Poems of the Way by Mac
Taisdealach, from our old community platform, 2021 to 2023
Mac, known on our forum as Taisdealach, the traveller, offered the circle a steady stream of poems drawn from the Taoist sages, the Gaelic bards and the teachings of the Awakened Ones, each one closing with his blessing that our every breath be peace, and here are eighteen of them, gathered from our old community platform so they can keep breathing with us.
There is a beautiful smile in you
24 December 2021
There is a beautiful smile in you
that reminds me of the Christ
a smile that shines
with the Light of Heaven —
as a candle in a dark room
illuminates the cold, tenebrous shadows
in the warmth of its golden glow
and chases away
the terrors of the night —
a smile that, likewise,
illuminates the cold, tenebrous shadows
of your timorous heart
with the warmth of Eternity’s golden glow
the Hope of promises fulfilled
awakening
rising in the resurrection of the Reborn Sun
florid with the Youthful Bloom of Morn
ripe with healing for every soul-scar
that life’s ravages have etched
upon your face
Yes, there is a beautiful smile in you, my dear
a smile that reminds me
of
the
Christ
/|\
Contemplate the wisdom of the trees
28 January 2022
Contemplate the wisdom of the trees.
The pine is steadfast, ever green, and firmly rooted.
The bamboo is strong, supple and resilient.
The plum blossom is vibrant, fresh and florescent —
a
symbol
of
hope
and
renewal.
— an adaptation of a teaching of Morihei Ueshiba, 20th century CE martial artist, teacher, philosopher and founder of the martial art and science of Aikidō 合気道
/|\
Not that which the eye can see
4 May 2022
Not that which the eye can see,
but That whereby the eye can see —
know that to be the Ultimate Realty.
Not that which the ear can hear,
but That whereby the ear can hear —
know that to be the Ultimate Reality.
Not that which speech can elucidate,
but That by which speech can be elucidated —
know that to be the Ultimate Reality.
Not that which the mind can think,
but That whereby the mind can think —
know that to be the Ultimate Reality.
— an adaptation of a teaching from the Kena Upanishad (an ancient Vedic Sanskrit sacred text written c. 6th century BCE, ‘Kena’ meaning ‘by whom’ and ‘Upanishad’ meaning ‘to sit down next to’ [i.e. as if to sit beside a spiritual teacher to learn], therefore you could say that ‘Kena Upanishad’ means something like, ‘by and with Whom we live and learn.’
May your every breath be peace, light and love.
Not two.
/|\
The divine alchemical process
7 May 2022
The divine alchemical
metamorphical process
of
purification
and
transmutation —
appears
to the acquired, conditioned, conceptual mind
as
pain
agony
punishment
torment —
death.
Yet, remember this
when you experience
the mental formations
of
fear
doubt
and
confusion
manifesting in your field of awareness
as ephemeral phantasms —
arising
from the gloaming shadowlands
of unreconciled suffering —
before you
on your journey
—
as you wend your way along
on this sacred pilgrimage
we
call
“life”
in which we all must
inevitably
stand face-to-face
with the egregore
of our collective human suffering
—
and there
veraciously
and courageously
dissolve
purify
transmute
and
integrate
that experience
in the power
of
Pure
Love
—
yes
remember this…
the descent
into the depths of “hell”
always
precedes
the
resurrection —
the
rebirth —
the rising of the Phoenix —
ascending on wings
of Pure Light —
to
new
heights
—
to
new
life
—
manifest
in a higher
more pure
more coherent
more consonant
vibrational
density
of
experience.
May your every breath be peace, light and love.
Not two.
/|\
Listen deeply and I will tell you a secret
8 May 2022
Listen deeply and I will tell you a secret:
When you pray
from the pure potentiality
of your innate purity —
your innate integrity —
without hypocrisy —
without hidden motive —
fully established
in the innate trust, compassion and wisdom
of the Timeless, Boundless Heart-Mind
indeed
you
will
receive.
So thoroughly immerse
your entire body-mind-spirit complex
—
three-in-one —
one-in-three
—
in
the
answer
—
see it
hear it
taste it
sense it
feel it
know
it
—
enfold
your
self
in
it
—
be as you desire
—
and truly, truly
you will realize (embody)
your True Heart’s Desire
—
the pure childlike gratitude, joy and wonder —
of
your
Original
Innocence.
— a literary adaptation of a teaching of Yeshu’a an Nasiri Ihidaya (Aramaic for Jesus of Nazareth Awakened One) as recorded in the Gospel According To John (original Aramaic)
May your every breath be peace, light and love.
