Doings: Happiness Rising

Turning everything inside out
To find the source of the water course,
The goal so long sought
Turns out to be
Just another stew in the pot;

Not feeling so hot
Because the temperature’s up,
No party for me
Spring only brings on the heat,

Nevertheless, this will not defeat
The feeling of joy
That arises by itself,
Regardless of the predicament;

Like all else,
This happiness comes and goes,
The same as the seasons,
For no particular reasons

Or for some explanation
That maybe only the process knows
But declines to share,
Happiness doesn’t care

But that’s the point of it you see,
To be carefree!
Not concerned or restricted
And with nothing to lose or gain;

It’s completely untrainable
And like a zebra untamable,
Unruly and spontaneous,
Indifferent to the desires in us,

Coming and going,
Heedless of knowing,
Like the wind that’s blowing
Or the warm air flowing.

Doggedly: Applying Effort

Sleepiness overtakes
During meditation efforts
And turning towards this event,
Try to see what’s happening,

A curtain veils the senses
And the room backgrounds,
Fuzzy perceptions
And tingling abound,

Little reaction to sound,
Which merely bounces off,
Or drifts through or around
And disappears without visible effect;

Heat rises in the body
And lethargy oppresses,
Eyes opening brings up energy
But still the fog persists.

Wiggling the toes
And sitting up straight,
Barely penetrates the mist,
Fatigue envelops like dust.

Peering through the drowsiness,
Trying to see it clearly,
Mindfulness gradually increases
And an aircraft engine sounds in the distance.

Tuning into listening
Focuses the mind
And stimulates alertness
That shines through the darkness.

Eyes closed again,
Turning inward,
Feeling tranquility
And lightness.

Divinely: Delicious Impermanence

A radical change:
No cooking today!
As my mindfulness revealed
That I didn’t like it anyway;

Hence, I decided to infuse
Some new variety into my meals,
By making a salad
Instead of stewing the pot;

Using up left over greens,
Cabbage needed to be used
And so did the celery
And also the beet stems,

Plus a little red pepper
And a small tin of salmon,
Then to top it off,
Some mayo. and spicing;

At the end it looked enticing
And tasted so as well,
‘Twas a delightful way to go
And a welcome alteration;

Finished with
An orange half
And a blueberry muffin,
With ground peanuts only peanut butter;

Feeling rather full
From the generous repast
That wonderful satisfaction
That lasts and lasts.

Set off to work
With a smile,
Felt energetic enough
To walk ten miles.