2024-07-09 I Inquiry I Body of Compassion I Flint Sparks

Open Eyes, Open Heart
~ Ryan C. Van Wyk

To see the world with eyes wide open
Is to accept a life of broken heartedness
For in opening our eyes to see the world as it is
We cannot help but open our hearts as well

Vast Heart
~ Ryan C. Van Wyk

Sometimes when the universe pours into us
The rapid expansion is too much to bear
The container shatters from the force
Of so much love, life, vitality

Pause in that place of brokenness
Observe the falling away of certainty
Don't try to rebuild the container too quickly
Increased capacity develops over time

Caught in the compassionate collective
Slowly the shape of a new container takes form
The heart finding strength once again
Enlarging to hold the vastness

Hope Renewed
~ Ryan C. Van Wyk

In response to Hafiz – Dropping Keys

the small man [woman]
builds cages for everyone
he   [she]
knows.
While the sage,
who has to duck his head [her]
when the moon is low,
keeps dropping keys all night long
for the
beautiful
rowdy
prisoners.

Sometimes when I get discouraged at the state of the world and the rampant displays of cruelty, I think of a teacher, traveling from place to place, softening barriers to love at each stop, leaving behind communities of open hearts and clearing minds. Knowing that there are pockets of people for whom awakening is their primary commitment and kindness is their primary expression breathes new life into hope and revitalizes my engagement to this continuing on this path.

Hadewijch of Brabant
[translated by Jane Hirshfield]

All things
are too small
to hold me,
I am so vast
In the Infinite
I reach
for the Uncreated
I have
touched it,
it undoes me
wider than wide
Everything else
is too narrow
You know this well,
you who are also there