how sweet is thy fruit

how sweet is the fruit on the vine of knowledge
it tastes of created and uncreated in one
it tastes of stillness and presence
it tastes of life as it truly is
beautiful
full
mysterious
how it tastes of sweet joy
and love everlasting
put your lips to it dear seeker
taste it's fine flavor
it will not leave a residue of suffering
it will bring to your heart true life
which is undying

how you have not understood this treasure
of yours that is there to be tasted
but have turned it away again and again
how you have not felt it's sweet ripe beauty
in your veins and on your breath
if you take it in with quietude
then it sits and lives as truth
and will open up the one to the mind
how it sits ready to be savored
and is not to be as an object to be owned
it is your very soul dear
how can you take that which you already have?
just let the mind sink into it
and do not come back to taste of the world
but sink in
sink in

who is your teacher?

namaste,

this is an older poem..
a good day to be grateful and breathe in the blessings that abound..
may all be well and have a great thanksgiving day..

shanti om

who is your teacher?
and from where does your teacher come?
who is your master?
has he a home in your heart?
does he call you out of yourself to sit in the sun
and be a light unto yourself?
does he wait for you when you have
gone back to the shade to play and be alone in
your private world?
does he continue to be a light for you
even when you have gone away in your mind?
does he make your world lighter and more filled with heart?
does he live the truth and breathe fresh air into your lungs
and breathe fire in your heart?
does he say come, be free and out of this suffering way?
does he show the way out of your locked cell of thought?
does he say, live life! and be a great soul that is to be out of
the world!
does he speak clear words that come from a stilled mind?
does he betray you ever?
does he sting you when you are in pain to say "wake up"
shake off this dull way and come and be yourself for once!
be out of this mind shell! --
come and breathe truth and life and joy and sing of freedom
come and be pure and abiding in grace..
does he raise your spirit out of the dust?
does he give graceful energy to make your day more in harmony
with light and more deepened in the earth of the soul?
does he say, walk upright soul -- be sturdy and in yourself
do not betray your true nature ...
be of open heart within and not hemmed in by thought and judgement..
be still -- be patient -- be as a fearless one ...
does he love you unconditional as a child of the spirit
and a soul that will fly to the mountain where shiva dwells
with his crescent moon on his head
and his spacious being that has nothing in mind ever
untouched by form or pride or confusion?
does he say to not sorrow, but live here now
as this time will not be ever again...
so live it fully as a one that is to make this life a perfect joy
and not come back again to suffer and relearn lessons?
does he tremble at challenge, your teacher?
does he bemoan circumstances, your teacher?
does he shut himself out from life, your teacher?
who is your teacher my heart friend?
is it your world that you play in?
is it your dream that you dance in?
is it your family?
is it your friends?
is it the ache inside?
what is to make you hear and feel what is real and well
in your being?
what is to bring you to the waters of heart and purity and wonder?
who and what?
the world?
or grace?
who is your teacher friend?

always as brahman

when the sadhu comes into the path of knowledge 

he burns to know the lord that is his very own heart 

he burns to know the Christ consciousness that is forever full

and free 

he burns as a light unto himself that is to be his own counsel

which means he does not look to another to bring freedom

but walks forward facing himself 

facing his fears and false perceptions and haunting desires 

that are like a river running always 

so he comes open, the sadhu, to being purified in grace 

as he has found by experience that no road in the world 

has brought his soul rest not even for a moment 

what an auspicious calling to be in the way of seeking this joy

he knows in him that it is grace only that has brought his mind 

to turn towards the light and seek God 

he knows that he is not perfect in himself as a body and mind 

but only God can make him perfect in consciousness and bring 

about stillness to his soul

so he moves forward as a man that does not know anything but this moment 

and forgets his world of sorrow and attachments 

he forgets all that he took to be real before which is like a dream 

when he is initiated by his Guru into sannyas 

then he is to begin to go thru consciousness and his dream states 

and question them and bring the light of wisdom (Guru's grace) with him

but Guru is not a persona that is to be attached to, but the light of the SELF

Guru embodies the light of wisdom that is one and in all hearts 

not as a body and mind as ego understands it 

but much deeper and broader and within the spiritual plane

the sadhu makes his life as a path to knowledge which is tantric in nature 

which means all is seen as the path and as a means to bring the mind to stillness

