2002
[A Blessing]
May our silence
be comfortable
in
that silence
may we experience
the height of intimacy
the depth of
communication
and the powerful
presence
of the Great Spirit of
Love
that gives and
forgives
2004
[Reflections on August 13, 2004
and August 31, 2006]
Here and now,
by letting go, let us glow
May love grow and joy overflow
both within and beyond religions
Awakening : Islam
No gods, but God
Balancing : Christ
Not my will, but yours
Centering : Buddha
Not how, but now
Delight : Yoga
Fullness, Emptiness
2000
An acquired belief
A historical character
A divine image I've grown to love
A core dimension of my personality.
1992
[These philosophical musings were published in the first issue of the International Journal of Religion, Psychology and Spirituality (1992)]
Here and now within-beyond, LIFE unfolds itself as REVELATION within the authenticity of integral experience beyond the legitimacy of creative expression!
Here and now within-beyond WOMB-AND-TOMB, LIFE enfolds the explosion of every moment as RESURRECTION within human experience beyond Christian dogmatization!
Here and now within-beyond BODY-AND-SOUL, LIFE unfolds itself in history as ENLIGHTENED INCARNATION within enfleshment beyond enslavement of individuation!
Here and now within-beyond MONISM-AND-DUALISM, LIFE enfolds itself into eternity as COMMUNION within mystical union beyond philosophical speculation!
Here and now within-beyond EMPTINESS-AND-FULLNESS
LIFE unfolds itself as LILA or HARMONY within the balance of energies beyond the dance of the universe!
Here and now within-beyond TRUTH-BEAUTY-AND-WONDER LIFE enfolds itself as LALI or RADIANT GLOW within visions of love beyond cosmic manifestations!
Here and now within-beyond GROW-AND-GLOW LIFE unfolds itself as SANTI or PEACEFUL FLOW blissfully vibrating for-and-with ALL within-beyond this planet!
The Playful-Painful Cosmic Clown
1993
[These interfaith insights were published as part of the doctoral dissertation in Philosophy and Religion presented at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, CA.]
OM1 is GOD, THE FATHER!
breathing in the fullness of eternity
through the four gates
while traveling through all the intermediary spaces.
SIVA as ONENESS
AWAKENING to mystical consciousness
or communion with the CREATOR and CREATION!
VIVA is GOD, THE SON!
experiencing the victorious micro-stillness
of the dance at the center of my life
where intimacy, love and freedom
are at play as enfleshed incarnation.
LILA2 as immersion in HISTORY
BALANCING polarity as complementarity
taking on the fullness of the flesh: INCARNATION!
SANTI3 is GOD, THE SPIRIT!
breathing out revelation and communion
as re-creative resurrection throughout the cosmos.
SAKTI as the SPIRIT
CENTERING life energies as mandala
the affirming fullness of life: RESURRECTION!
MOIMA is GOD THE CHURCH!4
expanding into the glorious macro-consciousness
of the eternal, playful dance of the universe.
LALI5 as extension into ETERNITY
BECOMING one with being and non-being
living the DELIGHT of the parousia: HERE-AND-NOW!
The Playful-Painful Cosmic Clown
in Mandalas (1994). pp 71-72.
1994
[This poem was written on July 4 and was published in The Bohemian, College of Notre Dame's Literary Magazine. (Notre Dame de Namur University) Belmont, CA. Spring 1996. Page 22.]
Oh, my playful-painful celestial mirror
Home to two awesome rainbows intersecting.
With proud golden pink lotuses in full blossom
With tiny silvery crosses scattered in between
Marshy, yet, a crystal-clear pond of water.
Oh, you tricky, shadowy-bright, watery mirror
Transparent center, incessant witness
To a radiant, colorful display of fireworks
Shooting delightfully beyond the rainbows' crossing:
The emergence of a new galaxy of fun and freedom.
Fire! Oh, Fire!
What a dangerous galaxy of fun and freedom.
With disciplined approach and ordered living
Burning away memories transient and guilty shame
Restoring losses: innocence, peace, and tranquility;
To awaken, balance, and center delight here-and-now.
Oh, here is the place and now is the time
For being born anew on this planet. A new creation
Transforming the tiny, tranquil, transient, and transparent
With courageous harmony and visionary action
Beyond reflective paradigms and reflexive paradoxes:
Compassion.
