by Billy Doyle
we were seldom really there
present to the moment
we were always somewhere else
escaping, fixed on some object
seeking after another mirage
running away from ourselves
84
all that is acquired
will be lost
all that is new
will become old
all that which was born
will die
all that which was learnt
will be forgotten
seek out only the Real
the ever present
85
what is this me
a bundle of yesterday’s memories
a mass of resistance to what is
a non-acceptance of the moment
a bodily contraction from the
embrace of now
a wanting to be somewhere else
dreaming of a more perfect time
a refusal of the gift in our hands
but no need to resist this me
invite it home, humour it
and when loved
can it resist any more
86
all the pain, the insults, the fear
welcome it all, embrace it
until there’s no more to welcome
only welcoming
and nobody welcoming
87
it is this, here, now
but the mind would prefer
an encyclopaedia about it
than to be with the simplicity
of this message
we don’t want to hear this
we would prefer a journey
with the prospect of miraculous
experiences along the way
and to live forever in hope
than to be with this, here, now
88
have you noticed
nothing ever really happens
true, there’s a light show
sound show, thought show
and all that
but the screen
has it ever changed
you may cross continents
but presence is simply presence
89
when there is a glimpse
of our true nature
we become orientated
there’s simplicity
no longer scattered
here and there
all the iron fillings
are drawn back to the core
only one question
only one teacher
only one
90
in the moment there is no space
for the past
In the moment there is no space
for the future
In the moment there is no space
for being a me and a you
in the moment
there’s nothing lacking
91
the dark muddy river
is enclosed in concrete underground
the soul is smothered beneath
the comfort of body and mind
sometimes it tries to speak to us
in the dark of the night
but is forgotten by morning
with the coming of light
the stars are all but obliterated
in our neon life
who bothers to remember the soul
though it’s all that we’ve got
92
the greatest joy is to be
free of the greatest burden, yourself
that ton of bricks we carry
with its labyrinth of tunnels
corridors and lines of defence
that we spend our life
crawling round like automatons
oblivious to the joy
that is the Self
93
silence, stillness
for the mind, boring, an enigma
like a dark cave
but explore it
go deeper into the darkness
embrace it
glimpses of light flicker
until there’s only light
94
nothing has ever been held back
emptiness has always been fullness
love has never kept anything for itself
nothing is missing
the well is always overflowing
only in the dream
is there a lack
95
after a lifetime
of struggling to know
the surprise of finding home
in not-knowing
like a return to childhood
without the child
in this not-knowing
nothing remains to be known
96
knowledge brings innocence
the sage is as a child
happy for no reason
his actions seem purposeless
the future and its strategies
are of no concern
he is guileless
for what does he lack
his smile melts your defences
97
it is born and then dies
it is not I
one day it is happy, another day sad
it is not I
it is accepted and adored
then rejected and despised
It is not I
it feels rich and then
complains of being poor
It is not I
it is in health and then sickness
It is not I
without a blemish
what care I about such matters
I am no-body, no-thing
untouchable
beyond all opposite
98
who am I
you may look under every stone
search every nook and cranny
but you won’t find very much
just a collection of phantoms
look deeper, deeper
these disappear
leaving only transparency and space
99
here, if there can be a here
as at the birth of time
all is held in its potentiality
and yes, too, the expression
spread out across an infinity
and yet in all this
not a wave of a mine or a yours
in this borderless expanse
100
be detached from the world
and be detached from
he who would be detached
and be detached
from detachment
101
all action by a me
is tainted by the personal
let life act through you
in this volition-less volition *
you’re free
*An expression of Jean Klein
102
joy needs no cause or excuse
any more than the sun
needs a reason to shine
it is our essence
that’s why we all seek it
but it is us that pull the blinds
when it does visit unexpectedly
do not look for a reason
we were simply open
and not pulling the blinds
103
what you are needs no embellishment
