Humor & Light

HUMOR 
can inject itself
to lighten
even
the
darkest
of
souls
BUT
humor alone 
cannot sustain the light.

WHY IS IT FOR SOME AND NOT OTHERS, 
Even for those as close as brothers?
One may question this and wonder why, 
How can they not feel the same as I?

Understanding lies beyond one's ken, 
The reason is not given to men . .
God alone knows how all things should be 
Including spirituality . . .

We need to accept, what is our lot, 
Not question why one is and one not.
We may speculate, try to explain, 
This mystery will always remain.

FAITH WITH WHICH ONE IS BORN, 
If maintained
One will not be forlorn. 
Neglected, it will wither away. 
Sorrow and aloneness
Will carry the day.
 

PLANET EARTH TURNS ON ITS AXIS 
And it continuously spins.
Going full circle round the Sun 
It ends up where it begins.

We see light turning to darkness, 
Feel the cold convert into heat.
All part of a continuum 
Where nature's four seasons repeat.

Thus, though life is ever changing, 
The changes are never done. 
As stated by King Solomon -
"There's nothing new under the Sun".

ONE MAY LOSE ALL HIS GAINS. 
The only sure thing that remains
Is what he gives away!

That lasts forever and a day. 
Acts of kindness, charity, stay on,
Long after one is gone.

NOT ONLY TO NOT FEEL ENVY, 
But to derive pleasure in another's gain.
This is love without measure, 
The highest level to obtain.

To delight in another's good fortune, 
Not think one's lot is shy,
Grateful for this special blessing, 
Seeing life with a benevolent eye.

PERSISTING NOT INSISTING, 
Accepting not excepting,
Receiving and giving, 
Makes a life worth living.

Meeting and greeting, 
Caring and sharing, 
Never complaining,
God's will ever reigning.

WHAT MAKES YOU TICK? 
What are you about?
Curious? 
Would you like to find out?

You may discover, to your surprise, 
Many things you do not realize.
Inclinations going on inside, 
You're Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde.

Good, evil, in you relatively, 
In all, it's matter of degree.
Being aware there are these two, 
Helps bring forth the good in you.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE? 
Where is the break?

The barrier line 

- Yours, mine -

Try as we may to touch the sky, 
It was decreed, it will recede.

SO IT IS A BIT SHY. 
All we can do is sigh . . .
Times we laugh, times we cry, 
That's life we can't defy.

We can't know, why pry, 
Any answer's a lie . . .

No matter how we try, 
Sorrows we can't deny. 
But you know same as I,
There's always more than meets the eye.

IT IS NOT ONLY STANDING BY. 
There's more to it than meets the eye.
An inner state is there as well. 
Only the patient one can tell.

Forbearance and tolerance too, 
With acceptance, also shine through.
It is not enough to desist. 
These qualities should coexist.

"I FORGIVE MYSELF" IS NOT ONLY TO SAY, 
Much more need to come into play.
It begins with a change of heart. 
With sincere repentance it should start.

One must move beyond what occurred, 
No matter how gravely one erred.
It does not right the wrong, 
To remain unforgiving long.

With forgiveness inner ease is won. 
It applies to self or anyone. 
Wise folk at all times know,
For happy living, forgive and let go.

BE THE WITNESS. 
Not the judge.
Speak, live the Truth. 
Never fudge.

As the witness, 
Be aware
You are the one 
About whom you swear.

Go with the Flow, 
Play it straight. 
True to your self,
Don't deviate.

GREED AND ENVY ARE EACH A FOE, 
Both products of too much ego.
Brothers under the skin.

Closer than their other kin, 
sloth, impatience, laziness . . . 
They live together more or less.

But greed and en take the cake. 
These act solely for ego's sake. 
Beware whenever they appear.
By far, they are a most harmful pair.

GIVING RESPECT IS NOT DONE 
Just to please another one.
Respect is not etiquette 
Or being considerate.

Respect embodies much more, 
Reverence is at its core. 
Reverence for life around,
Flowing with love most profound.

Self respect is always there. 
With this love, one tries to share.

