enlightenment is a gamble

time to cash in your chips
put your ideas and beliefs on the table
see who has the bigger hand
you or the mystery that pervades you
time to scrape the mind's shit off your shoes
undo the laces that hold your prison together
and dangle your toes into emptiness

once you've put everything on the table
once all of your currency is gone
and your pockets are full of air
all you've got left to gamble with
is yourself

go ahead, climb up onto the velvet top
of the highest stakes table
place yourself as the bet
look god in the eyes
and finally
for once in your life
lose

adyashanti

a tendency to shine

If you prefer smoke over fire
then get up now and leave
For I do not intend to perfume
your mind's clothing
with more sooty knowledge

No, I have something else in mind
Today I hold a flame in my left hand
and a sword in my right
There will be no damage control today

For God is in a mood
to plunder your riches and
fling you nakedly
into such breathtaking poverty
that all that will be left of you
will be a tendency to shine

So don't just sit around this flame
choking on your mind
For this is no campfire song
to mindlessly mantra yourself to sleep with

Jump now into the space
between thoughts
and exit this dream
before I burn the damn place down

adyashanti

god answers back

You better pray you never wake up
To find your dreams have all come true
Cause if you get everything you hope for
Then I will have to punish you

I need you just as much as you need me
And the flower-loving bees
Your blood will color every sunset
Your tears will help me grow some trees

Here is my joke, the thunder's laughing
Here is my word to lighten the day
Try to forget yourself, remember
Your broken heart will lead the way

clem snyde