Hello Everyone -
How are all of you?
I haven’t forgotten you! It has been SUCH a busy time, but I think of you often, and want to stay in touch!
Here is a wonderful poem I have recently heard, that speaks to our current situation, of being cut off from so many of the wonderful things - and people - we have enjoyed; and yet, how such richness can be found, through connecting with what is available and at hand.
Rupert Spira shares how he has developed the habit of taking long walks after dark, through the town of Oxford, where he lives. (Obviously - no quarantine!!)
He was enjoying his walks in silence until his son suggested he wear earpods, and be able to enjoy all the poetry, music and readings from some of the world’s great literature, and writings of the sages and mystics which he loves.
He wrote the following poem, reflecting the richness of his experience - keeping company with wonderful artists, philosophers and masters. In each encounter, he shares with us the essence of each of his companion’s vision.
Lockdown Nights in Oxford
a poem by Rupert Spira
Last night I walked the streets of Oxford with Kabir.
The night before, it was Jesus.
And the night before, Rumi visited, uninvited.
Every night, a different companion, but always the same Friend.
Why go anywhere, when the Beloved always comes to you?
I pointed out the smiling houses to Kabir,
‘Have you ever noticed that each house has a face?’
‘It is I who am smiling’, he said.
‘I am happy to see you’, I said to Atmananda the next night.
‘You are happiness itself’ he replied.
I stood outside a chapel and listened to the choir with Brother Lawrence.
‘Our love for God, is God’s love for us’, he said.
And the next night, Meister Eckhart,
‘There is a huge silence inside each of us, that beckons us into itself.’
‘Know nothing’ Socrates said the following night.
‘Be Everything’ added Parmenides.
I showed Plotinus the gardens, but he said, ‘I see only one thing’.
I talked with the Buddha, but he remained silent.
I was silent with Moses, but he started to sing!
I uttered the word 'I', but Balayani held his finger to my mouth.
I asked Wang Po if he could hear the stream,
‘There is only the hearing’, he said.
I found William Blake, naked in the park.
‘Do you see how, through perception,
The Infinite gives birth to itself?’ he asked.
‘He’s right!’ Ramana said.
‘The universe appears every moment through the portal, “I am”.
And later, when I suggested we rest,
‘I am always at rest’, he smiled.
‘Thine! This universal frame, this wondrous fare.
Thyself, how wondrous then?’
Milton asked ecstatically, as we looked at the night sky.’
‘Everything shines with Being!’ Wordsworth said.
I offered a drink to Jesus,
‘I am the Water of Life’, he said.
I walked in silence with Francis,
‘My silence is my question’ I said.
‘My silence is my answer’, he replied.
I walked alone one night, with the World for my friend.
The next night, I found Hafiz, drunk on a bench.
‘Come, taste this wine!’ he called.
Shaams came to join us.
‘I am looking for the Friend’, he sighed.
‘I love these nighttime walks,’ I said to Anandamaya Ma.
‘Love, only Love’ she said.
I listened to barking dogs with Avandavagupta,
‘Know only Knowing’, he said.
'I am'
‘Shhh - don’t add anything to it” Nisargadatta uttered.
I danced down the street with Mozart.
I prayed in every step with Bach.
I listened with Beethoven,
and he showed me everything
as the crystallized form of a great cosmic pulsation.
I leaned with Primo Levi against a wall, watching friends, lovers and strangers.
‘Each of us’, he said, ‘bears the imprint of a friend met along the way.’
Yeats joined us, ‘There are no strangers here,
Only friends we haven’t yet met.’
And Rembrandt agreed.
‘If you look at anyone for long enough,’ he said,
‘They will eventually become your friend.’
I watched the sun set with Shelley one night,
“The one remains, the many change and pass.’ he said.
And then, as the moon arose,
‘Heaven’s light forever shines. Earth’s shadows fly.
Life, like a dome of many coloured glass,
Stains the white radiance of eternity.’
And last night, Rumi followed me home.
‘Kiss the ground with every step.’ he said.
'Good Night.' I said, without words.
‘We part without parting.’ he smiled.
I hope you enjoy this poem. You can watch the video of Rupert reading it online. It is quite beautiful. It gives me a sense that even if we are limited in how far outside ourselves we can go, there is no limit to how deeply, and fully, we are able to live.
Sending each of you the warmest wishes for a Beautiful Springtime, Happy Passover, and Happy Easter.
All three of these, Spring, Passover and Easter celebrate the overcoming of limitation and hardship into the Joy of renewal.
And each new day, each new moment is also an opportunity for renewal, an opportunity for Joy.
Wishing you all the warmth of This Beautiful Sunny Day!