1995
[This poem was published in At Water's Edge [Joy Esterby (ed). Owing Mills: Watermark Press, MD. 1995. Page 30. It "was recognized by the judges as being among the best 3% of all entries judged" by The National Library of Poetry, 1995.]
LIFE?
A comedy unfolding tragedy:
A tragedy unfolding comedy
Awakening more experiences
and newer options to Harmony.
A reflexive-reflective mirror.
DEATH?
We are born to die.
In dying we are born to endless life.
Balancing Earth with Heaven-and-Hell;
Yin-Yang. A narrow opening to Infinity.
ETERNITY?
Within-beyond absence and presence.
Centering on fullness and Nothingness
as Possibility. A conscious paradigm shift.
WISDOM?
That we know is known.
What we know is unknown.
Beyond the mysterious paradox,
light at the end of the tunnel. Delight.
HUMOR?
Laughter and action with compassion,
Niente ti turbi. Hakuna matata.
Take it easy.
Playfully-Painfully: The clown.
HARMONY?
Justice, Peace. a transparent consciousness
Unfolding-enfolding sustainable growth
and happy miracles
Creatively Cosmic and fully alive
here-and-now. YOU and ME!
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CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS IN harmony with The Rhythm of the Breath
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2006
[A vision, mission and plan of action]
Simply, breathing in abundance
Freely, growing with guidance
Fully, breathing out fragrance
Emptied, glowing with radiance
Graceful : Grateful : Peaceful : Playful
Awaken here and now
Balance by letting go
Center with love, let us glow
Delight, may joy overflow
No Words : No Thoughts : No Self
Embrace All
Infinity : Intimacy : Integrity
In-harmony
1995
[This poem was written on January 12 a month after the death of Valdemira Reis Fernandes e Coelho [born in Chinchinim, Goa on 12/21/07; born to heaven in Aquem, Goa on 12/12/94] and was published in Christus Rex (a publication of Christ Church, an Anglican Catholic Parish, in San Mateo, CA), March 1995.
Mãe, my Mother on Earth, is My Mother.
There's no better definition. No better gift!
Mãe, like most mothers on Earth, tenderly nurtured my life, Prayerfully planting the seed of a Christ-like Priestly vocation, To be lived generously from her womb, away from the home, Unceasingly praying with faith and hope, and praying with love. No better gift!
Mãe, like every mother on Earth, oft rejoiced in life, Every time she gave birth to a new born son or daughter, An definitely on December 21, 1977, her seventieth birthday, When her prayers were answered and I was ordained a priest. No better gift!
Mãe, like every mother on Earth, oft suffered in life, Painfully in 1931 on leaving her maiden home in Chinchinim, Inconsolably in 1937 on losing her first daughter, Minduche, with courageous faith and hopeful resignation on every occasion. No better gift!
Mãe, like every mother, had many prayerful dreams and visions: A delightful dream for each of her eight children: health and happiness, a vision of peace and well being for people all over the world, A constant prayer for a fearless and holy death -December 12, 1994.
Mãe, my Mother in Heaven, is Our Mother.
There's no limitation. No better gift!
1996
[This Lenten reflection for the Parishioners of Christ Church, an Anglican Catholic Parish, in San Mateo, CA was published in Christus Rex, March 1996.]
Lord I am not worthy to receive gifts: Life on Earth as a human destined to face many transitional shifts, Citizen of a great nation, descendant of a family with and without rifts; Endowed with many qualities and rights to offer or deny upward lifts. Nihil sine tuo numine! Nothing without Your Grace - A mortal human!Domine, non sum dignus!
Domine, non sum dignus! Lord I am not worthy to learn the mysteries: God, Creation, Incarnation, Resurrection, and Eternal Salvation; Golden Sun, Silvery Moon, glowing planets, and quasars nascent; Heavenly garden, cleansing gate, burning hell, and limbo forever. Nihil sine tuo numine! Nothing without Your Grace - A militant conformist.
Domine, non sum dignus! Lord I am not worthy to question the language, Away from history looking down upon the mountain, Black and White: Scriptures, Rituals, Canons, Dogma, Magisterium, and Authority; Infinite shades of grey in meditation and contemplation unending. Nihil sine tuo numine! Nothing without Your Grace - A cloud of confusion.
Domine non sum dignus! Lord I am not worthy to feel the personal wheel: Black, purple, red, yellow, green, blue, violet, and white centers in my body: Psycho-somatic and spiritual energies, inner drives, conflicting passions, Memories still, emotions strong, flights and fights, wishes and dreams unending. Nihil sine tuo numine! Nothing without Your Grace - A cloud of colors.