SELF ABSORBED, SELF POSSESSED, 
Self confused, self distressed. 
Come around, see your lot.
See what is, what is not.

Time's so short, see what's left. 
Act to change or be bereft.

Do what it takes, do not fret. 
Don't give in, time is yet! 
Have a goal, best for you.
Stay the course, see it through.

CHARITY MAY BE GIVEN ANONYMOUSLY, 
But a private gift should bear an identity.
One has no right to deprive opportunity, 
For one to convey gratitude as the donee.

Feeling gratitude is a human quality 
To be repeated as often as it can be.

IMPULSES CAN BE VERY STRONG, 
Propel one to do right and wrong. 
Knowing this we need self protect,
Be aware how they may affect.

Take measures not to self expose 
To impulses, hard to oppose.
Guard ourselves against those we know, 
When tempted, we will not say "no".

One should not complain when he commits a sin 
By exposing himself, and is taken in.

DESIRE AND ANGER GO HAND IN HAND, 
This is how it goes.
When a desire is not satisfied, 
Then anger flows.

Knowing desire leads the way, 
With anger close behind,
Recognize a desire as it starts, 
Put it out of mind.

It may be difficult to do, 
But it can be done.
If you desire to be anger free, 
Make this desire the sole one.

By Example

THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SEEKERS OF POWER. 
They exist at this very hour.
Claim to know the way to higher ground, 
Tell of wonders they have found. 
Say they have the key.
Show no sense of fallibility.

Caution to all out there. 
Be advised, be aware,
The wise who have gone before, 
Their way is worth much more. 
They show the way
By example - have little to say.

Only On Loan

ALL ONE MAY OWN 
Is only on loan.
To have and to hold 
Until one is cold. 
Whatever to keep
Till one goes to sleep. 
No exceptions, none, 
For everyone.
One's possessions cease. 
Enjoy and release. 
Better in your day
To give it away.

Not To Be Naive

THERE SHOULD BE NO HATRED WE ARE TOLD. 
But isn't that somewhat oversold? 
Shouldn't one loathe evil and a lie,
Not be indifferent, let these go by?

One needs to take a stand against sin, 
Not allow it to exist and set in.
Not to do so is to be naive. 
Hate evil or later grieve!

Scoffer Or Sinner - Which Is Worse?

A SINNER CAN SELF REDEEM IF HE CONFESS. 
A scoffer would not seek to self redress.
The latter thinks he is supreme. 
Would never try to self redeem.

It may be said, to say the least -
He is less the man, more the beast.

Descend To Ascend

DESCEND TO ASCEND 
Can at times be true.
To attain a goal, 
One may need to undo.

In going forward 
Toward what we yearn, 
We may best step back,
To later return.

In going through life 
All make mistakes. 
When we see error,
Do what it takes.

Not To Avenge

NEVER AVENGE, TAKE REVENGE. 
No matter how grave,
Do not crave 
Revenge.

It may be sweet 
But it does self defeat. 
To avenge does self fool
And breaks the Golden Rule.

The Ultimate Test

EVERYTHING IS FOR THE BEST.
To accept whatever, is the ultimate test 
With reservations none, not one.

Whatever may occur, to concur, not demur.

No matter how one's heart was set. 
No disappointment, no regret.
This is the ultimate state 
Of the greatest of the Great.

The Elite

HIGHLY HELD FOR WEALTH OR FAME, 
Human beings all the same.
Admired by some for their wares, 
By others, it is "who cares"?

Matters not in the long run, 
How they're held by anyone. 
Do they think they are elite?
If so, they do self defeat.

Ongoing Challenges

WE HAVE OUR SETTING, WE HAVE OUR LOT, 
We have so much and much we have not.
It does not matter what is out there, 
How we feel determines how we fare.

Our challenge is to live with felicity, 
Not dwell on negativity.
Never allow ourselves to feel sad, 
Each day, each moment, be up and glad.

Mankind's Treasure Trove

AN ACT OF KINDNESS, AN ACT OF LOVE, 
an act of mercy, life's treasure trove.