all is seen as God made manifest and not different than the source 

he makes his life as a path to perfection by looking always inside his own soul

to see what is true and what is false in nature 

he does not bend to ego's whims that judge and burn of relative knowledge 

this is what the man of the world is ingrained in and this is completely opposed 

to God or the source 

it is to be as a shadow and not the light that brings freedom

it is to be like an eclipse over the full and glorious moon

it is to be like a ray in relation to the sun and not what is true 

the sadhu is the man of seeking 

whether he takes initiation or not if he is sincere 

he is a true sincere seeker and is to go forward in beauty and light 

his imperfections which are vasanas ( or tendencies) will wash out in grace 

if he continues and does not turn back

and entertain that which is transient in his soul

he will remain always as brahman

the full and undying source

the peace that passes all understanding 

have you pondered this?

how can thoughts be more important
than from where they spring?
how can writing in books be
of more interest than the emptiness
(which is full) in which they arise?
how can the wave be more important
than the ocean from which it
is made manifest?
oh soul, have you pondered this?
because this is of great concern and
interest to a man that is in pursuit of the self
because he is not to be running after the
waves any longer and making understandings
from the dust of experience
how very not in the way of bringing liberation
is this
as the building of anything will find it's ruin
eventually
and will sink back into the source of all
it will not have any permanent existence
so ponder this dear souls
and forget the movement that brings rise
to differences
forget your little self that has so many competing
desires and transient understandings
and be like the best of all
which is God
unclothed of ego (attachment to body and mind)
unclothed of suffering (attachment to body and mind)
unclothed of anything that is different than the one
open up to life
and be true
be forever unbound
like the ocean full
like the source that is
always one

how he is free

there was a seeker

that knew where he was going 

he was going to the light 

and he walked onward towards his 

destination

he walked onward on feet that were steady

he knew where he was going 

he was going to freedom

when he entered there 

into the pure waters that took away his knowing 

then he began to be still

he did not know anything anymore 

like a new babe 

that found his home in the heart 

like a newborn soul

that now only knows this moment

but is not in anyway lost 

but found 

as now the mind is quiet 

and unburdened by *knowing* 

and attempting to figure out 

that which cannot be understood by mind 

this seeker lost everything to gain all

which is peace 

he is not devoid of intelligence 

but filled with soul fire 

that is the source 

which is complete and in charge of every 

action 

every breath

every moment that is 

how he knows nothing and knows all

the one that is liberated 

how he is complete when quiet 

how he is free 

jai ma

seated in stillness
the man of purity is like
a shadowless moon
on a dark night
he puts light where there was
once suffering
he puts om where there was once
thoughts of this and that
he puts ocean consciousness
where the river of me and mine
once streamed
he puts calm where the turbulence
moved so easily
he puts night against the light
and makes this dream melt
as the sun melts behind the mountains
he is the awakening of the heart of all
how he is not of this world
or anything that is known
how he breathes stilled beauty
and serenity and light so full
how he burns of truth
how he burns of knowledge
how he burns of strength unwavering
in him the many are burned to ash
the seasons are washed away
the various appearances are dissolved
the various understandings are cut
the various shades of mind are lost forever
and the one rises victorious
as jai ma
as jai ma
as jai ma

where the sage dwells

a sage does not sit in the dark

he sits where all is bright in beauty 

he sits serene in quietude 

he sits serene in fullness

he sits as a lamp that never goes out 

he sits still and does not wander 

away from truth

if you can come to where he dwells 

then you will be stripped of your unrest 

you will be stripped of your thoughts 

that drive you to believe there is something other 

if you can come where the sage lives 

you will be what he is 

seated in the Self

is it not a most auspicious moment now 

to come? 

as the door is open to you

your birth is in these waters of clarity

where the soul will be rinsed clean

and you will be free

then you have no death that lays heavy

upon your soul any longer 

as it is simply a creation of mind 

and nothing else 

it is a moving energy that speaks of ending 

and beginning 

beginning is the moment you step away from

your fears and doubts 

and enter into the waters where all is of truth

then you are as a lord of yourself

not pushed about by thought any longer 

not pushed about by your driving desires 

how they sting, do they not?

