Zen and Me...

It’s quiet now, darkness creeps in.
I sit, legs crossed, thumb to forefinger,
a proper Zen posture to meditate.

I try to clear all of today to make
room for the doctrine of the
“ no mind” where I’m just being.

My mind being empty strikes
fear. If I’m thinking of not
thinking, I’m thinking. I’m confused.

My legs ache, my thumbs twitch.
My mind wanders. I’ve read the
books on “ how to “.

It all seemed easy on the page.
In real life not so easy,
because life is not easy.

Today is real, yesterday is gone.
Today was certain, tomorrow unknown.
The trepidation of the future frightens me.

I look for a way to deal, to cope.
Does meditation on the day mean
acceptance of the experience.

I reject the sad, I embrace the good.
It’s all in my mind. I can’t ignore it.
I can’t clear what is me or mine.

I close the book, I hide the page.
I uncross my legs, I stretch my hands.
I stand, embraced by darkness.

I exist, I’m real, I hurt, I feel, I love
I fail. Meditation won’t change that.
Contemplation of feelings brings peace.

Acceptance of reality is living.
Understanding it’s unpredictability
brings strength to persevere.

Reality brings both happiness and fear,
hope and angst, sadness and loss.
This is me, this is us, this is everyone.