The Hard Road

[PureInsight.org]

For two years now I've walked the great road

Abiding by high standards set forth

And though now many good seeds have been sowed

Such hardships words cannot adorn'th

Like climbing a mountain of ice and snow

Bare feet bleeding from winter's bite

Lights in the distance keep hope aglow

Yet in daylight's fury, I at times lose sight

With solemnity mingling with emotions of mankind

Akin to the flower of the mud's lotus seed

From illusion I seek to myself unbind

While hardships do again make old wounds bleed

My Teacher never said that upon the great path, glory is easily won

So clearly I see now that only with a diamond will can it be done

So easy to be lost within ourselves at childhood's end

For what man could keep that innate good, we had so long ago

Towards purity, a righteous man does seek himself to mend



Defend not who we think we are, for these things too shall end

And all shall look upon our wrongs with saddened discontent

So easy to be lost within ourselves at childhood's end



In time before, we all did once towards others, our kindness extend

Those simple joys, with which our hearts look longingly upon

Towards purity, a righteous man does seek himself to mend



Within our adulthood confines to this worldly place pretend

As we walk in dream of that which one would like himself to be

So easy to be lost within ourselves at childhood's end



What man's heart can now remember in the days before the end

That which we were so long ago and the joys our hearts did send

Towards purity, a righteous man does seek himself to mend.



Goodness is within three words, these words are Zhen Shan Ren

For ‘tis path of humankind to halt its downward trend

So easy to be lost within ourselves at childhood's end

Towards purity, a righteous man does seek himself to mend

Trying to unbind the shackles of grief

What man in time has ever won

The battle with this faceless beast

For there's no path towards past redone

Hanging in the back of every thought

That which harmed others and thus harmed us

Solutions through should-haves can only be sought

As we're haunted by our blunderbuss

Forgiving ourselves is truly a skill

Which all would best to cultivate

And though pain is found as past is tilled

Only with goodness can we change our fate

So look back upon those petty things and speak with truth to me

What good to dwell upon the bad, when goodness our hearts now seek

From where I ask, does the candle get its warmth?

As it sits alone, illuminating the darkness.

Such loneliness, as it flickers and morphs

Whom else to find with common likeness?

So grateful the dark, as it fills with light

Joy to those with its gift of sight

Warding away the chill of the cold, long night

Yet from where does the candle get pleasure in its life?

No want for water, no time for rest

As it completes its weary task

So short its time, one night at best

With sympathy, this mystery I must unmask

I ask the candle what joy it has and so softly it replies,

My joy to very few is known… in your smile my peace doth lie

I sit alone for now she's gone.

Moved on my heart no longer weeps,

freed now from this worldly sleep.



So fond I was, her silken kiss.

such bliss, yet lost in Babylon.

I sit alone for now she's gone.



Searching for a higher truth,

For youth I found, you cannot keep.

freed now from this worldly sleep.



I sit alone for now she's gone.

Looking upon heaven's gate,

The Great Law I now validate.



Amidst all temptations of this place,

I bow before heaven's grace.

Unlace the things we cannot keep,

Freed now from this worldly sleep.