Not two.
/|\
The discursive heart-mind
9 May 2022
The discursive heart-mind
is like a temerarious traveller
who upon entering a forest
becomes enchanted with the trees —
transfixed —
captivated —
with categorizing and classifying —
stumbling along in the darkness —
lost
in his soporific somnambulation —
all the while forgetting
the beauty, majesty and wonder
of
Life
beyond
the
forest.
Thus the i-know mind
subsists
in a perpetual state
of dissatisfaction
disorientation
and
delusion.
The Timeless, Boundless Heart-Mind
perceives
the Totality of Life —
with gratitude, joy and childlike wonder —
fully at play
in the illusory world
of the ten thousand things —
while yet
never forgetting
that
All
Is
One
—
Not two.
May your every breath be light, love and wisdom.
/|\
Body returns to Body
13 May 2022
Body returns to Body
mind returns to Mind
breath returns to Breath
essence returns to Essence
Be-ing
returns
to
Non-Be-ing
all things return to their Source —
as rivers flow to the Great Sea
all effort comes to an end
clarity emerges as the bright, clear sky
—
in a single solitary flow-motion second
the
entire
universe
awakens.
Not two.
/|\
Hurry! Hurry!
26 August 2022
“Hurry!
Hurry!
We’ll be late!”
I growl at the dog
who is taking
his own sweet time.
He cocks his head —
and looks at me —
curiously —
clearly puzzled —
certain
I
must
be
going
mad
/|\
When a country violates the Way
12 September 2022
When a country violates
the Way of Nature —
the Nature of the Way —
it inevitably devolves
into a state of perpetual
confusion
calamity
and
conflict.
When a country aligns and unifies
with the Way of Nature —
the Nature of the Way —
it inevitably evolves
into a state of perpetual
purity
prosperity
and
peace.
There is no greater illusion than fear
no greater delusion than preparing for war
no greater pathological madness than creating an “enemy.”
When we finally awaken
from the fatuity of fear
we will inevitably realize (embody)
the indescribable
unity, balance and harmony
—
the perfect peace
—
that
weaves
this
universe
together.
May your every breath be peace, light and love.
Not two.
/|\
— an adaptation of a teaching as recorded in the Writings on the Nature of the Way (The Way of Nature) (Dào Dé Jīng 道德經), chapter 46, attributed to the 6th century BCE philosopher, poet, teacher and archivist, Lǎozǐ
With every good-bye
20 September 2022
With every “good-bye,”
we also say “hello.”
With every “hello,”
we also say “goodbye.”
Goodbye.
Hello.
Hello.
Goodbye.
Hello and goodbye —
goodbye and hello —
arising,
flourishing and frolicking for a time
and then abating —
like a wave upon the ocean —
flowing ceaselessly
into one another.
For just as we have met before,
we meet today.
We will meet again tomorrow.
We meet each other in all manifestations of Life.
We meet forever
in the sacred heart
of
Pure
Love.
Not two.
May your every breath be peace, light and love.
/|\
The True Warrior
14 November 2022
The True Warrior
alchemically integrates
the elements of Heaven and Earth —
intuitively discerning
the times and seasons —
the ebb and flow of the Universe —
the Way of Nature —
the Nature of the Way —
transforming martial precepts, strategies and skills
into instruments of
peace
healing
and
reconciliation —
transforming the Art of War —
into
The
Art
of
Peace.
The True Warrior stands between Heaven and Earth —
at the centre of the Sacred Circle of Life.
Body like the mountain.
Breath like the ocean.
Heart-mind as open and expansive as the bright, clear sky.
Calm, relaxed and natural —
unified, balanced and harmonious —
iridescent
in
light
love
and
truth.
May your every breath be peace, light and love.
Not two.
/|\
— this reflection was inspired by a teaching of Morihei Ueshiba, 20th century CE martial artist, teacher, philosopher and founder of Aikido
When, in the youthful bloom of morn
10 March 2023
When, in the youthful bloom of morn
the silken opalescence of the rising sun
enraptures
you
in pure childlike gratitude, joy and wonder
what can be said but…
‘Ahh!’
And that is enough.
For in that sacred, syzygetic, synchro-destinous moment
the Divine Nature of the Universe —
has cast off the coverlet of night
and
awakened
in
you.
And when you are inspired
to silent contemplation
through an elegant expression of art —
your heart flourishing and flowering
in rapt childlike gratitude, joy and wonder —
like the pure white lotus
flourishing and flowering
in the golden light and warmth of the morning sun —
what is left to say but…
“Ahh!”
