“It’s common sense; you shall always
be able to think better and feel deep inside,
with a calm mind, not a disturbed one, ”
said my teacher, “when you abide in stillness.”
To look for stillness, I went to the woods.
As though in a trance, everything calmly stood:
beautiful flowers with colors and smiles,
plants and trees hovering, enchanted all the while.
A silence that I could touch and feel!
A unique stillness: witnessing came upon me,
no thoughts! No noise! Only alertness, alive;
here the conditioned mind couldn’t survive.
Stillness and alertness overcame my being,
and made me one with all things in the world.
When I am not separate, where is the fear?
In oneness with the world, love and beauty appear.
Twitters of birds, mellow noise from the barns,
once in a while silently came and merged.
'As background stillness, you look past the noise.
It too will dissolve, ' says the teacher’s voice.
Awareness, a laser beam, straight from the top,
witnessed my problems; solutions, like a crop,
waving in creativity and inspiration, I found.
The world stood still; joy abounds, all around.
Nature, like a mother, can immerse you in love,
with the healing touch of stillness beloved.
But how do we manage in this world full of noise?
How do we maintain a peaceful poise?
On the way back, I passed by a blacksmith's hut,
and the hammer rang to dent my peace.
Slight irritation crept up on me; I didn't resist,
and it gradually melted away, you see.
When insulted, hurt, or attacked in some manner
by yourself or another, remember these words:
don’t put up resistance or become antagonistic,
but imagine yourself as a transparent body.
'Amidst the noise, you'll see this is the way.
Don't resist and resistance won't have a say.
You can win the world by embracing the world.
The Almighty's in stillness, ' are the teacher’s words.
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An insult, pain or any other type of attack, You or somebody else inflicts when you see, Just don’t put up the resistance of any type, And imagine as if you were a transparent body. 'Amidst the noise, you'll see this is the way, Don't resist; the resistance won't have a say. You can win the world by embracing the world, The Almighty's in stillness', they’re the teacher’s words. There is so much intellectual wealth in these 2 stanzas. Just liked the way you have intertwined the Almighty, stillness, alertness and tolerance in this poem - all extremely important for us to solve the myriad problems that we face in our lives. This is like another peaceful meditation session that I enjoyed earlier. Thanks for sharing - a10+++++ for this one.
[1] ‘Calmly active and actively calm’ ~ Gita [2] ‘Eddies in water don't reflect image’ ~ Sri Ramakrishna [3] ‘Shut the door of mind to be solitary for contemplation’ ~ Srimat Swami Bhuteshanadaji Maharaj [12th President of Ramakrishna Mission and Math] [4] ‘Rolling stone doesn’t gather moss’ ~ Proverb Thanks Sir for such a beaut poetry Ms. Nivedita UK 10/10 PS ‘Get lost in inner sanctuary Feel in-built finery Immerse in imagery Free all drudgery’ ~ niv
Also, that this poem in its outline of stillness succeeds in very effectively recalling the virtues of meditation.
I should have added that this poem reminds us of the sensitivity we each of us have within ourselves when and if we can find it, and that is a beautiful attribute to being human.
You are right; stillness is what we should strive for always...
A lovely poem that shows us how to take in stillness away from our busy lives. I too have a similiar poem called 'A Woodland's Charm'. Spiritsong
I liked your rhymes very much....you know when the devil tells you'eh eh, write with rhymes', the rhymes tells you'huh uh make me! ! '...and you did.you know what i mean? thanks for sharing
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Very well structured poem, Amrit