Guided
Guided by my Guru
A Pilgrimage to take
Rugged hills and bustling towns
No impression make
In silence I sit wrapped in shawl
To hand out bananas
Our driver taking one
Here a boarder guard
With expression bland as he looks within
Driver not perturbed – both babble in a foreign tongue
Serene I sit with heart pounding
I hope he doesn’t ask for passport
As driver hands him a banana in exchange for a pass
The guard once more looks within. Our eyes meet.
In silence lowering eye lids I nod my head
Mala playing in my hand
Let through. At last, he gives a nod.
Such a tale to tell,
Our driver happily laughs.
Revealing all
I told the boarder guard the banana was Prasad
Prasad from Mata Gee
Silence broken
A bubble of laughter left my lips
Spirit lifted mala flowing
Light added to our journey’s flow.
Mountains
How strange this land
Amid tall trees and winding paths
Where in the silence bells do chime
Welcome is the temple song, come give praises
In Gods passing song
This day does children’s laughter join with sonorous bells
Voices carried in whispered tone
By unseen winds
To become silent, as if by decree
Nature alone graces this land
Amid mountains bold
Sunlight closes, now giving light to even song
Must I wake from dreamless sleep?
A wondrous flow is breaths rhythmic song
To sit in flow within my heart
Looking out as body stirs from toes to finger tips
Breath grows stronger now
Mind awake in mantric flow
To light a candle while I do pray
Full light beckons now
Excitement flow
Today I take one more step
A pilgrimage, of old.
Experience
Is he ready must I wait?
Oh mind do be still
Patience dear all will be revealed
At last at last upon our way
This well trod path meanders right and left
Lifting us higher above the trees
Oh how bold to venture thus
Yet! I fear to stay Gods guiding hand
Heart in fear does beat in erratic flow
Cries out, ‘leave me hear I can’t go on’
While tears flow down my cheeks
Murmured sounds from my dry lips
“I fear going up “
While Jim in American drawl
‘It’s harder to come down’
‘I do not fear the down ward trek’
We laugh all is forgotten
How typical of God’s great gifts
To fear what we might receive
Let go in releasing breath
No need to fear
“I am – I am” no words are spoken, all is calm
Relief, sweet relief
Tis only one more bend in yonder path
Here I stand in Swami Rama cave
Pure joy assails my nostrils
Cloaked now in his red robe
He gives a smile
‘Well you made it then’
We sit in meditation
Gurudev and I
Such grace received
Released all fear of heights
I sit in Guru’s grace
Dawn upon my heart
What happened to my day?
Was it only yesterday I sat in a cave
Awakening to another day
Silent meditation flows
Just being one
“I Am – I Am”
Sitting here upon these hills no need to move
To walk to eat
I have arrived
All is still
Silence is my throne
Eyes open or closed
Just being
I sit upon Samadhi throne
Wouldst that I could stay
Just one more day
Nay we have to go
Once more in Sada Grama
Two days I eat alone
No company do I keep
For silence is my practice true –
No snubbing of my friends!
My heart so full
Grace flow free
Who wouldst see?
Swami Veda with beaming smile
My pilgrimage – he sees it all