Thursday, January 6, 2011

I stole this (does admitting it make it ok?)

When Tired & Lonely

by Ven. Samu Sunim

When you’re tired and disappointed,
Write a poem.
If you can’t write a poem,
Be silent.
If your feelings are painful,
Go to the park.
Watch the vibrant eyes of squirrels
Listen to the chat of sparrows
And Stand in Line with the Homeless.
“There shall be no outcasts in the world!”

When you’re full of complaints,
Write a poem.
If you can’t write a poem,
Have a glass of cold water.
Go for a run
Watch your steps
Look up to the sky.
Complaints are but a taint,
They are uninvited guests.

When you’re angry and hateful,
Write a poem.
If you can’t write a poem,
Do 365 prostrations invoking compassion*
Lower your body-mind with each bow
and rise again as a true person.
Surrender yourself to the Buddha within
Empower yourself with love and compassion.
There shall be no scumbags in the world!

When you’re poor and miserable,
Write a poem.
If you can’t write a poem,
Remember you’re still among the living.
Be grateful!
Learn to be content with what is available.
Being poor hurts
It is a blessing in disguise if you don’t mind.
There shall be no poor and lost souls in the world!

When you lose hope and are in despair,
Write a poem.
If you can’t write a poem,
Watch your mind.
Plains and streams play together to entertain all beings.
Is this not good enough,
Is this not good enough?
Wake up early tomorrow
Go for the sunrise.
There shall be no helplessly abandoned in the world!

*If you don’t like to perform prostrations, then climb up a mountain.

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