Introduction:

My name is Prem Abhay. I have a Management diploma, university degrees in Business and in Engineering(Hons), and completed post-graduate studies in Philosophy. I have spent a majority of the last ten years exploring meditation centres and systems of Asian lineage - in particular Buddhist monasteries and centres in my home country and in Thailand, and Ashrams and Yoga Centres in India. At one stage I spent two years in silent retreat at a centre in India.

This book represents an expression in words of part of this journey. The most central writings are literally the words, from my own understanding, that have been for the sole purpose of helping me navigate the silent deserts, and traverse the unfamiliar rocky terrains, that are my inner journey.

The passages contained are intended to inspire the mind to transcend itself. Matters of religiousness or spirit - or whatever you like to call, or not call, such affairs - are approached in different ways. The master is on the other shore trying to pull people across, and has their awareness - but not always their mind - onside.

Our own minds always equivocate this way and that. However, the mind knows where the secrets of the universe lie, and out of fear and not-knowing turns to other things. It can be encouraged to look deep within itself, and gather conviction and understanding about the ultimate journey into the religiousness that is beyond mind: mind transcends itself. Our minds can be inspired to push the frontiers of the known, to explore the unknown, and ultimately to become the unknowable.

Reflections

If there is a reflection
then you know
there is a mirror -
to reflect it.
At least it is a start.

To know that there
is a mirror is a start.
To know that there
is only a mirror

is the end.

Enigma

The poetry contained herein
is about navigating life’s journey.
Each poem is written as a riddle;
and it will only unwind for you
after you need it.
However it will not be valueless
when you do.

Disclaimer:

It is not for me to say go this way or that, and neither is it for me to even say go at all - nor stay. It is oft repeated that the journey is into the wordless. However I have created my own map, for my own journey, and I testify that the map is authentic. Admittedly I don’t know whether it got me anywhere, but it has been quite a journey - perhaps just in many circles. However you interpret these works, if you conclude that I am claiming some spiritual attainment, than you are categorically wrong. I have simply made up some words and here they are.

If you so much as read any part of my navigational chart, and act there upon, know that you are reading from, and acting on information from, your own chart. I only make one suggestion: if there is a sense that something that I have written and that you have read did not help you, than do not read it again, nor read anything else that I have written.

The Gang: Inspirations

At any time,
past, present, and future,
I would very much like to have
the pleasure of meeting:
if I were in the forest,
Buddhadasa Bhikkhu;
in New York,
Kahlil Gibran and
George Gurdjieff;
wherever,
Mevlani Rumi;
and in hell,
Osho.

I have a feeling that if
I were in the eternal blazing inferno
that our most recent beloved Catholic pope
has reminded us is actually real,
not metaphoric, I would also chance upon
at the same table as Osho,
George the ‘Black Devil’ Gurdjieff,
Buddhadasa the traitorous
thai Zen master,
no doubt the impious
Gibran and Rumi,
and most likely,
the remainder of the gang.

Osho Affairs

Osho said to have affairs,
Osho said don’t have affairs;
he also said have affairs and
don’t have affairs.
The main thing he said is
have an ultimate affair.

Bits and Pieces

We must get to the stage where
we have nothing to work out,
and much to work on.

———

Our relationship to the people we hate
is as important as our relationship we have
with those we love.

———

Peace is the most important thing;
if you have it,
you do not need anything;
if you do not have it,
everything means nothing.

———

Most of us are not grown up,
yet neither are we children.
To become one or the other
is to become both,
to become one.


Awareness becomes crisp
when the echoes of memories
take their rightful place
as just that.

———

Things fade out of awareness. However,
by attending to those things more closely
the awareness becomes crisp,
and memories become just that:
memories.