As I stare off into the horizon
I reflect on my life
The man I have become
In 29 years, I have come so far
Yet old unskillful habits persist
Holding me back from living the life I truly want to live
My breathe brings me back into this moment
In this moment I can change my life
I can begin the process of letting go of what’s holding me back
So I can acquire the life I want to live
Suffering lives within all of us
Past mistakes on rerun
Future uncertainties constantly dance within our minds,
Making us suffering in this moment
How do we break from this cycle?
We can understand our own suffering
We can develop compassion and self love
As we develop compassion for ourself,
We can begin to transform our suffering into joy
Our life can now be spent helping others suffering less
Bringing joy & peace for those in need
What is our purpose?
Money?
Fame?
Is our only purpose in life to consume & buy stuff?
I believe our purpose on this planet is much more than what’s listed above.
We are here,
To inspire.
To create.
To help others.
To protect the innocent.
We are much more than our career, bank account, awards, and trinkets.
Fear bubbles underneath the volcanoes surface.
Pain filled smoke seeping to the surface.
Anger, hatred, & rage boiling inside.
Until one day,
A vicious explosion destroys all in it’s path.
Leaving only pain & suffering to all.
Innocence lost in a moment.
How could this happen?
Will there ever be peace?
Fear, anger, hatred, & rage live within all of us.
Simmering under the surface.
Compassion leads us to love & understanding.
Love & understand can tame the simmering flames within us.
Peace begins & ends with us.
This poem is in response to the Christchurch mosque shooting on 15 March 2019. RIP to all who lost their lives and condolences to all who were touched.
Inspired by the late Chester Bennington & the band Linkin Park’s song “One More Light”.
I wake today,
Fueled not by apathy,
But compassion.
For the 150 billion of animals slaughtered each year.
For the million of children who die from disease and famine.
For those who commit suicide & those who suffer silently each day.
I vow to live a life that reduces the amount of suffering I cause in this world.
To speak for those who have no voice.
Who cares if one more light goes out in the sky of billions stars?
I do.
All life is precious.
Thank you farmers for growing my vegetables.
Thank you farm workers for bearing the withering sun.
Thank you food packers and factory workers.
Thank you truck drivers.
Thank you grocery store clerk’s.
Thank you police officers.
Thank you fireman.
Thank you soldiers.
Thank you to dish washers, cleaners, bussers, servers, cashier’s, office workers, engineers, doctors, lawyers, laborers, salesman, and stockers.
I’m grateful for your hard work. 🙏🏼
Keep moving forward.
On the path unknown.
Life is beautiful.
Life is short.
Our lives are more precious than any diamond or jewel.
Let go of the past.
It weighs done this present moment.
Crushing joy & love.
Don’t fear what’s next.
Anxiety ruins this precious moment.
Have faith.
Trust the uncertainty of the path unknown.
We are nature.
A gentle breeze grazes me.
As I gaze into the deep blue sea.
Nature reminding me once more,
How beautiful she truly is.
May we see the oneness of nature.
Oneness of everything.
The illusion of separation blind us from the ultimate truth.
We are nature.
As long as this illusion lasts.
We will not wake up to save ourselves.
Why are we here?
What is our purpose?
To mindlessly consume?
To suffer & cause suffering?
Humanity has hit a turning point.
We can not mindlessly consume much longer.
Our path must change.
To a more mindful one.
To uplift and inspire change.
To help alleviate the suffering of all sentient beings.
To save our precious planet from mindless consumerism & ego.
To be the change,
We seek in the universe.
I woke today seeing the world differently than before.
As I walked through the forest,
I saw my own lungs within the trees.
My heart within the sun above me.
My mind found within a cold waters stream.
For without the trees,
I have no air.
Without the sun,
I have no heart.
No mind,
without clean water.
The Narrow Path 