Be Cause

After our discussion on mysticism, one of our participants suggested that what cannot be adequately explained in prose can sometimes be better said in poetry. She offered this short poem as a possible insight to the mystical state and how to get there:

Be Cause
A void
No matter
Never mind
Be cause

Thanks, Billie, for that little gem.

To which I cannot resist adding two of my own favorite shorts. The first, by Kobayashi Issa, a Japanese haiku poet, has to do with different ways to find the way (or point the way, if you already know a way)

The man pulling radishes
pointed the way
with a radish.

The next, by the early Zen master, Dogen, illustrates the paradox of being full and empty at the same time. (Isn't that what they say about meditation and mystical states as well?)

Midnight. No waves,
no wind, the empty boat
is flooded with moonlight.

You can find these and more in Jon Kabat-Zinn's book on meditation entitled

Wherever You Go There You Are

Enjoy.