When she transformed, it was noted by none.
As life went on just as it had before,
her place was occupied, her work was done,
no need to change the label on her door.
Her fellows never cared about her dreams,
nor saw her individual perfections,
nor did they see diminishing extremes,
they only saw illusory reflections.
Looking below accustomed turbulence,
she found inside a vast and changeless sea,
refuge from madness, coldness and offence,
where she found no real identity.
Once ending suffering became the goal,
the Buddha cast his shadow on her soul.
In a list
A contest entry
- The Buddha's Shadow by maa.
777 points, ended March 18, 7 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Thank you for reading.
Comments
1 - 20 of 20
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I feel the expanse of Soul in this, a living retreat from the tempestuous seas of emotion to find peace in stillness. That seen on the surface, in the ruffling of the waters, is temporal in the truth of being.
...to habitually turn to the center of the spirit that moves the waters is to heal, illusions to dispel, and brings dominion. My heart knows this, but my mind is slow to fathom the source.
Karen
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Beloved Soul ...
Congratulations on your Silver for this wondrous write. It sent me into deep introspection. Thank you.
I find solace in beautiful solitude. Being a part of our Creator, intimately. Often in the dark of night I smile love to Him, my soul a whisper of trust. I put my hands out to accept his sacred Kiss on each palm; and the works of my want are purified into selfless sharing. Such is our link: to be stringed to his Being: his living pendant.
The Ocean ebbs and flows, forever our Origin, our Shores and our Freedom ...
Love to you, Friend.
Myra
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Beautiful...
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What a deeply spiritual poem, and the ending is very beautiful. Your sonnet is a wonderful extension of the Buddha's Shadow, congrats on the silver!
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Simply ...
stated in a most unique way and well deserving of further thought. I so enjoyed your use of some fine lines that encourage me to delve into the extended meanings and to realize that you have shared of some metaphorical truth. We do not journey alone! j y
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Thank you for your understanding, Joy. We do not journey alone, we only feel like it sometimes. Ego isolates, spirit joins. There are forerunners, leaders, and guides, and a host along with us.
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congradulation on the silver
perfectly written a contemplation is couplets
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Thank you
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most welcome
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Thoughtful and insightful
The process is the same...
“Have you already found the beginning,
that you seek for the end? [...]
Blessed is the one who stands at the beginning:
That one will know the end and will not taste death.”
(Jesus in Gospel of Thomas, logion 18)
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oh yes
the gospel of Thomas, well done -
Thanks so much, Gennelle.
The best knowledge is that we know very little, and generally learn through making mistakes. It gives us compassion for the suffering of all people.
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"...no need to change the label on her door."
The change within duely noted,
but not aknowledged by her peers----
seems to apply to many who have been
transformed but continue unnoticed.
Well worthy of the silver "shadow."
M-C
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Thank you M-C, I appreciate your reading and kind comment. We don't know how many enlightened beings are in the world, but imagine if they were not there! They do what is there for them to do in compassion for others' suffering, and master their own habits for the same reason.
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Margaret, a visit to your page
always bring a new subject
to light, a new incite to mind--
rather like our private
treasure trove!! -
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Thank you M-C, that is a lovely thing to say.
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unique and deep. thank you for enlightening me
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Thank you Venu. Congratulations for your trophy.
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wow ...
this verse spoke to me so profoundly ...
it touched my deepest core and resonated with the simple truth within (within "whom" ?)
we might imagine enlightenment as a firework of ecstasy, never-ending bliss and no more need to do the housework
(that's my fantasy 
) ...
but it is rather an unsensational falling away of conditioning and identification :
"she found inside a vast and changeless sea,
refuge from madness, coldness and offence,
where she found no real identity." - as you so wonderfully expressed it ...
I loved the line about no need to change the label on her door : didn't awakened ones have the right to get at least a title and a halo that goes with it ?
wonderful ending couplet as well ...
it speaks to me of the soul being a blank screen on which buddha's shadow is cast ... when the belief of being an individual soul fades, the shadow does as well ... (my interpretation)
thank you for such and inspiring verse,
maa
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Thank you for this inspiring contest, Marion. When I thought about the Buddha's shadow, it became a metaphor for his influence on history and the model he gave for overcoming the suffering of daily life.
Attaining enlightenment is not dramatic; as you say, the chores are still there to be done, and we each have hands. What changes is the attitude to service, letting the work proceed without attachment to projected outcomes for the simple reason that the work is good. Satori should not be noticed nor should attention be drawn to it.
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