Words of Wisdom for Troubled Times

http://emoyeni-retreat.com/id88.htm

Please Call Me by My True Name

by Thich Nhat Hahn


Do not say that I will depart tomorrow
because even today I still arrive

Look deeply: I arrive in every second
to be a bud on a spring branch
to be a tiny bird, with wings still so fragile
learning to sing in my new nest
to be a caterpillar in the heart of flower
to be a jewel hiding itself in stone

I still arrive, in order to laugh and to cry,
in order to fear and to hope,
the rhythm of my heart is the birth and death of all that are alive.

I am the mayfly metamorphosing on the surface of the river,
and I am the bird which, when spring comes, arrives in time to eat the mayfly.

I am the frog swimming happily in the clear water of the pond,
and I am also the grass-snake who,
approaching in silence, feeds itself on the frog.

I am the child in Uganda, all skin and bones,
my legs as thin as bamboo sticks,
and I am the arms merchant selling deadly weapons to Uganda.

I am the 12 year old girl, refugee on a small boat,
who throws herself into the ocean after being raped by a sea pirate,
and I am the pirate, my heart not yet capable of seeing and loving.

I am a member of the politburo, with plenty of power in my hands,
and I am the man who has to pay his "debt of blood" to my people,
dying slowly in a forced labour camp.

My joy is like spring, so warm it makes flowers bloom in all walks of life.
My pain is like a river of tears, so full it fills up the four oceans.

Please call me by my true names,
so I can hear all my cries and my laughs at once,
so I can see that my joy and pain are one.

Please call me by my true names,
so I can wake up,
and so the door of my heart can be left open,
the door of compassion.

I know it is difficult in the face of inhumanity to remember that we all carry our karmic burdens and are products of influences we may not always recognize or understand. Everyone of us will have to face our god--no matter what form that power takes. I am trying to let go of my anger and to transform it into something useful--I hope you can all join me.

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before many times, as I have the book of poems by the same name/author. I started to click the back button, as I told myself I knew what was written. But then, something told me to read it again and I did. Everytime it seems to have the same effect. Thank you and may we all live to continue learning how big our true selves are.

to get through the anger I've had for 3 1/2 years. I just don't know what else to do. I've never read what you posted and it's incredible. Thank you so much...peace