As the year closes, I find myself in deep reflection of that which has passed, that which is yet to be, and that which is in the here and now.
This poem, written by Hafez, the Sufi poet, provides me with a metaphor for my own journey…
Bring the Man to Me
A perfect One was travelling through the desert.
He was stretched out around the fire one night
And said to one of his close ones.
“There is a slave loose not far from us.
He escaped today from a cruel master.
His hands are still bound behind his back,
His feet are also shackled.
I can see him right now praying for God’s help.
Go to him.
Ride to that distant hill;
And about a hundred feet up and to the right
You will find a small cave.
He is there.
Do not say a word to him.
Bring the man to me.
God requests that I personally untie his body
And press my lips to his wounds.”
The disciple mounts his horse and within two hours
Arrives at the small mountain cave.
The slave sees him coming, the slave looks frightened.
The disciple, on orders not to speak,
Gestures toward the sky, pantomiming;
God saw you in prayer,
Please come with me,
A great teacher has used his heart’s divine eye,
To know your whereabouts.
The slave cannot believe this story,
And begins to shout at the man and tries to run,
But trips from his bindings.
The disciple becomes forced to subdue him.
Think of this picture as they now travel;
The million candles in the sky are lit and singing.
Every particle of existence is a dancing altar
That some mysterious force worships.
The earth is a church floor whereupon
In the middle of a glorious night
Walks a slave, weeping, tied to a rope behind a horse,
With a speechless rider
Taking him toward the unknown.
Several times with all of his might the slave
Tries to break free,
Feeling he is being returned to captivity.
The rider stops, dismounts- and brings his eye
Near the prisoner’s eyes.
A deep kindness there communicates an unbelievable
Hope.
The rider motions-soon, soon you will be free.
Tears roll down from the rider’s cheeks
In happiness for this man.
Anger, all this fighting and tormenting want,
Sweetheart,
God has seen you and sent a close one,
Sweetheart
God has seen your heart in prayer
And sent me.
***
Thank you to Yoga, for being my rider,
I love you
Thank you to Kathy, for seeing me
I love you
Thank you to Roger for freeing me
I love you
Thank you to Cyrus for showing me the meaning of presence and unconditional love
I love you
Thank you to all the beautiful people who are in my life and hold me with your love and light
I love you
Thank you to my mother and father for being the conduit for this journey
I love you
and most of all,
Thank you to Luca, the light of my life, my greatest teacher,
I love you more than any words could possibly express.
My prayer for 2014
May all beings be happy, may all beings be free from suffering, may all beings be free.
Namaste
Posted by Amandalayoga | Filed under Uncategorized