noone will ever know the secret of Eleusis
POETRY
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This is a group in which to post poetry that you have written yourself. It may be long or short, polished or rough, a celebration or an experiment. It is not a competition, more a place where we can share and appreciate and learn from each other and discuss each other's poems.
The poems are grouped into "discussions". Each discussion may be a theme or a poetry form. Each discussion can grow into a little collection. Add individual poems as "Comments" within the appropriate section. You can also add remarks as comments too. If there is no appropriate section, start a new one. If you feel clumsy doing this, don't worry - the site moderator will tidy it up later. Poems added should be broadly connected with the theme title of the discussion, but do not have to relate directly to other poems already posted.
Writing poetry can be everything from a light amusement through to a deep spiritual practice. Enjoy.
Discussion Forum
HAIKU
Started by David Brazier. Last reply by Carol English Aug 18. 24 Replies 0 Likes
This is a place for posting haiku.A haiku is a 17 syllable poem, generally consisting of three lines with 5-7-5 syllables respectively. Normally the final line gives a twist or "turn" to the meaning or makes a reference to the season of the year. Traditionally, in Japan, haiku were often about the moon, clouds, cherry blossom, the wonders of nature, especially anything beautiful yet…Continue
CHRONIC PAIN
Started by David Brazier. Last reply by David Brazier Jun 25. 6 Replies 1 Like
Waking from drug sleep tangled night,sahara mind extending to incognitaripples round a fire still burningat the back behind the ears;flames curl over the scalp,here and there explodingpointlessly, above my eyeor inside the ear.My teeth feel as if they are about to depart.I do not have the energy to weep.A cup of tea, English solace,and caresses from the cat.Is it time to take another pill yet?I string my lament on a chain of prayer,some steadinessmid of the sulphurous storm,no end in sight.Continue
LOVE
Started by David Brazier. Last reply by David Brazier Mar 25. 11 Replies 2 Likes
A place for poems that are love poems or poems about love.Continue
Dance of Love
Started by Dayamay Dunsby Jan 6. 0 Replies 4 Likes
A Karmic embraceSharing timeMoving throughPressing on.Falling downTaking stockA kindred waltzA gentle rock.No retreatNo regretsA load of follyA touch of Grace.The fine and coarseA ragged edgeBroken heartsAnd settled faith.Continue
TANGERINE
Started by David Brazier Dec 25, 2018. 0 Replies 0 Likes
The friendly teller of healing talesholds out a hand, hoists the sails,temptation is a tender touch,take a slice, but not too much.Sages, ages, pirates and souls,bananas and oranges, roasting hot coals,wear your best, the tangerine,say it soft, but say what you mean,the mean won’t go hungry,the generous shall eat,we’ll ride on the seas,attire the fleet!Pull up the anchor and sail on the mainand you shall have apples all over again:essence of pearl, lacy or cruel,the monkey is washing his…Continue
TODAY'S SNOW COVERS YESTERDAY'S TRACKS
Started by David Brazier. Last reply by Diana Hoagland Nov 24, 2018. 7 Replies 2 Likes
Today's snow covers yesterdays tracks. Success or failure, triumph or wreck.The waning moon shall later wax.Time continues her endless trek.We who follow or go aheadmake war and peace, then rest and sigh.We have no time to bury the dead,the undertakers too shall die.Yet over all still shines the sun,turning ice to glorious jewel,and all the ventures we’ve begunshall end in love and never be cruel.The snow has covered the tracks of oldand made a wonderland from dross.My heart is warm, be it ever…Continue
Amitabha Rising
Started by Cahya Maitri Avalokita Oct 12, 2018. 0 Replies 2 Likes
Darkness every which way,But not because the streetlampsAre out in town;Heedless feet they stray --Despite the path clearly laid,The blinds are down;Shutters closed to the lightCast the world into shadowAnd none can see;Amitabha rising,Buddha of Pure Land Bliss,What fools are we?Compassion every which way,Though not of our deserving,Shines on us;Takes those feet that stray,And sets them on that pathCalled Joy and Trust;Shutters are swung open,Light so dazzling bright floods in,The shadows…Continue
RENKU
Started by David Brazier. Last reply by David Brazier Oct 11, 2018. 9 Replies 3 Likes
This is a place for posting renku.Renku is a Japanese poetic form with five lines with syllables 5-7-5-7-7. You will note that the first three constitute a haiku, so you can say a renku is a haiku with two extra lines.Here is an example that I wrote this morningIn the unknown nightmy soul is busy weavinga new day’s garmentto protect me from the galethat ever seeks to enterContinue
Life could be a poem
Started by David Brazier Sep 21, 2018. 0 Replies 2 Likes
Life could be a poem if it rhymedor the metre was predictable insteadof random interference going onamidst the buzzing of the insects in my head.Life could be a song all full of joyif its cadences were rising all on cue;if the lyrics, though repeating, harmonisedand we wisely followed all the truth we knew.Life could be a hymn to peace and gloryfull of images of heaven here on earthas ecstatic prophets reveled in their storyand war and dread were only tropes of mirth.Yes, life could be a prayer…Continue
Amelia
Started by Andrew. Last reply by Dayamay Dunsby Jun 3, 2018. 1 Reply 1 Like
Oh beautiful flower so delicate and pure that blossoms for all to behold.With a breath you are gone and yet you were here or was it an illusion that we held you, What lesson we learn is yet still unclearShould we hold on to the memory or wish you near Should we remember the pain and all that we feared.As the years pass by the pain remains neither weakened or subdued. Oh how I miss all that you never had. I’ll remember you as his rose.Kind RegardsAndrew.Continue
Comment Wall
Add a Comment
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Comment by Dayamay Dunsby on April 18, 2019 at 10:04
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The darkness subsides.
