~GEOFFREY GORDON~

HANDS IN THE WIND

In a single breath,
the heart drum keeps time
and ignites the ancient empathy inside our bones

Happiness in love sounds
opens all possibilities in the eternal presence of now
while separateness merges in the waters of our breath

Vital energy continues walking and is awake to itself

Krishna takes off his battle armor

Sita, hearing Rama's name,
offers her hands in the wind,
listening for all time in a single breath
oh, this precious life!



~RABIA~

IT ACTS LIKE LOVE

It acts like love-music-
it reaches toward the face, touches it, and tries to let you know
God's promise: that all will be okay.

It acts like love-music and,
tells the feet, "You don't have to be so burdened."

My body is covered with wounds
this world made,

but I longed to kiss God, even when He said,

"Could you also kiss the hand that caused
each scar,

for you will not find me until
you do."

It does that-music-helps us
to forgive.


A BREAST IN THE SKY

I hear talk about the famous.
I hear talk about different cities.

The most intimate events of families come to my ears.
I hear about temples and mosques and saints.

All that can be said I have heard.
All that can be wanted I have seen.

My interest in this world has waned though,
not because I am
depressed.

A fish in a bowl I was,
a bottom feeder,

but now I nurse
upon a breast
in the
sky.



~SAINT THERESA OF AVILA~

THE SKY'S SHEETS

When He touches me I clutch the sky's sheets,
the way other lovers do.

the earth's weave
of clay.

Any real ecstacy is a sign
you are moving
in the right
direction,

don't let any prude tell
you otherwise.



~MIRABAI~

I WANT YOU TO HAVE THIS

I
want
you to have
this,

all the beauty in my eyes, and the grace of my mouth,
all the splendor of my
strength,

all the
wonder of the musk parts
of my
body,

for are we
not talking about real love, real
love?



~LALLA~

Dance, Lalla, with nothing on
but air. Sing Lalla,
wearing the sky.

Look at this glowing day! What clothes
could be so beautiful, or
more sacred?

~~~

Everything is new now for me.
My mind is new, the moon, the sun.
The whole world looks rinsed with water,
washed in the rain of I am That.

Lalla leaps and dances inside the energy
that creates and sustains the universe.

~~~

If you've melted your desires
in the river of time, choose
to be a recluse, or choose
a family, the villiage job.

If you know the pure Lord within you,
you'll be That, wherever.



~THE SONG OF SONGS~

Kiss me with the kisses of your mouth for your love is sweater than wine
The oils of your body are fragrant, the sound of your name is perfume
For good reason the people love you
Take me with you and we will run
The king brings us into his bedchamber
We will rejoice and celebrate sipping our fragrant love rather than wine
No wonder the people love you

Arise my love, arise and come away with me
Behold the winter has passed and the rains have come
pushing the buds up from the earth
The time of singing has come
The song of the nightingale and turtledove are heard in the land
The fig tree forms it's first fruit, the blossoming vine gives off it's fragrance
Arise my love and come away with me

Come away with me my love, come away with me
We will leap over the mountains
From the dens of lions and the lairs of panthers
You have ravished my heart with one bead of your necklace
You have incited my soul with one glance of your eyes
How wonderful you are, how beautiful you are
You are love, with all it's delights

I went down to the walnut garden
to see if the grapevines were in blossom
and if the pomegranates were in flower
I do not know how it was, but my soul swooned
and I found myself in a chariot, next to my prince



~GHALIB~

The world is no more than the beloved's single face;
In the desire of the One to know it's own
beauty, we exist. Each place, each moment,
sings its particular song of being and not being.
Without reason,the clear glass equally mirrors wisdom and madness.
Those who claim knowledge are wrong; prayer just leads to trance;
Appearance and faith are mere lees in the Unkowing Wine.
Wherever the Footprint is found,
that handful of dust holds
the oneness of worlds.
This earth, burnished
by hearing the Name,
is so certain of Love
That the sky bends
unceasingly down,
to greet its own
light.



~INANNA~

The people of the city loosened the tree.
From the roots of the tree
Gigamesh carved for Inanna a bed.
From the trunk of the tree
he carved for Inanna a throne.
From the branches of the tree
Inanna carved for Gilgamesh a drum stick
And from the trunk of the tree a drum.
She gave the drum and drum stick to Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh struck the drum
And awoke the people of Uruk.



~KABIR~

My inside, listen to me, the greatest spirit
the Teacher, is near,
wake, wake up!

Run to God's feet-
he is standing close to your head right now.

You have slept for millions and millions of years.

Why not wake up this morning?


~ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI~

It was easy to love God in all that was beautiful.

The lessons of deeper knowledge though,
instructed me to embrace God in all things.






see http://www.neemkarolibaba.com & http://www.nkbashram.org/

Hanuman

Here's one of the many stories about the monkey god Hanuman. Many yugas ago the heavenly beings gathered to make a plan to help the earth. Vishnu the preserver of all creation would be born as a human named Rama. Rama would take human birth to defeat the demon king Ravana. Ravana was destroying the earth and it's creatures and living in extreme luxury. The gods decided to take birth as a race of divine monkeys and bears that could perform magical feats in battle in order to reunite Sita with Rama. Sita is the daughter of the earth. She represents the divine mother, the essence of all creation. Indra the king of heaven became the monkey Vali. Surya the sun god became King Sugriva who was Vali's brother. Brahma the creator of all manifestation became Jambavan, king of the bears. Shiva assumed the form of Hanuman the most powerful and wise monkey. Hanuman is the loving servant of Rama. He heals the sick, crushes the demons of the mind, inspires strength and dignity, and gives unlimited help to yogi's on their spiritual journey. He is master of all the supernatural powers or siddhis. He can take on any shape or size at will, can fly, is master over the five elements, can be in many places at once, can walk on water, into fire and has direct knowledge and experience of God. Hanuman is the breath of Rama, the vitality or prana of the infinite, the humble and wise bhakta. He was given the boon of immortality by Mother Sita and is present wherever the name Ram is heard.

Jai Jai Sita Ram!
Jai Jai Hanuman!