Conduct: Metta Cultivation

After reflecting upon
Cultivating positive states,
Taking a step
By nurturing metta.

Satisfaction overflowed,
Ease unfolded,
Keeping it going
Afloat in peace,

Flowing through
Like water through
A green tea bag,
Picking up that gentle taste,

Making no haste
Slipping past
And absorbing the flavour,
A delicate savour.

Glowing with contentment,
Abiding in happiness,
Enjoyment without grasping,
Gratification without clinging;

What a welcome respite
From life’s difficult fight;
No struggle tonight,
No miserable up tight,

No reason for flight,
Nor frozen fright;
Inhaling the aroma
Of the verdant liquid,

Watching the swirling foam
And sipping in the warm fluid;
Delighting in pure moments
Of suspension of the tensions.

Conducive: Lightening the Load

A whirlwind Saturday:
Grocery shopping,
Vegetable chopping,
Reflection and meditation;

Long on reflection,
Short on meditation;
Decided to slow down
And see what that does,

Because you see,
I had actually given up,
And concluded from this result
That I’d pushed too hard;

A light touch
Certainly feels better;
It’s more respectful,
And compassionate;

I think I will continue,
Easing up on the rudder
And enjoying the view,
Instead of racing.

Where am I going anyway?
There’s no need to press,
No expectations was the place
From which I started this;

Then I got ideas,
And forgot to take it slow,
Which did not help
And may indeed have impeded.

Patience is what’s needed,
That and a willingness
To explore whatever comes forth,
But also, to know enough to stop,
When stormy seas get too rough.

Conditions: The Pleasant in the Unpleasant

I’m really stumped
For what to say;
It’s been like this
Since the commotion today;

Yet, I always manage
To come up with
Some little poem
On what’s afoot.

I was concentrated
Down to my toes
On what I was reading,
When the renovations started,

Then began my steaming,
Until I remembered
A simple practice
Recently reviewed,

Of noticing the unpleasant,
Then enjoying
The tiny quiet interludes
In between.

This plain approach effectively
Blocked the irritation,
Reduced my frustration,
Decreasing my distress.

My ease increased,
Enabling me to relax
Until the demonic din ceased
And the distracters departed.

By then there was
Such relief,
I forgot all else
And simply enjoyed the peace.