I haven’t tried to write poetry in a long, long time, but when this appeared at the door, so to speak, I let it in. I hope you find it helpful. And, I hope it’s poetry!

Listen to Your Heart

One says: “There is nothing to practice. Just be.

Let your true nature emerge.

Don’t disturb your mind with seeking.”

Another says: “Strive earnestly!

From striving comes wisdom;

from not striving, wisdom’s end.

Knowing these two courses,

conduct yourself so that wisdom will grow.”

Two views—grasping at either,

I sink like a stone in an ocean of suffering,

I drown in perplexity.

Practice? Don’t practice?

Just be? Awaken?

Follow the Path? Find the pathless path?

Who are these gurus, sages, and wise ones,

Who speaks with such authority

about a heart they do not know

and a life they have not lived?

Sickened by views,

tired of intellectual wrangling,

I stop—sit, and grow quiet.

Following the breath’s ebb and flow,

seeing thoughts rise and fall,

I let go

all movement stops.

I touch my deepest heart,

which has always known the way.

Then, a feeling, like going home, arises,

once again there is clarity

once again there is love

once again there is wisdom, smiling.

Now

the way is clear:

the truth has never been either this

or that

Has never been between

doing or not doing,

striving or not striving,

between halting or struggling,

between effort and being,

between aspiration or acceptance.

In this moment, now, all polarities dissolve

I see what to do, and just do it

and this doing is also I am, just being.

Seeking or not seeking—does not apply!

Being or doing—does not apply!

Striving or accepting—does not apply!

There is just, this.

And now, I see the sages and wise ones smiling,

their authority has utterly fallen away—

all views lie at their feet like rags.

They were, after all,

only fingers pointing at the moon

they did not know truth as a view to cling to

nor was their pointing without truthful direction.

This day is

this moment is

both gift and opportunity,

both play, and a great work.

Cling to either view

and the heart grows cold—

diligent action becomes futile,

and play becomes meaningless.

Listen to your heart.

It has always known the way.

It has always known what to be and do.

© Steve Goodheart

♥♥♥

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