gem of beauty

she sat in the shade awhile and contemplated
what was life truly?
was it just a bundle of thoughts that come and go?
or did it have something other within it
that did not leave the soul to sorrow
or feel it as an entity that is separate?
she pondered this
yet did not get caught in philosophy about it
for what was that to settle truly?
to argue with herself
for what was here but only herSELF
nothing else
she sat in the shade with this contemplation
of what is life and mind a bundle of thoughts only?
for these thoughts perished so easily
when they were disturbed or another
experience came forward
the thoughts made her feel as if she was not alone
but she WAS alone always within herself and her world
this was all that existed it seemed
with mind at the forefront
and though her mind spoke of a world and people within it
this was so very unstable
for these thoughts shifted from good to bad
depending on the experience and mood of the moment
and so she sat in the shade looking deeply at this truism
of the transient nature of mind
and was not to turn back until this was settled
what was the world a bundle of thoughts only?
and who does all of this appear to ...
to *me* ... to *me*
what is this *me*?
and in a moment the world was lost and there was no
separation...
the trees, the wind, the falling rain, the sky, the clouds
nameless and the same, not separate
not even a drop separate
how very odd, that this world was here and now it is not
that *i* was here and now i am still here and have not died
or gone away
just *here* as *pure presence*
minus the suffering mind
oh my, she was very struck indeed by the truth
like a lightening bolt that would not leave her inside
but continued to *move* the mind to the good and be set in grace
as a river that was to eventually wash the dross away
leaving the light that is ONE essence
it is as if seeing the world thru colored glasses
this one is blue and that one red..
but when the colorizations are rinsed clean
what remains is clear
what a beautiful reality
what a wondrous reality
a gem of beauty that cannot be anything but the soul in it's purity

in discovering the SELF
the one that is looking disappears
like a wave that returns to the ocean essence in which it
was never apart
like sandalwood that is finally lit to smell the fragrance
of it's pure potential that has rested asleep
now it is set free to waft thru the air
it's sweet essence to be finally savored
it is like the kept jewel in a casket that is
not seen or discovered
because one has not ventured to open it
and when it is opened
it shines immediately and brings a wondrous light of itself
what joy
it is like a bright glow covered by dust that sits thru the changes
unseen and dimmed
but once uncovered, brings light and clarity instantly
what joy
it is like a burden cast off into the river
not to be on one's back any longer
or cause a heavy ache in the heart ...
it is gone and over and not one's burden any longer
what joy
it is like the man in the time of sorrow that has grieved for
that which has never been lost
and once it discovered to be always *here* and not apart
there is peace and quiet instantly
what joy