Domine non sum dignus! Lord I am not worthy to experience nothingness. Beyond black, purple, red, yellow, green, blue, violet, and white, Golden suns, silvery moons, glowing planets, nascent quasars, Burning stars, and shining galaxies absence of light - darkness unending. Nihil sine tuo numine! Nothing without Your Grace - A cloud of unknowing.
Domine non sum dignus! Lord I am not worthy to see You, Light become flesh Piercing through the cloud of unknowing; integrating loss, hurt, and pain; The silver-lining behind the clouds of confusion, color, and darkness unending; Calling for outer conversion, inner transformation, and mystic communion. Nihil sine tuo numine! Nothing without Your Grace - A spark of recognition.
Domine non sum dignus! Lord I am not worthy to enjoy You, Three-in-One, Father, Spirit, and Son: transcending limitations, language, and history Beyond loss, hurt, and pain committed to service of giving and forgiving, Christ’s ministry of redemptive healing, restoring mysterious bliss unending. Nihil sine tuo numine! Nothing without Your Grace - Another christ today.
1999
[This reflection is based on The Joy of Creative Living: Radical Revolution of the Mind -An Approach Proposed by Jiddu Krishnamurthy (authored by Fr. Scaria Thuruthiyil, SDB. Roma: Libreria Ateneo Salesiano.1999) and was written on September 9.]
Today is the first day of the rest of my life. Now, I know better. This is the day when I choose to blend the finite with the infinite. In spite of moments of sadness, distress and frustration, I am happy. I want to experience the explosion: this is infinite, that is infinite. In spite of all the difficulties, obstacles and pain, I am grateful I can count many blessings with my beloved here and now.
Om! Viva! Santi! Moima! Om!
Today is the only day that truly matters. Now, I know better. For yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never be mine. Christ behind and before me like Beauty behind and before me Are illusions and delusions, products of my memory and imagination. Incarnation and resurrection like re-incarnation or annihilation Are products and processes of faith and enculturation.
Om! Viva! Santi! Moima! Om!
Today is the implosion of history and mystery. Now, I know better. Billions of years of existence in the universe and in eternity Present in this moment of existence with choiceless awareness Neither wanting nor not wanting, effortless expression in harmony. Listening, seeing, touching, smelling and tasting every sensation As manifestations of life and fullness: satyam, sivam, sundaram.
Om! Viva! Santi! Moima! Om!
Today is living simply and freely with my beloved. Now, I know better. The heart of the Priesthood, or service, is rooted in the heart. Beyond the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Triadic Heart of Shiva, Metaphors for manifestations of consciousness in religions, Is the joy of creative living with humanity in the universe While experiencing my beloved in and with my heart.
Om! Viva! Santi! Moima! Om!
Today is a grace-filled gift from my Beloved. Now, I know better. A brand new gift to be cherished with the heart, delightfully Awakening, balancing and centering every motion and emotion With choiceless awareness and effortless action: a new explosion, Grateful, growing as a tiny, tranquil, transient and transparent drop Graceful, glowing with my beloved in the Ocean Beloved.
Om! Viva! Santi! Moima! Om!
2009
This fragrance is fullness.
That fragrance is emptiness.
Even though this fullness
Came out of that emptiness,
All that remains is fragrance itself.
"Om, Pūrnamadah
Pūrnamidam,
Pūrnāt Pūrnamudachyate.
Pūrnasya
Pūrnamāddāya
Pūrnamevāvashishyate."
The Seer in Brihadāranyaka Upanishad 5.1.1
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2003
Today is the first day of the rest of my life, Today is the implosion of history and mystery, Today is the only explosion that truly matters "This is Infinite, That is Infinite."
Today is living simply and freely with my beloved, Today is a grace-filled gift gratefully growing: Awakening, Balancing, Centering Delight "This is Intimate, That is Intimate." Today, I am peaceful Flowing as a wave with my beloved A shiny, soulful, silent sacrament. "This is Abundant, That is Abundant."
Today, I am glorious Glowing as a drop in the Ocean Beloved Tiny, tranquil, transient, transparent. "This is Radiant, That is Radiant."
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2005
[Seventeen syllabic verses]
Awakened by a bright light in the night, life beyond fright, fight or flight.