how they call you to be of another nature 

that is not true and right 

oh soul,

come to these precious waters of all

and be like your self 

made of such wonder and mysterious life 

that is not bound 

step in and be 

there will not be a hand that reaches out to you 

and gently takes you in 

and gently washes your tears away

as your tears are only made of dreams that are not 

to stay 

the only way is to move forward 

even within your fear and doubt

breathe and rest in the steady light 

it is the only way

there will be a shake up of your world for sure 

but do not be afraid of this 

for it is a good thing to be shaken clean of your 

attachment to body and mind 

it is such a good thing 

to be shaken clean of your wrong knowledge 

you do not know anything about life truly 

until you die to this beauty 

you know nothing now and nothing at the end 

this is true 

and this unknowing is true knowledge 

which is God 

which is true peace 

come forward now 

and come and come 

until no more mind remains to mask

your true nature 

come forward

always awake

what has brought the mind to burden
the soul?
it is that one believes in it
and feels it is what will awaken to the truth
it will not awaken to the truth
when this movement dies
then that which is always awake
is made manifest
but has this beauty that lives gone
anywhere?
no
as life could not be
without it

full

all that is like a dream will end
it will end
as there is only grace that is
even in the darkest times
grace shines full
not ever leaving
purifying in it's fresh water
as the sea calm
unchanging

love the moment

love not the dying appearance 

instead love the moment 

it has no experience in it 

that is to burden you as it wants 

nothing at all 

not even your liberation 

it needs nothing at all

not even your desire or efforts

if you love the moment 

then your mind is not so intrusive 

as it takes a back seat 

and is not the driver any longer 

spirit only

the chakras are not important 

they are only channels of energy 

they are connected with the body 

but the body is not important 

only that it is here and is not to be 

what brings one to liberation 

the legs will not bring one there 

the arms will not bring it to you

the lips will not take it in

so what gives liberation?

grace of God 

grace 

clear water

the water that is running colored with 

appearances 

is cleaned out when kundalini is activated 

the clear water (kundalini) is poured over the colorizations 

and eventually the water runs clear 

simply pure presence

many have come to the way
but so many have not finished the path
it is not easy to walk the journey of truth
it is not easy to put the mind to rest
and live the freedom of all
it is like a fire that burns to the core
the familiar world that one so safely guards
it is like a fire that burns the me and mine
to ash
it is like a fire that sets all that is known to
be destroyed
it is like a fire that takes what was felt to be true
away
and leaves what is real to be
it is like a fire that sets the ship of the body
(attachments)
to sink in the waters
where all is as one full being
it is like a fire that makes the personal
a flimsy cover
and then pulls that away too
and what remains is no more seeker
only spontaneous flow of the moment
it is like a fire that comes of desire to be free
and is tended by sadhana (spiritual practice)
and is tended to by the open heart that only knows
God
it is like a fire that is aimed at only that which is unreal
because it cannot burn what is real
what is true and permanent cannot be destroyed
not by any hand, sword or tongue
there is nothing else that remains but *is*
a full, completeness
not any one can know it as a person
but can only know it as a no-thing
which means one is no longer identified with
the untruth of body and mind
but is quietened and only knows the one
the other is like it never happened
who did it happen to?
only the dream speaks of happenings that came to
a me persona
only the dream speaks of this and that and differentiation
only the dream speaks of variety
what is seen as variety is only the same essence
like a filtered light that comes from the same essence
or source
this does not mean you are not here or have an existence
you do indeed
but not like you think
like a concrete presence that is non-dual
and is not this or that
or here or there
you are simply pure presence
and have always been

skillful means

men of shadow are like kings

that are not to savor the sweets that life
has in store

they live unaware of the riches in the soul

as a king inside, yet like a popper in spirit
as the appearance is what is taken to be true 

not the undying invisible source 

they come unaware of the perfection that is 

in all hearts 

in this life of a one in shadow 

what is forgotten is the source from which 

all springs 

this source has not a single drop of suffering 

or longing or personhood in it 

it is as a source of full, still beauty

when a man gives his body and mind to 

God or the source 

he then is stripped of his suffering mind 

and identity with that which is not real

he is purified in God 

and does not go back to the world 

(if he is true) 