Goodness with generosity, 
Forgiveness and felicity,
Each available to take at will. 
Unlimited, anyone may have his fill.

Little Things

LITTLE THINGS ARE MY FARE. 
With what do I compare?
None are earth-shaking things. 
Mine are daily doings. 
For self and family.
Whatever they may be.

In addition I try
To do more than get by. 
Hoping that I may bring 
Others some gladdening.
This is my daily way, 
Big, little, whose to say?

As Man Sows

JOYS AND SORROWS ARE EVER THERE, 
For people living everywhere.
Though no one's lot can be compared. 
For all, some of both, none are spared.

But history has shown, 
More of each can be sown. 
When one lives unselfishly ,
Life is lived more joyfully.

Good And Useful

BE GOOD FOR OTHERS 
In whatever you do. By living this way
Good will come back to you.

It can be simple 
As a warm smile.
Or saying a kind word. 
Listening for a while.

Being good and useful 
Is to do a good deed, 
Whatever it may be. 
Just fill another's need.

Self Pity

IF ALL YOU SEE IN LIFE IS GRIM, 
Sing only dirges for a hymn, 
Seeing yourself as put upon, 
Suffering will go on and on.

It's of no use
To self pity. It's self abuse.
If you can say with true belief 
"Life is good", you will find relief.

Being Charitable

(THERE ARE THOSE WHOSE LIVES ARE BARE 
AND THOSE WHO HAVE MUCH TO SPARE.
BUT HAVING MONEY IS A TRUST, 
AND HELPING OTHERS IS A MUST).

MONEY, NO - BUT DIGNITY, YES! 
The latter a right all possess.
It's not a right to be well off.
Giving, receiving, never scoff. 
With charity, neither may 
Ever take dignity away.

A Paradox

BECOMING BIG BY ACTING SMALL, 
Is not a misstatement at all.
It seems not right yet it is so. 
A paradox to know . . .

It happens before one's eyes 
Whenever ego's brought down to size.

Food And Thought

LESS FOOD AND LESS THOUGHT. 
One should live this way.
It makes for a happier life. 
So the sages say.

Eating and thinking 
Are intertwined.
Food feeds the body, 
Thought, the mind.

Reduce food and thought 
Too much, takes its toll. ,
It also happens 
It's good for the soul.

Pleasing The Crowd

BE NOT EVER PROUD
By how you please the crowd. 
Better be aware
The crowd will disappear.

You are who you are 
And will not always star.
Don't live a charade. 
In time all things fade.

To yourself be true. 
Know your own value.

From Dust To Dust

ONE CAN BE GREAT AND ALSO HUMBLE. 
Greatness does not cause the humble to crumble. 
As long as one remembers from whence he came,

His humility will remain the same. 
It is the foremost character trait, 
Of the greatest of the Great.

Life - A Spinning Wheel

AS LONG AS LIFE'S NOT OVER ,

Suffering will ever be. 
And man is ever challenged, 
From suffering to be free.

It's not to give up or slacken, 
No matter the pain we feel. 
There's always the morrow, 
For life's a spinning wheel.

No Desires

DESIRE TO BE FREE OF DESIRE. 
Isn't this an inconsistency?
How can it be?

When this desire is the only one, 
By the power of Grace 
Desirelessness is won.

But one has to play a part 
For desire to depart.
Study, pray and meditate, 
Will help reach a desireless state.

Why Speculate

WHAT DOES HAPPEN AFTER ONE DIES? 
Ask no question, there'll be no lies . . .

Does anything continue on, 
Or all ends after one is gone?
Will it matter if we know, 
Will dying bring no more sorrow? 
Life after death - why speculate? 
When we find out, it's too late!

Even if no one can tell.
Best live like there's a heaven and hell.

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ONE
To transfer from one teacher to another- 
from one who has captured your heart- 
who has captured your soul- 
who has made you feel-
you are a slave to love, to adoration of God- 
who has brought you a sense of the Truth 
that you are God as much as God is everyone,
everything and beyond everything- 
For you to feel wondrously at peace with yourself?

Is it possible?