Trans.

dessert
of the heart
to be
eaten with butter

On Velvet Revolutions

Havel
writes
speaks,
the words,
razor sharp
cut the Iron Curtains that fall
like velvet
off a lady of the night.

soft velvet
cushioning the earth
with no wrinkles
no dust,
dark,
revealving the naked truth
of making love
to a young free spirited woman called
Liberty
who guides with the lamp held on one hand
yet
chokes with her own selfish desires with the other...

Monsoon

Just as the
rain
brings relief
to the
parched earth,
so does
love
to a
sick heart.

Xeno Note, an observation of the Minute Man in Arizona

blues
on a harp
cries
from the gutter pit
of the white mans'
to the
entrance
of fear.

Struggle in Karma II

Every individual strives towards perfection. This goal of perfection is accomplished by good deeds or actions. Just as there are two types of Karmic actions, there are two types of human beings in a society.

Individuals in a society perform good deeds due to karmic nature of things, the rule of human or natural law. These type of individuals are "good individuals" who strive to better themselves by ensuring that their existence is free of samsaric attachments.

The good individuals' good deed/actions is attached to the freedom from samsara. They want liberation from the bondage of samsara, i.e, they want something in return. These actions are not entirely free. There is a condition or attachment to that good deed.

In a society, there are also individuals who perform good deeds/actions not due to karmic nature of things, the rule of human or natural law, but out of compassion for all sentient beings. These type of individuals are "thinking individuals" who strive for perfection ensuring that their existence is free of samsaric attachments due to free will.

The thinking individuals' good deeds/actions are unattached to samsara as they do not want something in return. These good actions are committed by free will. There are no conditions or attachments to good deeds.

In order for a society to function, it requires both good individuals and thinking individuals. If all members of a society were good individuals, there would be blind faith in dogma of karmic actions. If all members of a society were thinking individuals, there would be perfection due to the concept of karuna. This would be utopia which is hard to achieve. However, given the fact that all members of a society are unable to attain perfection due to their level of attachment to samsara and each individual's ability, for a society to function, it requires both good and thinking individuals. This is pragmatism of a higher system of thought.

Question now arises how does an individual become a "thinking" individual?

Compassion is a result of reason, care, love and devotion of all sentient beings. It is both rational and emotional. It is a result of personal ethics and self-realization.

How does an individual become or practice self-realization?

This is done through introspection, taking a step back to think and looking inwards for the search for the truth.

Who are you?
How did you get here?
What do you want to become?
Where do you want to go?
Why are you here?

These are five instigating principles to self-realization. These are the questions that an individual asks one's self. If the search for answers leads to the right path, then, that path will lead to self-realization, i.e., awareness of one's being in this world.

What is the right path?

In the modern world today, the right path is a balance between what an individual "wants" and what an individual "needs" which is what an individual needs both materially and mentally to survive.

An individual may want numerous things and be guided by consumption. These wants are insatiable in nature and it is a continuous cycle--consumerism>>exponential growth>>jobs>>disposable income>>consumerism.

Wants area created to attach the senses. Needs is the basis of sustainability--consumption>>sustainable growth>>jobs>>rise in income>>consumption.

An individual may consume products that area necessary for a comfortable living. This sustainable consumption is a good thought and action, thought for others and posterity. This good action creates reason, love, care and the inward search for the priorities or principles of life. This inward looking process or introspection is the first step in self-realization. It is the seed of compassion. As an individual starts thinking of other sentient beings, then that individual is in the right path, a path is self less and giving to all sentient beings.

As an individual practices compassion, then there is never ending love, care, thought and respect for all sentient beings which enables one to break free from the bondage of Karma. This is how freedom is gained from one's own good actions.