Lynda
How are all of you?
I haven’t forgotten you! It has been SUCH a busy time, but I think of you often, and want to stay in touch!
Here is a wonderful poem I have recently heard, that speaks to our current situation, of being cut off from so many of the wonderful things - and people - we have enjoyed; and yet, how such richness can be found, through connecting with what is available and at hand.
Rupert Spira shares how he has developed the habit of taking long walks after dark, through the town of Oxford, where he lives. (Obviously - no quarantine!!)
He was enjoying his walks in silence until his son suggested he wear earpods, and be able to enjoy all the poetry, music and readings from some of the world’s great literature, and writings of the sages and mystics which he loves.
He wrote the following poem, reflecting the richness of his experience - keeping company with wonderful artists, philosophers and masters. In each encounter, he shares with us the essence of each of his companion’s vision.
Lockdown Nights in Oxford
a poem by Rupert Spira
Last night I walked the streets of Oxford with Kabir.
The night before, it was Jesus.
And the night before, Rumi visited, uninvited.
Every night, a different companion, but always the same Friend.
Why go anywhere, when the Beloved always comes to you?
I pointed out the smiling houses to Kabir,
‘Have you ever noticed that each house has a face?’
‘It is I who am smiling’, he said.
‘I am happy to see you’, I said to Atmananda the next night.
‘You are happiness itself’ he replied.
I stood outside a chapel and listened to the choir with Brother Lawrence.
‘Our love for God, is God’s love for us’, he said.
And the next night, Meister Eckhart,
‘There is a huge silence inside each of us, that beckons us into itself.’
‘Know nothing’ Socrates said the following night.
‘Be Everything’ added Parmenides.
I showed Plotinus the gardens, but he said, ‘I see only one thing’.
I talked with the Buddha, but he remained silent.
I was silent with Moses, but he started to sing!
I uttered the word 'I', but Balayani held his finger to my mouth.
I asked Wang Po if he could hear the stream,
‘There is only the hearing’, he said.
I found William Blake, naked in the park.
‘Do you see how, through perception,
The Infinite gives birth to itself?’ he asked.
‘He’s right!’ Ramana said.
‘The universe appears every moment through the portal, “I am”.
And later, when I suggested we rest,
‘I am always at rest’, he smiled.
‘Thine! This universal frame, this wondrous fare.
Thyself, how wondrous then?’
Milton asked ecstatically, as we looked at the night sky.’
‘Everything shines with Being!’ Wordsworth said.
I offered a drink to Jesus,
‘I am the Water of Life’, he said.
I walked in silence with Francis,
‘My silence is my question’ I said.
‘My silence is my answer’, he replied.
I walked alone one night, with the World for my friend.
The next night, I found Hafiz, drunk on a bench.
‘Come, taste this wine!’ he called.
Shaams came to join us.
‘I am looking for the Friend’, he sighed.
‘I love these nighttime walks,’ I said to Anandamaya Ma.
‘Love, only Love’ she said.
I listened to barking dogs with Avandavagupta,
‘Know only Knowing’, he said.
'I am'
‘Shhh - don’t add anything to it” Nisargadatta uttered.
I danced down the street with Mozart.
I prayed in every step with Bach.
I listened with Beethoven,
and he showed me everything
as the crystallized form of a great cosmic pulsation.
I leaned with Primo Levi against a wall, watching friends, lovers and strangers.
‘Each of us’, he said, ‘bears the imprint of a friend met along the way.’
Yeats joined us, ‘There are no strangers here,
Only friends we haven’t yet met.’
And Rembrandt agreed.
‘If you look at anyone for long enough,’ he said,
‘They will eventually become your friend.’
I watched the sun set with Shelley one night,
“The one remains, the many change and pass.’ he said.
And then, as the moon arose,
‘Heaven’s light forever shines. Earth’s shadows fly.
Life, like a dome of many coloured glass,
Stains the white radiance of eternity.’
And last night, Rumi followed me home.
‘Kiss the ground with every step.’ he said.
'Good Night.' I said, without words.
‘We part without parting.’ he smiled.
I hope you enjoy this poem. You can watch the video of Rupert reading it online. It is quite beautiful. It gives me a sense that even if we are limited in how far outside ourselves we can go, there is no limit to how deeply, and fully, we are able to live.
Sending each of you the warmest wishes for a Beautiful Springtime, Happy Passover, and Happy Easter.
All three of these, Spring, Passover and Easter celebrate the overcoming of limitation and hardship into the Joy of renewal.
And each new day, each new moment is also an opportunity for renewal, an opportunity for Joy.
Wishing you all the warmth of This Beautiful Sunny Day!
Lynda