And the moon remains.
A luminous shadow.
Namo Amida Bu
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Comment by David Brazier on April 17, 2019 at 18:37
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Tao, you old Yin and Yang,
what have you made for dinner?
The wind is in the north today,
the full moon’s a winner,
but it takes no more
than a field of clay
to break the back of a sinner.
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Comment by Dayamay Dunsby on April 17, 2019 at 8:00
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The Moon glows pink in the morning mist.
Out of reach.
Night lifts.
Dream persists.
Namo Amida Bu.
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Comment by Désirée Verstraete on March 5, 2019 at 10:03
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INSIDE THIS CLAY JUG
A POEM BY KABIR, TRANSLATION BY ROBERT BLYInside this clay jug
there are canyons and
pine mountains,
and the maker of canyons
and pine mountains!All seven oceans are inside,
and hundreds of millions of stars.The acid that tests gold is here,
and the one who judges jewels.And the music
that comes from the strings
that no one touches,
and the source of all water.If you want the truth, I will tell you the truth:
Friend, listen: the God whom I love is inside.
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Comment by Cahya Maitri Avalokita on October 12, 2018 at 13:41
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Darkness every which way,
But not because the streetlamps
Are out in town;
Heedless feet they stray --
Despite the path clearly laid,
The blinds are down;
Shutters closed to the light
Cast the world into shadow
And none can see;
Amitabha rising,
Buddha of Pure Land Bliss,
What fools are we?
Compassion every which way,
Though not of our deserving,
Shines on us;
Takes those feet that stray,
And sets them on that path
Called Joy and Trust;
Shutters are swung open,
Light so dazzling bright floods in,
The shadows flee;
Amitabha rising,
Buddha of Pure Land Bliss,
How blessed are we?
Namo Amitabha!
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Comment by Dayamay Dunsby on April 7, 2018 at 13:58
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Assume nothing!
Think deeply about everything.
Even the key turning in the door that stands between you and...
Brace yourself for something else...
Anything.
Exert laziness and just give up.
Find the lowest point and submit.
Assume nothing!!
Namo Amida Bu( ;
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Comment by Carol English on January 16, 2018 at 13:25
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Masketeer and Aphrodite
Undercover membership
Each takes a turn and turns a corner
Sends the other silly quipsSend each other lies and secrets
Secret truths that masks belie
Undercover sensual boundaries
Will love live or will it die?Will love live and serve its purpose?
Skin to skin the promise lurks
Nose to nose and lips to eyelids
Teasing secrets, fireworks?Teasing secrets, fireworks
Can Masketeer catch Aphrodite?
Or will she hide while he pursues her
A fantasy that burns out brightly?Can Masketeer catch Aphrodite
Will she wear her golden crown?
Will she run when he pursues her
Like the tarot, upside down?Like the hanged man, upside down
Oh, will he fall, then, when her sees her
In robes of yellow, green and crimson
Is he fool or can he please her?Is he fool or can he please her?—
For she’ll be more than conjured sylph
No thing of wings and gauze and satin
But instead her real selfEach thing of flesh and blood is mixed with
dreams and depths and coloured birds
Potters of each life are forming
The e’s of all ‘lectronic words.The potters of each life are forming
Dreams from fields of soil unplowed
Those odd primordial exophagic
stanzas, coloured, burst from cloud
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Comment by Andrew on April 6, 2017 at 23:09
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Strangers passing in the dark fleeting glances.
Not knowing or caring about the others path
Where will it take them who pass without a word
Not a kind thought or care for the other as they glance
Not this for me I who must acknowledge who must care
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Comment by Kim Terrell on March 25, 2017 at 8:38
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Flying South
Time flying by me
thoughts nosily flocking south
headed to new worlds.
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Comment by Andrew Ralph Cheffings on March 3, 2017 at 15:43
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Gardens
A garden is not a plan on paper,It is not moving rocks, water and earth around;
It is gardening,
And everything gardens.
Events
ITZI Conference 2019
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WEEP FOR OUR WORLD
Posted by David Brazier on August 20, 2019 at 21:38 2 Comments 0 Likes
At the moment I am feeling very sad for the state of the planet. As I write the great forests are being consumed by fire, both the tropical forest in Brazil and the tundra forest in Russia. The great forests are the lungs of the earth. I myself have lung problems. When there are parts of the lungs that don’t work anymore one can run out of energy. It can strike suddenly. We will probably not do anything serious about climate change or wildlife extinction…
MY MEDICAL CONDITION
Posted by David Brazier on June 26, 2019 at 18:04 10 Comments 2 Likes
My medical condition continues to be a mystery. It is clear that I do not have any of the big nasty things - brain tumour, cracked skull, stroke, etc - as these have been ruled out by MRI investigation. Nonetheless I continue to have persistent, continuous head pain that varies in intensity and I become exhausted by the least effort so that I am functioning like an invalid incapable of doing very much. There is always a possibility that the whole syndrome is a…
Continue Grace.
Posted by Dayamay Dunsby on June 2, 2019 at 1:02 4 Comments 2 Likes
Sit
Posted by Geeta Chari on April 26, 2019 at 22:13 3 Comments 1 Like
This is a short video of a Buddhist monk and his family.
It raised questions on parenting and Buddhism - does detachment (or perhaps quietism), as practiced here, lead to demotivation and disengagement with the world around one?
His children find the detachment practised by the monk disquieting. They appreciate the irony of detachment, which is supposed to…
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