“My Zen is Stronger Than My Anger”

“My Zen is Stronger Than My Anger”

My zen is stronger than my anger.

Which shows you how strong 

My zen can be!

Because my anger can be very strong

If I forget or I’m lazy,

And let it rage without control.

Which, I confess, happens

From time to time.

Remember, I never said I was perfect.

That would be pretty stupid,

To say you’re perfect

When anyone can tell at a glance that you are not.

No, I’m just a poet

Who thinks he’s found a way to live

In a world he cannot control…

But must not fear.

Oh yes! 

I’m not perfect!

Ha! Ha! Nowhere near it!

But we learn 

From our shortcomings, don’t we? 

If we live long enough and pay attention.

That’s the zen of it!

Now, about this anger thing.

Anger is natural.

Whether poet, beggar, or king,

We all experience it sometime.

So don’t be surprised by your anger

When it rears up uninvited.

Embrace it!

Treat it carefully though.

When your anger appears 

Say to it, 

“Hello there, Anger.

I see you have come visiting 

At a most inopportune time.

Perhaps you could return a little later?

Or possibly not at all?

Thank you.

Goodbye for now.”

Yes, a quiet word with one’s anger.

You’d be surprised how often that works,

When your cooler head should prevail.

Which, let’s face it, is always.

As human beings, we are blest

With emotions.

Some, good and beneficial.

Others, not so.

Zen teaches that an attempt can be made

To control our emotions,

(Both the good and the bad!)

To live a better life.

Not better than others.

You know I didn’t mean that.

But a better life 

Because controlling our emotions

Reduces their sway 

And allows us to minimize

The importance of things 

Upon our lives.

Whether big or small.

So that, minimizing the importance of things, 

We can stop dancing

The dance of the desperate!

And live in happiness through loving kindness.

 Kindness to others.

Kindness to ourselves.

With a heart full of love

And the blessings

Of the gods!

Because we try to do what’s right

(For instance control one’s anger)

In a confusing, ever-changing world.

A world in need of zen. 

Yes!

If we remember 

To use our zen

It can cool.

Soothe.

Vanquish.

Hmmm.

I wonder.

Why are people smiling?

Because my anger is gone.

My zen asked it to leave

And after putting up a little resistance,

It went.

I hate to speak ill of those not present,

But isn’t it nicer around here,

Without my anger?

Don’t worry though.

Like many 

An unwanted guest,

He’ll be back.

Three Ready Zens

Something Good is Bound to Happen

I’m a big fan of zen.

Once I realized what it was.

Funny, but I had it all along

And didn’t know it.

You have to relax 

And let the beauty of it

Come down and through

And into you, 

In order for it to work.

Sometimes, that’s the hard part.

Letting go and relaxing.

So don’t worry if it hasn’t 

Happened to you yet.

There’s still plenty of time.

Remember, whatever 

Should happen, will happen.

Just keep yourself ready.

Listen to your heart.

And read my zen poems.

If you do 

Then I guarantee

Eventually something good 

Is bound to happen

To at least one of us.

No Zen In That

Have you ever noticed how easy

It is to be critical 

In this imperfect world?

A world where most things are broken

To some degree or another?

Just look around you!

People are complaining all the time.

About everything!

It’s too old.

It’s too new.

It’s too cheap.

It’s too dear.

It’s too plain.

It’s too fancy.

It’s too …

But why go on?

Anything you can imagine,

Anything at all,

Isn’t good enough for somebody!

Sadly, being critical is an easy occupation.

But a rather difficult habit to break.

So let’s quit finding fault.

There is little zen in that.

Let’s see if we can find something 

More rewarding to turn our godlike

Comprehension upon, 

Instead of faultfinding.

After all, it is much more pleasant 

To look around and see 

The beauty that is everywhere…

Instead of the fear 

And pain and injustice and…

That is also everywhere.

Beauty and pain.

Both of these things exist

And have a place in the scheme of things.

Sometimes they exist side by side. 

Or even within each other.

How can that be?

It’s difficult to understand.

As human beings we must 

Live with contradiction.

That is our curse.

So sing! and be happy!

We’re all at fault!

Or said another way,

We are all faultless.

Because there is no perfection, 

Except perhaps in zen.

Hmmmm.

The perfection of zen.

That’s a big question…

For another time.

How Big?

“How big is your zen?”

A student once asked me.

“That’s an easy one,” I answered.

“My zen is very… er, big.

Or rather say it’s everywhere all around.

Or maybe never-ending is a better term for it.

All encompassing?

Hmmm.

I’m finding it a little 

Difficult to describe,” I admitted.

I was a little embarrassed

And wanted to change the subject.

So I added, “That’s zen for you!”

And shrugged my shoulders.

The students laughed,

And my ignorance 

Went undiscovered

For another day.

Wisdom is sometimes knowing

When you don’t know 

What you’re talking about.

Ah! 

There’s the zen.