What If

What if heaven did not exist

as we imagine it to be?

Freed from the desire to take

refuge in some distant shore,

be satisfied with where

one is dwelling now.

What if the earth did not exist

as we imagine it to be?

Having no final resting place,

take to the hills of one's mind

and to the burial grounds of one's physical nature.

Impermanently dwelling in

both heaven and earth,

the Way is as hard to grasp

as the infinite nature of one's mind.

Infinity being as close to one

as the dust which one treads upon,

respect the humble nature of one's true nature.

Gleaming with the confidence of heaven,

take one's stand

in relation to the earth

as if one was a King of kings.

Not being disturbed by the hardness

of the crust which envelopes

everything nor flattered by

the flowery songs of heaven,

become one's own refuge.

Conceiving of and realizing the greatness

of one's mind,

kindly dispel the illusions 

which are created by the spinning

revolutions of the earth.

Time is of the essence

to the hypocritically devout,

but to the true seekers of the Dharma,

time can be put to rest

as one's finite thoughts can be put to rest.

Resting in an infinite space 

of creativity,

wholeheartedly imagine 

who one is beyond heaven and earth.

Realizing the illusion of the impermanence

of permanence,

spin according to one's own Dharma wheel.

What if one does not exist

as one one imagines oneself to be?

That is a question worth pursuing infinitely.

Bestowed with an infinite mind,

infinitely question one's reality.

Taking no realization as one's own,

question the need to question

and question the needs of heaven 

and earth as one would question one's own self.

Displaying signs of Buddhahood,

heaven and earth are no longer

necessary and are no longer of prime importance.

All that matters is one's level of commitment

to the Way

of one's infinite heart.

When all else is gone and buried

in the sands of time,

it is only one's realization

of one's infinite nature

which will save one from the need

to continue spinning

with the revolutions of one's finite mind. 

By Julian Colgan

The Blue Cross and Shining Sunset Academy (Copyright)