center heart

Like oil in sesame seeds, like butter
in cream, like water in springs, like fire
in firesticks, so dwells the Lord of Love,
The Self, in the very depths of consciousness.
Realize him through truth and meditation.

(shvetashvatara upanishad (1:15)


In the city of Brahman is a secret dwelling, the lotus of the heart. Within this dwelling is a space, and within that space is the fulfillment of our desires. What is within that space should be longed for and realized.

chandogya upanishad (8:1:1)


Where all the nerves meet like spokes in a wheel,
There he dwells, the One behind the many.
Meditate upon him in the mantram.
May he guide us from death to deathless life!

mundaka upanishad (2:2:6)

snow

its snowing on my last night in new york.
the snow has massed quietly while i slept.

when i say 'snow', you know that i mean 'sad',
when i say 'me', you know that i mean 'us'.

in the twilight slick hours of before-morning,
i hold on to what I can own;

snow has grown on the slim windowsill ledge like pulled cottonwhite skeins--
inhospitable shelf,
powder-lacquer,

my lamp must glow from the inside room,
watched from the threads of the outside storm.