poetry – Page 17 – The Narrow Path

Innocent Living Beings.

By just being alive I will cause suffering in the world.

But I strive to negate as much as I can.

I vow to look at all living beings with compassion.

I vow to look at the suffering I cause in the world.

I vow to take action to alleviate suffering in all living beings.

Rape, torture, and death.

I see a tear go down a mother cows cheek.

I hear the last squeal of a suffering pig.

How we call ourselves peaceful while supporting such violence?

Blinded by industry lies.

Cold with apathy.

Myths.

Outdated traditions.

Wake up to compassion.

Wake up to peace.

Wake up to 2018.

A time of abundance.

A time where we don’t need animal products to survive.

There is another way.

A way of peace.

A way of compassion.

A way of love.

Will you join me?

Peace is the Way.

When my opponent shows hatred, I will show love.

When my opponent shows apathy, I will show compassion.

When my opponent shows fear, I will show confidence.

When my opponent shows aggression, I will show peace.

When my opponent is attached, I will let go.

They are not my true opponent.

My true opponent is within.

Within my fear.

My judgments.

My limiting beliefs.

My attachments.

I vow to look at my opponent with full-hearted compassion.

I vow to forgive my opponent.

I vow to show them another way.

The way of peace.

The Broken Dam.

Pain.

Anger.

Confusion.

Suffering.

The pain of loneliness.

Isolation.

Fear.

Building up like water flowing into a mighty dam.

Cracks form.

The wall deteriorates.

Until one day the walls scream in pain.

The dam is broken.

Suffering overflows into the world.

The river mourns.

The birds cry.

Innocent beings swept away by the waves of suffering.

I have no answers.

Only questions.

How can we prevent suffering from spilling over?

How can we live in peace?

How can we heal our nation?

Time.

What time is it?

I glance at my clock.

The time is now.

I must change.

I must grow.

I must let go.

Now.

Impermanence.

The constant flow of time.

A seed grows into a tree.

A baby grows into a young adult.

Dreams.

Love.

Peace.

Compassion.

Joy.

Now.

Breathing in deeply I embrace my impermanence.

Breathing out I feel joy pulsate throughout my body.

I vow to not waste my life.

I vow to live in the now.

For this is not my practice life.

Shore.

A wave flows in & out.

A seagull floats above me.

A crab clings to a rock.

A sand castle withers away.

Nature’s many lessons all around me.

Consistency.

Patience.

Resilience.

Impermanence.

Nature can only guide us so far.

Be still.

Bring yourself to the now.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Observe.

Smile.

Stardust.

Infinite space.

Infinite time.

Infinite possibilities.

The darkness of a black hole.

The blinding light of a quasar.

A massive star becomes a supernova.

A supernova transforms into a pulsar.

Dancing light into the darkness.

Does the Universe mourn the dying star?

Or does it celebrate the supernova for giving birth to new life?

Does a star truly die?

Or can it only transform?

For I am stardust.

Born from a dying star.

Dancing into the darkness.

Mayur “Kumar” Sarhad.

6 years have passed.

Today it feels like 6 seconds.

I pick up the phone.

Shock. Disbelief. Tears.

So unexpected. Tragedy.

The pain of losing a great young man too soon.

Tears.

Sadness.

Because your life gave us joy.

You taught us that life is impermanent.

You taught us gratitude for every moment alive.

You showed us that life can be taken away at any given moment.

You taught us to not take our friends for granted.

Thank you for being an amazing friend.

A second big brother to me.

I could always count on you.

Thank you, Mayur (Kumar) Sarhad.

You live on through your brother Veeral.

You live on through your parents.

You live on through your friends.

When we walk, you walk.

When we breathe, you breathe.

When we smile, you smile.

Does a cloud die when it turns into rain, ice, or snow? Or can it only transform?

Love you bro,

Johnny Hoffman

Anchor.

A wave hits.

The wind howls.

A shark lurks in the darkness.

The storm surrounds me.

Will I sink into the darkness?

I throw my anchor into the depths of the sea.

No wave can break me.

No wind can push me.

No shark can hurt me.

No storm will out last my anchor.

Whenever times are tough, I can bring my focus back to my anchor.

My anchor of mindful breathing.

This anchor will be with me until my last moment.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

On a dark & stormy night, a lost ship sees a lighthouse in the distance.
The sailors can barely see the light at first, for the light is blinded by dark clouds surrounding the ship. They slowly begin their journey to shore.

The lighthouse does not judge the sailors lost at sea.
The lighthouse does not force the lost ship to shore.
The lighthouse just keeps shedding its light in order for others to see out of the darkness.

Do not bend to strong winds.

Do not worry about powerful waves.

Do not sink into the ocean of darkness.

Focus your energy on making your light stronger and clearer.
The stronger the light, the better those lost will be able to see the shore.

Be confident. Be patient.
Allow them to make the long and challenging voyage to shore.

Become the lighthouse.
Become the light for others to see out of the darkness.
But first, you must acknowledge the lighthouse within your heart.

The light within your true nature.

Welcome To Heartbreak.

I cried.

I begged.

I promised I would change.

I poured my heart out.

I suffered alone.

How could you not want me back?

Why can’t you forgive me?

How could you be so cold?

How could you be so heartless?

Welcome to heartbreak.

The heartbreak of rejection.

The sadness of regret.

The pain of looking in the mirror.

Self-hatred.

Anxious days.

Depressed nights.

Through the pain, I learned how to be the lotus flower.

For the lotus flower grows in muddy waters.

Through suffering comes joy.

Through suffering comes peace.

Through suffering comes transformation.

No mud, no lotus.

My heart is now filled with gratitude.

Thank you for letting me suffer and grow.

Thank you for letting me go three years ago.

Thank you, Alicia.

Hope all is well.

With Aloha,

Johnny Hoffman

Backstory: 3 years ago in Feb 2015 my life changed forever. I finally told my fiance that I cheated on her. She left me that day. I felt heartbroken, fearful, and anxious. I had to sit with myself. Sit with the anxiety, pain, and loneliness. Sit with the self-hatred. Through that suffering I found a new way of life. A one of meditation, mindfulness, and joy.

(Main photo: Kanye West, 808’s & Heartbreaks)

Category: poetry