Sunyata

Shades of Gray

Prologue:

Blown by the southerly winds
dark gray
clouds hover over the Himalayas
with thunderous lightning
and
torrential rain
ready to wash away the precious soil.

Act I:

Gray is the colour of choice
for the masses
Gray is hip
from the colour of hair to dresses
Gray is customed tailored to differentiate
between a short sleeved bush shirt
and
a full sleeved tuck in shirt
in a classless system.

Act II:

Gray is the badal
so is the whiskers
Gray strokes in the hair
faded by memories of bygone era
Sita Ram
Sita Ram
Babu Ram
Babu Ram
Ram Ram
Hare Hare

Act III

Hot red fire
eventually becomes
kharani
that is swept away in the Bagmati.

Epilogue:

Black and White
makes
gray.
We are, but,
brown.

Struggle in Samsara

Struggle in Karma leads us to "two types of individuals" in a society. One is a "good individual" and the other is a "thinking individual." Previously we discussed the goals of these "individuals" in a society through karmic principles. The ultimate effect for an individual is liberation from samsara. In addition to the individual or personal effect, there is also an effect on the society as a whole. The sociological consequences of this system of thought is the underlying current that glues the society is the moral philosophy of compassion.

Just like a "good individual" performs good deeds due to due to karmic nature of things, those good deeds done will have an impact on a society as a whole. If most "good individuals" of a society perform good deeds, then, it will have a cumulative good effect on a society, ie, stability and order. These individuals better themselves by establishing order in a society by the the rule of law. There is an attachment of their actions to stability, ie, their good deeds bring stability in a society (likewise their bad deeds could bring chaos instead).

These "good individuals" do not want anarchy in their society, they want stability so they perform good deeds with the attachment to stability and order. Their good deeds are not free from attachment. There is a condition for their good actions which is stability in a society that is granted by the rule of law. Everyone is equal and follows the rule of law. This is the basis of a society.

Just as 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, their actions also impact a society a whole. If most "thinking individuals" performs good deeds, then it will have a monumental effect on a society, ie, not only stability but also progress. These "thinking individuals" not only better themselves but also other members of a society through their compassion, sacrifice and self-less service. There is no attachment or condition to their actions (likewise their bad deeds could bring ruthlessness, selfishness and ego).

These "thinking individuals" do not want ruthless dictatorship in their society. They want stability and progress so they perform good actions. Their good deeds are free of attachment as their actions are based on compassion. There are no conditions or attachments to good deeds. Their good actions only brings progress. Equality and rule of law is basis of stability in a society. Stability is the basis for progress. This in turn is the basis of a civil society.

Hey Mata

Seti Gandaki
unfurls in rage like a white sari
draping over rapids
wrapping around boulders
covering shame
and
mourning the loss of innocence
only to be
left with nakedness

raped and pillaged
sari
is drenched in blood

Dudh Kosi
gently flows like mother's milk
nourishing the matri bhumi
suckling all creatures within
hoping for greatness
yet
lamenting the loss of children
only to be
left with emptiness

unwanted and unappreciated
milk
has turned bloody

Good things come in packages of three

Tribeni

Budhi Gandaki moves in her own old ways
disregarding the consequences.
Kali Gandaki flows here and there
cutting the banks of foreign soil.
Seti Gandaki roars in rage
skipping over rapids, embankments,
bursting dams open bloody Red,
Causing
Tribeni to be a whirlpool.

Trishul

the Left blade
believes power comes from its sharpness
the Right
thinks otherwise
the Middle blade is stuck in between,
Trembling
Lord of the Beasts cannot control the Trishul.

Triangle

Point A strives to be a horizontal
where equality rules
Point C prefers to be vertical
maintaining the status quo
Point B is at loss
without A and B,
Making
them mere dots in space.

Triad

Maoists think
they are liberating the people
instead
they shackle the masses
extort the poor
and
use gulags as education.

Politicians believe
they are leading the people
instead
they mislead the jantas
engage in semantics
and
seek the refuge amongst foreigners

King feels
he is of the people
taking strolls in memory lane
extolling the divine right
and exploiting the rift

Oh Buddhanilkantha

laying in murky water
where
lotus once blossomed,
gold fish
played in its coolness,
pilgrims
drank the holy water
is
surrounded by snakes
where
nagas caressed the divine being,
heavenly rest
cushioned by a solid bed of rock,
cleansed the soul
by the crystal clear spring water,
Vishnu
now
is incapable of moving
despite its might
unable to rise
because he is held tight
resorts back to sleep.