Devotion: Staying on Course

Now taking time for silent sitting,
Drinking in the quiet, settling,
Bathed in ease,
Fully alert and at peace,

Gradually opening attention to all that’s present:
Heat and tingling in the body,
Vibrations in the ears,
Previously unnoticed background sounds,

Traffic roars far below,
Doors open and close,
Footsteps patter on tiles,
Ventilation system hums;

Then metta phrases flit through mind,
Gently massaging the inner clime,
Slowly compassion grows,
Sheltered as in a greenhouse it glows,

These tiny seeds planted each day
Sprout the next,
Bursting upward through the soil,
Filling open space with vibrant colour;

Results already visible from
The regular application of this effort
That first began with metta towards myself
And spontaneously enveloped all beings;

Like a plant growing towards the light
Mind recognizes what’s good for it:
When it discovers something beneficial,
It reaches keenly in that direction

And upon careful inspection and experimentation,
Finds its way into a haven,
A place from which it can turn outward
And calmly face the world’s raving.