To Preface;
My old substack site was extremely politically charged, and often quite controversial, though never from any standpoint that promoted hatred or harm (to the very best of my knowledge). I always quite vehemently take the side of the oppressed and the victimised, and am totally opposed to dividing, categorising, and negatively discriminating against people according to differences, perceived or actual, like cultural background, religious affiliation, skin colour, gender, sexuality. I discontinued that publication simply because there were and are far better sites than my one was, and because- due to unfolding events- the controversial character was attracting some very unwanted attention that I have no interest in engaging with. I’ve been trying here to create a positive, edifying and universally orientated publication, which though based on my particular interest in and devotion to philosophy and Buddhism, is certainly not derisive of other spiritualties or outlooks, and hopefully may be of some interest and benefit to all who read. The ‘creative writing’ pieces are just that; they’re a hodge-podge of my scribblings from over the past 20years containing elements from various though similar influences. They're not at all orthodox to any one belief system or philosophy. Just in case anyone thinks I’m pretending to be a prophet or seer or something!
Here following are three.
1; The Sea
‘Through the wide eyes of sleep- in dream, I flew through morning mists by the sea. The silver fog turned to a light-sparkling nimbus as I was carried according to my will up to the cliff heights. Then, before me there unfolded a vision of wonder. Parting the mist there approached a great sailing-ship, miraculous in appearance. Upon it’s deck were grey horses with amethyst eyes. Upon the horses, a platform woven of silver-birch wood. Upon the platform, a great throne of fire opal, and upon that throne, a Great Presence. The figure held in each hand a flower, one of orange, the other of purple and they shone with their own light. The presence spoke –
‘Lead not the innocent into danger, that is the first. Have pity, for the pitiless will not quickly thaw from their ice.’
Know thyself. That is the second. Believe thyself to be wild, unrestrained, and hurtful in so far as thou art ignorant of thyself. In this is all morality.
‘Cultivate thy virtuous parts. Find of thyself a force particular and benevolent. Turn this particular towards universal benevolence. Such is the Good.’
I asked-
‘right and high one, are you a God of the Earth, or are you of the angelic folk, or are you a phantasm?’
Suddenly the form dissolved and instead there was a black shadow, like a hole in the world, whilst around, the whole vista was swathed in dazzling rainbow light. A green star and a violet star flashed forth as eyes within the shadow, and between them, a red orb of sublime effulgence. A voice like my own, though as sonorous as the river of wind, upon which, the Universe rests, spoke up
‘yea- I am all that, I am all this, and I am beyond in eternity.’
****************
2; The Horseman
Another dream;
On the plain of night,
I rest on cool grass, ringed in fir woods.
Life’s wind, ever breathing across the high, eternal sky.
Divine Horseman, Lord of the Moon,
star-steps in canter, down from the silent hills.
He says -
‘take your ease here, and then sleep, below the beryls of Night. The realm of heaven is not yet for you. You will wake into your old world, your dear mortal home. Bear up your sufferings that others may be free. Take with you as a gift, this vision to that dream- this cool plain of rest, beneath the hem of the heaven. For, verily, From one comes all, on one does all depend, in one, all lives. Into one does all return’
********************
3; The Ghost
I have heard -
‘There is a ghost who wanders lonely, the lanes of blue mountain feet above this city. At dusk, as if summoned by the lights, it ambles down towards the town. It passes houses and halls that spill laughter and laced spit onto the soaked streets. It cries at the falling of a star, and the sickening of an old tabby behind the bins. The ghost has seen thrones of powers, the chambers of cogs, and the dark vent from which is raised the Vault of the World. But what can the ghost do? For it lives by daylight in an old pinewood stump, which catches plastic bags and trash when the chill wind is up’.
So hard and uncaring seem the phenomena of the world. It needs not be so. There is an infinite well of compassion underlying the worlds. That well is a Pattern, and that Pattern is the Mind of the Mother, MahaPrajnaparamita, the Great Wisdom. She is the Base, the Consciousness, the Foundation. Consciousness carries the seeds of benevolence into the birth of all beings. Self-conscious, these seeds can be brought to flowering and flourishing. We, he self-conscious beings should acknowledge ourselves as thus: we form one body with everything in Heaven and Earth. Benevolence is the prime virtue. With benevolence as the prime virtue, a society of beings organises for the prosperity and well-being of all.
Recite! ;
The Unreal
‘By the day that dawns, and the memory that wakes,
Know that this realm is unreal, though existent,
And the thoughts and worries that arise in thee,
based on this realm-
Verily, they are doubly unreal.
Real alone is Prajnaparamita-
Sanity, Consciousness, True Foundation
Real is She, thy base, thy Matrix
Be free of anxieties, be mindful of the virtues
For mindful is She, caring, all powerful.
Though you realise not yet
The real
the within, the without’
I am certain I will!
That is beautiful. I recognise the ‘Know yourself’ γνῶθι σεαυτόν
Sadly, many people don’t, or erroneously think they do
Subscribed!