Zen – Page 22 – The Narrow Path

Lost at Sea.

A ship is lost in the treacherous open sea. The crew grows more impatient each day; the Captain is worried about a potential mutiny. No land in sight.

Will this be the end?

My crew goes weary.

Mumbling & arguing with each other.

Constantly chattering.

The smell of mutiny in the air.

I observe them from my private charters.

One moment they are angry.

The next they are sad.

Anxious.

Depressed.

Fearful.

Will we ever see land again?

A large wave swells up from the depths of the ocean.

Panic.

HOLD ON!!!!!

The ship creaks and moans.

We survive.

A month goes by.

Food short on supply.

Crew sick and diseased.

Birds of prey circle above us.

The end is near.

Until one day I see darkness on the horizon.

LAND!!

We are safe.

Joy & tears flow into the sea.

My crew dances under the moonlight.

No wave can sink me.

No storm will worry me.

I won’t break to my crew’s demands.

For I am the Captain.

I am not my thoughts. I am not my emotions. I am the observer. The Captain of my body & mind. I will honor these thoughts & emotions as impermanent. I will not sink into the darkness.

Gratitude.

I breathe in.

I smile.

How wonderful it is to be alive!

Joy pulsates through my body.

A smile lights across my face.

My heart beats with compassion.

My lungs full of gratitude.

Grateful for pain.

Heartbreak.

My breath.

And Joy.

Grateful to be alive.

I will smile.

I will laugh.

I will dance.

For life is impermanent.

Thank you life.

Thank you impermanence.

Thank you.

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Outdated traditions.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.

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.

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.