there is no place to hang earrings
there is no
face to paint
nothing needs to be added or subtracted
gilding this lily only buries it
its joy is its nakedness
free of man and woman, you and me
free of the drapery
of high office or low office
it needs no formulation
it shines of itself
104
you would like to give up
all you are not
the insanity of individuality
piece by piece
but there’s always another
subtlety lurking below
the real giving up
is seeing that there
is nobody to give up anything
105
wisdom is understanding
the nature of subject and object
that I am the ultimate subject
and the body, senses and mind
and hence the world
are my objects
and then to go one step further
and see the apparent subject
and the apparent object
are one
106
there is only this
there is no other shore
but this shore
there is no other consciousness
but this consciousness
there is no other enlightenment
but this enlightenment
there is no other to become
but what I am
one step away
and I’m already lost
there is only this
107
what you are is non-conceptual
it is prior to the conceptual
so you cannot possibly think it
the mind is not the appropriate tool
it is clarity itself
and nothing you can do
or say about it
try as you may
108
the moon has no light of its own
it borrows its light
from the sun
the body-mind has no light
of its own
it is borrowed from consciousness
you are the light
that illuminates all that is
109
peace is not the peace
you feel at the end of the day
silence is not the silence
when the noise stops, or a thought ceases
beauty is not
the beauty in the sunset
peace, silence, beauty
have never come into being
and have never departed
nothing can destroy
for they are not of time
110
thoughts come and go
in the vastness
feelings come and go
in the vastness
bird song comes and goes
in the vastness
all are but ripples
in the vastness
111
do not go the temple
leave not your home
do not climb the holy mountain
leave not your home
do not wonder along
the path to some nirvana
leave not your home
enough of all this acquiring and seeking
leave not your home
for the seeker is the sought
leave not your home
112
that which you seek
is not to be found
it is much too close to touch
much too close to see
it is the touching
it is the seeing
there are not two
or some other
the necklace you thought was missing
is still around your neck
113
follow the language
that has no letters, no words
that nobody can speak
that nobody can hear
listen deeply
be open to it
let it embrace you
it is only this language
that will take you
to the secret garden
114
index
there was life …………………………………………
1
can I live with the question ……………………….
2
the great understanding …………………………..
3
time is not ……………………………………………
4
you say the journey needs time …………………
5
we’re invited to sit at the king’s table …………
6
on hearing the fish in the water …………………
7
the sunlight cannot penetrate through ..………
8
to see the orchid ……………………………………
9
Proprietor: Can I help you? ……………………..
10 & 11
the ego seems to take on………………………….
12
the little I that has taken ………………………….
13
what you really desire is me………………………
14
desire is a black hole ………………………………
15
when you’ve gone to the ………………………….
16
bring back your centre of gravity ……………….
17
why do we impose ………………………………….
18
when you take yourself ……………………………
19
when you use the word I ………………………….
20
pure subjectivity ……………………………………
21
form is an expression of the formless………….
22
after eliminating each layer ………………………
23
in the Self …………………………………………….
24
the scent of the rose ……………………………….
25
meditation ……………………………………………
26
there is not …………………………………………..
27
volition is the devil …………………………………
28
your compassio
n for the world is admirable ….
29
fighting the ego is a great battle ………………..
30
the ego is as sticky as glue ……………………….
31
the winds of thought ……………………………….
32
not the faintest whiff of objectivity …………….
33
There was once a fish ……………………………..
34
There was once a king …………………………….
35
you know the world around you ………………..
36
it is ignorance to know …………………………….
37
the tree you can touch …………………………….
38
don’t try to be aware ………………………………
39
it’s before you see ………………………………….
40
the concept is an abstraction ……………………
41
the ego is a prison …………………………………
42
the ego is like the devil …………………………...
43
the sky is deep blue ……………………………….
44
the sun shines ………………………………………
45
don’t stoke up the fire …………………………….
46
that whole tale of a me ……………………………
47
eternity is in this moment ………………………..
48
discover what is not born ………………………..
49
