He, a seeker after Truth, set out
on an audacious journey
to see his old master
With a handful of blooms
he paused before the open door.
From deep meditation
the squatted figure, looked up.
In a trance, he saw the silhouette of a man.
On gazing intent, emerged distinct
his former disciple, left long ago
Seeing his hands laden with flowers,
the master smiled a coy smile.
In close surveillance, the penetrating eyes
gauged him through and through.
The master’s pursed lips opened ajar.
From him, arose a single word-
‘’ Drop”
Gentle but firm was its timbre.
He dropped the flowers, one by one.
In sterner voice, the master said,
‘’ Drop”
All at once, he let the remaining blooms
go off his clasp
and down they fell around his feet.
Folding empty hands, he stood,
waiting for the master’s behest
After an eerie silence,
once more came the hefty command-
‘’ Drop”
Stupefied, the disciple queried-
‘’ What more should I drop? “
Master's eyes emitted sparks!
‘’ Not the flowers, but your ego”-
Instant was his reply.
A spear stuck deep into his self.
As by a whirl wind, his body tottered.
He felt a deep twirl inside.
Unfastening the hinges
of the imperious shutters,
a boulder rolled down,
dropping to the ground with a thud.
Back home, the disciple walked,
the cloggy fog clearing from his head
and feeling weightless as a feather!
This is very much a piece for gurus and their padawons. Sometimes I wonder if at its essence such relationships are just the young bothering to learn from the old whom are wise and intelligent having learnt from life and the collective former wisdoms over many generations and are calm and caring enough to share and can see a bigger picture away from ego and greed. Nicely written.
A lovely narrative with a message; but I wonder if one can ever get rid of 'ego' at one command. I wish it were that simple. Very well written.
Nice poetic narration. Ego is the main reason of our problems and one who drops it, becomes a saint. Engrossing one.
if you drop your ego, you will feel your burdens as light as a feather.....a gud message Mam
From deep meditation handful transformation blooms like a fragrant flower. I revisit this poem to put my historic comment. God brings transformation teaching us values. This is his great responsibility. I put my historic 40002nd comment in this lovely and valuable poem and make this historic in Treasure Island. (My historic forty thousand and second comment)
" Drop" ..... *** " Not the flowers, but your ego”- Instant was his reply....here is the essence of the poem one can find deeply. This is really a beautiful poem nicely executed.
That master was indeed a master! If you've read my bio you will have noted I'm an Eckist, an adherent of the Eckankar teachings. If interested you can check out the Eckankar.org site. There one can read the quote of the day...those tidbits give an inkling of this path's beauty. Cheers!
We try to bribe with flowers Flatter with short prayers And He who can see through our silly acts Yet forgives us treating us as errant brats..... not the flowers but your ego- fantastic sentence and a very good poem. Keep writing.
We all get bogged down by the weight of life that sometimes we forget our own mortality. Lovely poem.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
a wisdom unfolded through vivid imageries! one of my best reads in recent times.