
If you place your body in the realm
Of equanimity and non-contention,
And let your mind roam in the
Territory of evenness and non-disturbance,
And water them every day with
Fair words and fine deeds of sage worthies,
Then you are sure to progress.

If you place your body in the realm
Of equanimity and non-contention,
And let your mind roam in the
Territory of evenness and non-disturbance,
And water them every day with
Fair words and fine deeds of sage worthies,
Then you are sure to progress.

this whole universe is the Beloved
Soul guides and prophets
have an innate innocence, but they are
subject to the same consequences as everyone.
If a donkey veers off-course, he will be hit with a stick.
If you do wrong, you will be punished. Abu Bakr said
that steadiness is the central virtue. From the
mind’s stability comes right action
which in turn balances the
intelligence.
They asked me why
prophets were given hardship.
I said it helps to have clear indications.
And I added silently to myself, Be more
humble like someone help captive.
Bow to the one who
can free you.

A hand
shifts our birdcages around.
Some are brought closer. Some move
apart. Do not try to reason it out.
Be conscious of who draws
you and who
not.

You
could become a
great horseman and help
to free yourself and this world though
only if you and prayer become sweet lovers.
It is a naive man who thinks we are not engaged in a
fierce battle, for I see and hear brave foot soldiers
all around me going mad, falling on the ground
in excruciating pain. You could become a
victorious horseman and carry your
heart through this world like a
life-giving sun though only
if you and God become
sweet lovers.
In the dark times
Will there also be singing?
Yes, there will be singing.
About the dark times.
—Bertolt Brecht
There will be prayer, too,
but to a different god,
and dread will lurk
in the songs we sing.
Doom in the timpani
no matter what the tune,
the tune a variation
on the theme of doom.
We will sing in the dark
and try to forgive
and try not to dwell
on the lives we lived.
The music we play
will be a funeral song,
the poetry we speak,
that ancient tool
we used to believe
was the vital spark,
or if not the spark,
will be the match we strike
again and again
in the darkest dark.