he resides in the heart 

where all is quietened

that spoke of a dream and shadow

which is changing always 

he does not go back to the world of sorrow 

where men look to be in pleasure 

and fulfill desires one after the other

with no end in sight 

there is no end to the dream in the way that it is 

not with a beginning 

it is superimposed on the source of all

it is superimposed 

like a shadow is superimposed on the still waters

that are peaceful and tranquil and full

it is superimposed by the mind that moves 

how it comes into being is not understood 

but how it ends is by living an ethical,

honest and true existence first and foremost 

and then questioning the mind with relentless, 

sincere efforts to breakthrough the thoughts that haunt the being 

and also having a sincere and true mentor to show the way

this mentor may likely not meet the standards of the Guru

that ego is looking for

but what matters is that this mentor is skillful in breaking down

the mental chatter and obstructions of mind 

not that the Guru comes in a shiny package that ego is wanting 

it matters not if  this Guru looks attractive or ugly 

or wears regular attire or dresses outrageous

or enjoys great luxuries or  enjoys company of this or that person

or enjoys being this way or that 

it matters only the skillful means of breaking down ego 

and not the external playing out 

does this Guru aide in quieting ego or not?

this is the question only and nothing else 

the judgements are to be put aside and the wondering 

and doubting and all the rest...

this is to be put aside and the clear path carved out is to be walked 

(if the sadhaka is sincere in heart) 

not one single moment is to be wasted on doubts and judgements 

but looking within, questioning, living righteously and savoring 

the blessings that have come 

this is all for now 

may all be well and be in quietude and easy flow of the moment ...

om shanti

primal mind

many of the living lights had no path to follow
they came as an original force
to put the shadow to rest
not one of these souls
that were to shake the tree of ignorance
and wake up dead energies
were timid in their presence
most were like fires that burn of intense
love and compassion
that is not understood by mind
as Kabir came and spoke strong
words that sent many running
from him
or slandering him
but this did not stop his voice
that rang of truth and light
and spoke of freedom in all

the ones that are in truth
are not like the ones that play about
in the land of shadow
they are like forces to be reckoned
with
they are like kali personified in body
they are like the fragrance to the flower
but this is not always sweet to mind
it is sweet in it's final end
which is liberation
where the mind has no more room
to roam
and make a world up that speaks of other
what the living lights know and live
is there is only one always
though there is a playing out on the surface
called shakti
which brings an appearance of sorts
it is not real
like a reflection or an echo is not real
it is simply an appearance that is not different
than the non dual is
in primal mind
there is only one always
this is what the living ones embody
not anything that is different than anything else
but only one

have you seen me?

why have you not come?

the sea is still,
in it's wondrous presence 

as a light of itself

friend,

why are you out in separation?

i saw you standing in the lane 

where me and mine dwell

i saw you there 

and called you to 

come hither

have you seen me?

i am what dwells in the cave

of shiva's heart 

where life blooms of such

rich abundance 

i am the one that has not been away

from your heart 

dear,

lonely is the place where mind lives 

it is like a shell truly

that does not know love 

it is as an empty appearance in the still

beautiful one 

i know this well

as life lives in me 

but i am not as you think

like a mind and body

but a single presence 

living here 

like a single heart of love 

for in me the life of all is 

and you are here always 

be this way dear 

be as one

as a jewel

he said, to come forward 

in him the mind is quiet 

and breathes love and full life 

come unto the knowledge of all

as a one that does not look to 

the world to give 

but is open in heart and love 

come unto the river where God sings 

of great wonders 

that drown the sorrow in the ocean of mercy

a sadhu, is born from the aches of his heart 

where he comes unto the path of knowledge 

and walks into the fires of all

in there he seats himself still and open

in mind 

to be burned to ash with the glow of God's power

and love 

he sits himself still and beautiful as a spark of life 

that will be put to the fire

and come into the best of all

which is life pure 

then he is a light for humanity in it's darkness

he glows 

as the risen moon

it now is so much of a sight to see for all

as it is what the universe is 

empty full being 

that lives 

that lives 

that is 

if you are to come in

leave the suffering body at the gates 

and the suffering thoughts too

leave them at the gate 

and enter in there 

where God's face will be seen

which is the pristine non-dual one 

it is the pristine light of all

nothing is missing there 

but the suffering 

nothing is ever missing there 

it is like a jewel that shines 

complete

never needing to be cleaned

or attended to 

it needs no *doing*

how it lives by itself as a jewel

how it lives