity, and happy to answer. Poems, as I say or perhaps have inferred, pretty much come out of the blue and I write them down. (This often happens while riding and Zen-ning along on my bike, 😉 which has its own challenges, as I’ve got to try and remember the crux of the piece until I arrive home! Usually I’ll remember the first line, then the rest gets recollected from that.) Sit with them. Wait a day or two. Sit again, refine. Wait some more. Refine, and either they click or they don’t, at that point.
As to the original’s proximity to the final product, it’s almost always true to its origins. It’s a challenge making it personal rather than preachy, so that is considered, as well. I also use my love of language to avoid employing adjectives twice in proximity, and that sort of thing.
Enjoy the day! <3 And thanks again for your interest.
As always then, the finalised poem (or art) masks the complexity of its creation. This is far from suggesting any apparent simplicity in the art itself, for in a sense each piece takes a lifetime to create – as well as a bike ride, of course. H <3
Haha, yes, this is true 😉 Small virtual lifetimes contained within the larger framework of physical existence, for as long as that lasts. Which is, frankly to my mind, never long enough, at least in retrospect. Yet who would want to live forever with or without physical decline? I know I wouldn’t, for reasons worth exploring in further ruminations 😉 Though I do love life – it is indeed a miraculous journey! Peace, love, Aloha, Hariod!
It would be hard to choose which faculty to lose. Perhaps taste may be the only sense which I could live without. Your photo and visions of life are presented in a way full of awe in its wonders, Bela.
Haha, well. I couldn’t possibly lose taste, as I am an accomplished chef who once owned and ran her own restaurant! So I’m greedy, that way – I wouldn’t want to lose a thing! Such ponderings are, as I mentioned, a child’s bargain anyway – don’t you remember as a kid asking crazy questions like, ‘would you rather burn to death or freeze to death?’ Honestly, the mind’s need to busy itself with pointless busy-ness 😉 Thank you Robin, for your comments and interest.
I love philosophical poetry Bela… Your artistry of that is magnificent…
Thank you for sharing it with us…
Hope your evening is most beautiful…
Michael
Aloha, Michael! So happy you’ve been enjoying my blog. Took me back apiece as well, wondering what those posts conveyed back in the ancient historical archives of 2011 😉 Thank you for your kind compliment, and I look forward to hearing from you again.
“…making it personal rather than preachy…” Yes, lovely phrasing, and what I strive for as well – luckily I have you to show me the way. I too, read the poetry several times, though I would not say that is because it is obscure, but rather because it contains oceans. Thank you, as always 🙂
Aww, thanks, VL! You are always too kind. Mahalo.
You make us think Bela as to which of our senses we could relinquish.. I guess I am greedy for I hold each of my senses precious to me.. I could however easily relinquish my possessions… And in doing so I think more would gain ‘Clarity’ of the gifts they so take for granted..
Wonderful thoughts Bela.. Blessings to you my friend.. Sue
Yes, I find letting go of possessions so easy, these days. One can, after all, live with quite little. And yes, clarity must certainly come with a pared-down sense of ‘what’s mine.’ At least I’ve found it so.
Thanks for your visit and comment, Sue. Always enjoy hearing from you! <3
Its always My pleasure 🙂
Found your site via Sue’s. I really like your write and yes, gives one pause for thought. It certainly would be difficult to give up one, wouldn’t it.
Renee, thanks for visiting – happy to see a new face <3
And yes, it would seem an impossible choice, giving up one of our senses. Far better do I like the idea of opening up to the sixth sense and beyond 🙂
Aloha, and hope to hear more from you!
Hi Bela,
Your last stanza jumped out at me, and I quote:
“Life extends wonders to feast upon,
pyrotechnic sensations
in the thrall of sensual explosions
telegraphing sumptuous messages
to a mind freed from fruitless occupations.”
For me, this is indeed powerful. The ‘fruitless occupations’ of the mind are essentially the product of past based diktats and regrets as also apprehensions about an uncertain future. These, singly and sometimes in unison, control how and what we ‘see’, how that occurs for us, blanking out quite a bit of what may be ‘out there’.
So as we learn to free our minds of those fruitless occupations, as you write, the colour and nature of our ‘pyrotechnic sensations’ would surely shift and change. But what, for me, is more relevant than observing this change is the question around ‘how to get to the access pathway to do that’. I would love to hear your and other readers’ thoughts on that.
As always, a lovely post Bela and I wish to acknowledge you for the consistency of posting such gems.
Shakti
Many thanks, as always Shakti, for your insightful and kind comments.
As for the ‘how,’ I am enough of a longtime student of the Enneagram to know that not everyone perceives the world as you and I do. In short, and I do mean short, there are three main approaches in this system: Head, Heart and Gut. Of course we all share qualities of all the nine Types, but in the main, we come into this life with one basic orientation. Head types always try and logic things out first. Feelings are uncomfortable and precipiate anxiety. Heart types are image-based, desiring the world to match their vision of it. They also need others to validate and affirm them. Logic comes, but it’s not the most natural way for them to comprehend their world. Gut types are kinesthetic first; we feel things and then process logically as a secondary exploit.
Knowing this system as I do and with over a quarter century of counseling people, it’s important for me to discover common ground first, so I get a sense of how to approach mutual understanding.
So how to get to those pyrotechnic wonders and calm the mind? For head types, meditation often works as a tool to calm the head (which summarily leaps into action, once more, at any opportune moment). So staying with a chosen practice instead of continually investigating other paths can be helpful. Mental distractions are their nemesis. Heart types love affirmations and visions of how life ‘could be,’ which often motivates them to grow. If they perceive beauty in their teacher, teachings or surroundings, they are more apt to respond favorably. Seeing the world for what it is rather than having an idealized version of it is their challenge. Gut types might engage their bodies in active/moving meditation. Gardening and walking or any other activity in nature assists in calming their energies. Moving from sensing complex feelings to grounding in the sense that all is right with the world in all its complexity is perhaps their greatest challenge.
I am by no means an expert in any field, though I hope this feedback is helpful to you, dear man. Carry on with the conversation, if you wish!
With fondness and Aloha,
Bela
It’s not called senseless for nothing. 🙂
Not sure what form of ‘senseless’ you mean, but if I surmise your meaning, I completely agree. Aloha, BN.
Being mystical while playing with words. 😉 Similarly one might say that mindfulness might be described as empty
Simply stunning thinking process and writing~
Thanks so much! Aloha, Cindy.