To the silence of the gods

How long for us to eschew the mute god?

Where are thou?

I cannot see you nor can I hear you.

I feel nothing when I close my eyes and fold my hands to you.

There is no voice, no form, there is no God, and yet there is a need to conform. 

I was frustrated as he never replied, he never listened to me or saw my pain, 

I left the temple and broke my chain; I threw my ring and walked in the rain.

The rain washed away the sandal from my forehead and the idea of God from my mind.

 

I grew up reading of the mind, of Freud and his thoughts.

I went on investigating from blogs to books of all sorts.

I then discovered much later that it was in a state of no mind and no thoughts.

That peace prevails.

It becomes bolder as our mind become more silent, our thoughts become clearer,

And we can see through to the floor, like gazing through still water.

We understand that our being is walking a tightrope, 

Over the water and we look forward to hope.

Our mind balancing between the past and the future,

We often fall into the trap of one or the other. 

We learn that by only walking moment to moment,

A step at a time, can we have the balance, to see ourselves reach the future unbent. 

I learned that the silence that follows once our eyes closed,

Is the silence that we were always looking for, it needs no name, no form,

No need to conform or follow any norms.

I learned that this was what the Buddha asks us to seek,

Gain strength from this silence, and not to be weak. 

Author's Note

Inspired from the words of the great OSHO (Acharya Rajneesh)
The man who moved the world and spoke the truth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kll1XQ90JOs

Please do share your thoughts, let us have a healthy discussion, debate.

Won - Story/Poetry contest by 'Skib'

Reviews

[T. Edana Talbott]

...this was kind of hard to read - but because I could relate so powerfully to this. It was really amazing. I've had many years as of late, where I've consistently struggled in my relationship with God, sometimes just struggling to have faith in him. There are still many days where I resent him for the things that goes on in the world, but at some point we humans have to take responsibility for our own actions, God or no God.

Very amazing write.

[Ashwin Shanker]

I completely agree with you. The dilemma that you are facing now was what I faced many years ago. read moreI completely agree with you. The dilemma that you are facing now was what I faced many years ago.
The idea of god can be attributed to nature itself. The very consciousness of nature. Where some species or the other prevails...

[richieb]

Ashan,
I think you writing is very good but to me you approach God from an intellectual view. The faith of children is the strongest but life clutters our minds and we become filled with doubts.
I agree we can find god through the quite times and a lot through nature. We can never find him through earthly wisdom. For when we do feel His presence it is because He touched us. I fully respect your views and these are some of mine.
Peace,
Richie b.

[Valentine]

For me there is One God, the[ Holy Trinity], father, son, and Holy Ghost. For me it is like one sees, one hears, and one feels, something like our senses. I could not pray to a statue, and yes, I have felt Him, He also tells my heart if a sinful thought should arise etc. He also heard me when I was prayed for and ten years of seizures stopped that many doctors could not figure out nor stop. For me God is. Valentine

[Farah Husain]

This is a really beautiful piece of work that sums up what life really is. I love it!

[R J Askew]

I like the idea of that silence very much. The world is far too noisy.

[Ashwin Shanker]

I agree with you RJ . Especially Mumbai is too noisy

[Chrys Marie]

This was a beautiful read and certainly thought-provoking. You had me captivated from the very first lines. You write of peace and silence while your own writing reflects those moods, every line bringing a sense of calm to my mind. Lovely work.

[Ashwin Shanker]

I am happy that this poem bought you a sense of calm. When our writing appeals to the emotions of the readers is when it is the most thought provoking. Thank you for the review.

[Mayank]

What we seek, lies within us. There is perhaps some higher form of energy which we are not aware of, where everything scientific cannot reach. Perhaps, that thing is just us, our mind which is just one mass-mind. That is the energy and the source of creation. Well, I really don't know this. But, why keep our imagination limited? As much as I am an atheist, the design of this universe has always intrigued me to seek something beyond our imagination.

[Ashwin Shanker]

Yes Mayank, even I am an atheist and I am a devotee of the cosmic consciousness that is mother nature. Sad part is that mankind is KILLING mother nature but worshipping deities which looks like us humans only. SO SAD... The society, or the mere idea of it, has to be eschewed.

[Mayank]

Religion is an addiction worse than the cracked cocaine!! People are addicted to it and just like junkie, who can go on a killing spree, many religious fanatics are doing that. They are destroying the Nature and Humans, created from nature.

[Mark]

wow! This work really captures my own spiritual journey. Starting with my parent's religion, I was never satisfied, often guilty, and felt like God was not there. After many religions and spiritual reading, I came to the conclusion that it is not the particular religion that matters, but it is our individual faith; how we commune with that .... *THING* I have come to know as the Ground of all Being. Everyone has faith, it is only those who deny their particular faith who are left unsatisfied.

Good work, I especially liked this: "there is no god, and yet there is a need to conform". That one line sums up my childhood and early adulthood so well. One criticism, a grammar thing...

"Over the water and we look forward for hope." I think 'for' should be 'to'.

[Ashwin Shanker]

Thank you for the wonderful review Mark. I am personally proud of this poem. It has won first place in a contest today. If you would have read the reviews, a lot of people were able to empathise with the lines written here. The one line, yes, but you know. A lot of people still conform to the believes and have held on to the stupidity of rituals to their adult lives as well.
Please read up on OSHO And his teachings, people like you and me will be able to relate to him very well.
Thanks once more

[Elmarie]

Hi Ashan
Thank you for your friend request. I loved this beautiful piece of writing. Well partly because of the word silence. I do so love stillness. The words you chose to convey your message was profoundly soulful, calming and inspiring. I do believe that the here and NOW is the only place we've got. I traveled through India spending a whole year there. I was very at home and I can sometimes close my eyes and for a moment be back in the himalaya and breath the air from your lovely country.
Blessings
El

[Ashwin Shanker]

Happy to know that you loved my country and had a wonderful time here. I see that you loved the poem too. Which is even better. DO let me know if you plan to visit again. I have a cousin of mine living in Sydney as well. He says its a wonderful country. Cheers.

[Ruth]

Beautiful...there is true strength and the chance of acceptance in silence :) Much enjoyed Ashan :)

[Ashwin Shanker]

Thank you for the wonderful review Poppy. :)