Broadside: Dark-struck

Well now, after all that,
I appear to be stuck,
Caught on fear again,
It’s running amok.

After miles of meditation,
It’s still the same,
Or it may be different
And I’m just missing the change.

I’m full of worry,
Wondering where I’m headed.
Could it be I’m onto something
Or merely suspended?

Fear, fear, fear,
Making me sweat,
Breathing’s not helping,
I’m only deeper in doubt.

Midnight’s fast approaching,
Another day gone,
Not sure what’s coming,
Should I be scared?

Trust in this moment,
Though it does not last,
Forget about tomorrow,
Though it’s coming on fast.

Any minute now it’s past,
The die is cast.
In the next instant
In acceptance I rest.

Perhaps the best is
Already here.
If I could only see clearly
I’d probably be happy.

Broaden: Opportunity

Perhaps we blind ourselves;
Maybe ignorance and delusion
Are activities,
Awake, our natural state.

Then when you just sit,
You may awaken because
You eventually stop trying to
Put yourself to sleep.

Perhaps it’s the thinking too;
We think and
Get caught up in this:
Believe this
Follow that
Attach to this
And Grab that.

At the same time
Words can awaken us,
But then when
We succeed,
We must let go of them too.

If I could follow my thinking
Until I get there,
And then let go;
If I practice grabbing
And letting go;
If I become expert at this
Then perhaps I would have
A choice,
And then when I break free
Maybe then I could stay free,
Instead of getting caught again.

Broad: Opening

The mind keeps looking for answers
And not finding them.
The way to peace is to
Stop looking,
But the mind keeps scanning,
Seeking, searching everywhere;
Hungering for power, control,
And security;
Wanting this or trying to
Get away from that.

Acceptance is wise
But requires compassion,
As mind keeps grasping ceaselessly.
I try to accept that
The mind cannot accept,
And that therefore trying to
Satisfy it will not work;
Because it’s never satisfied.
But then how do I decide what
To do?
Mind grasps, how stop that?

When I’m unsure
That does lead to letting go.
Letting go of certainty,
Could this be the answer?
But how?
And then,
How do you
Let go of uncertainty?

First perhaps you examine experience,
Again and again,
Until you are totally
Convinced that grasping and clinging
Is folly.
Maybe this could be what
Insight meditation is for.