And that is enough.
For in that sacred, syzygetic, synchro-destinous moment
the Divine Nature of the Universe —
has flowered within you.
And
That
You
Are!
Not two.
May your every breath be peace, light and Ineffable Love.
/|\
In harmony with the Way of Nature
13 March 2023
In harmony with the Way of Nature —
the Nature of the Way —
the sky is bright and clear
the air is fresh and clean
the water is pure and pristine
the soil is rich and fertile
all Children of the Living Soil —
Children of the Infinite Light —
all beloved manifestations of Life
flourish
and
thrive
together —
unified, balanced, and harmonious —
according to our True Nature —
nothing missing
nothing broken —
perfect integrity
perfect equilibrium
perfect
peace
—
one Body
one Breath
one Heart
one Mind
one Essence
one Light
one Love
one Truth.
Not two.
/|\
I am the wind which breathes upon the sea
17 March 2023
I am the wind which breathes upon the sea
I am the wave of the ocean
I am the murmur of the billows
I am the ox of the seven combats
I am the vulture upon the rocks
I am the beam of the sun
I am the fairest of plants
I am a wild boar in valour
I am a salmon in the water
I am a lake in the plain
I am a word of science
I am the point of the lance of battle
I am the god who creates in the head the fire
Who is it that throws light into the meeting on the mountain?
Who announces the ages of the moon, if not I?
Who teaches the place where couches the sun, if not I?
— a translation of an poem attributed to Amergin Glúingel, one of the seven sons of Míl Espáine — prince, druid, bard, poet, counselor and emissary for the Milesians (the tribe of Míl Espáine) — as recorded in the writings of the Irish Mythological Cycle
May your every breath be peace, light and Ineffable Love.
/|\
Once I dreamed I was a butterfly
15 May 2023
Once
I dreamed
I was a butterfly —
flitting and frolicking about
in the bright, clear sky —
innocent and free.
Then
apparently…
I
awoke.
Now I wonder…
am I really a man
dreaming
of be-ing
a butterfly
or am I
indeed
a butterfly
dreaming
of
be-ing
a
man?
Not two.
— a literary adaptation of a gāthā from the Zhuāngzǐ 莊子, a collection of stories, parables and wisdom sayings attributed to 4th century BCE philosopher and teacher, Zhuāngzǐ (Master Zhuang) 莊子
May your every breath be childlike joy, wonder and freedom.
/|\
The Way of Nature gives rise to all
17 May 2023
The Way of Nature —
the Nature of the Way —
gives rise to all manifestations of Life
yet has no form of its own.
Attempt to affix an image of it in your mind,
and
ironically…
you
lose
it.
Is this not like trying to net a butterfly?
The form may be captured,
but in the process
the pure, unbridled
joy, wonder and freedom —
the miracle —
of the flying
is
lost.
Why not
be content
with
simply
experiencing
it?
— a literary adaptation of a teaching from the Tài Shàng Líng Bǎo Lǎozǐi Huà Hú Miào Jīng 太上灵宝老子化胡妙经 (aka ‘Huàhújīng’ — ‘The Supreme Numinous Treasure’s Sublime Classic on Laozi’s Wandering in Foreign Lands’)
May your every breath be joy, wonder and freedom.
Not two.
/|\
Do what is beneficial
25 May 2023
Do what is beneficial
not only for your self
but for all manifestations of Life.
Embody purity in your intentions
and do no harm —
either in
thought,
word
or
deed.
Let go
of clinging
to the pernicious need
to compare and compete.
Live in peace.
Live in joy.
Live
in
Pure
Love —
even amidst those
who choose
to violate,
harm,
and perpetuate suffering.
Be in the world,
while not being of it.
Look deeply within —
every day
and
rest —
take refuge
in the Pure Heart-Mind —
in the Still Point —
the Eye at the Centre of the Storm —
where you are free from fear and aversion —
craving and clinging —
attachment and addition —
where you are free
to experience the
pure
childlike
gratitude
joy
and
wonder
of
the
Way.
— an adaptation of a teaching by Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha, as recorded in the Dhammapada, (lit. ‘The Way of Eternal Truth’, a collection of wisdom sayings attributed to Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha)
/|\
A drop of water
26 May 2023
A drop of water
clings to the lip of a leaf
—
trembles —
struggles —
to hold on
for a while
and then…
lets
go
—
free
falling
falling
—
sheer
delight
/|\