Balancing a spark in the dark with the shark and the lark in the ark.
Centering a flame with no name or aim of fame or shame at life’s game.
Delight in emptiness where glory glows radiance grows and peace flows.
Infinity, Intimacy and Integrity In-harmony.
BEYOND ALLUSION, DELUSION, ILLUSION 1996
Your story, my story, their story Is just another unfolding in history. Without wholeness as aim, Life is oft lame. Tragedy always same, painful, not tame.
Christ story, Buddha story, Unparalleled mystery in history Beyond ritual, and doctrine hoary To overcome the void or gain glory.
Religion beyond allusion, delusion, illusion With truth and imagination in creation Beyond paradigms: resurrection, annihilation I ncarnation, or re-incarnation; a new vision.
Be child-like without desire and judgment? Filled with life, love and fun innocent? Spirituality of freedom and commitment? Or, become self-centered and dependent?
In a world irresponsible and confusing Without order and no new meaning Old wineskins bursting without linking Ritual to life and happiness unending.
Christ story, Buddha story, our story Is truly another awesome mystery. With happiness as aim, Love is its name. Eternity always same, Now is the game.
1997
[This poem was written on Good Friday]
The roots of life in past and history embedded, With genetic imprint and predispositions, With social controls from home and nation, Going back through undiscovered generations.
The branches of life to the future open With each new leaf, a leap into consciousness, Embracing light and darkness, heat and cold, Clemencies of weather and inclemencies, too.
As the branches shoot out for light with freedom, Dancing with the winds against the clear blue skies, With music enchanting provided by the birds and flies, Offer fragrance fresh and a shelter for comfort and rest.
Stunted roots and branches with frustrations blocked, Get past the bugs with vitality and strength renewed, Or stifle an already weary, weak, and struggling tree, With fruitless stress, sickness, and eventual death.
Branches and roots with harmonious connections, In one season, flowery like a beautiful maiden, With passage of time, with delicious fruits laden, Share with one and all nature’s tasteful bounty.
Then comes winter, windy, wet, cold and dark, Branches shed leaves and appear outwardly stark, Roots integrate or penetrate to newer depths, A journey to the center, silent and slow, right or left.
Life, like a tree goes on and on through many a season, Branches and roots their connected functions performing. Each one of us, like a tree keeps growing and glowing, With rooted connections, spreading out to greater glory.
1998
Simple yet complex, this is a funny story Of a man who was born and died long ago, A man known to some, unknown to many.
Significant or unimportant as the case may be This man’s life has bearings on the present Christian Scriptures, Theology, and History.
In Scriptures, belonging to David’s royal race, A believer in dreams and divine inspiration He is an active man with a radiant face.
In Theology, guardian of the Virgin and Child, A believer in conflicts and silent resolution He is conveniently old, gentle, and mild.
In Christian History, patron of the Church, A believer in endless possibilities and miracles He is a powerful provider in every search.
In the life of a Christian, model of the living, A believer in family values and fullness of life He is a pillar of strength and hope undying.
In reality, who is this man? A man like most men, married with a family, A carpenter with a singular call in God’s plan.
Committed with responsibilities always up and down To awaken, balance, center, and delight in the best Much like his Son Divine, God’s mysterious clown.
With justice, compassion, glorious laughter Experiencing wholeness with humor and wonder Mary’s precious and happy clown here and hereafter.
2007
Meditative surrender leads to emptiness, a state of deep humility with 'no knowledge' of oneness. It is the fullness of life: living and sharing peacefulness.
2008
With the mastery of the art of meditative living The soul learns to travel with the breath Rhythmically with harmonious impermanence: Breathing in, growing, breathing out, glowing.
Awakening the soul to the spiritual; Balancing experience with expression; Centering attention with intention; Delighting in enlightened compassion.
Simply touching the deepest level of being, Freely connecting with the web of the universe, Resourcefully flowing with the Source, Beyond the rhythm of fullness or emptiness.
RAPTURE OR RUPTURE WITH REVERENCE 2010
RESPECT RAPTURE OR RUPTURE Awakening, balancing and centering attention Presence with energy and information Awesome Silence - rapture or rupture!
AND RESPOND WITH REVERENCE Awakening, balancing and centering intention Choice with attention to intention Blissful Laughter - reverence and playfulness!
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CREATIVE IMPRESSIONS with Impermanence : The Rhythm of the Universe
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