-----Original Message-----
From: Jaime Vergara <pinoypanda2031@aol.com>
To: editor <editor@saipantribune.com>
Sent: Sat, Aug 24, 2013 5:33 pm
Subject: August 27

At the center

The poetry sings to the tune of Try to Remember, that famous Tom Jones song in the mid-60s that even got the mellow voices of Nana Mouskouri, Andy Williams, Harry Belafonte, Ed Ames, Roger Williams, the Brothers Four, the Kingston Trio, and the lively beat of Gladys Knight and the Pips on vinyl. Jerry Orbach originally sang it on Broadway’s Fantastiks.

When you encounter

the light at the center,

the final dawn

of worlds converging.

When life's illumined

by light at the center,

assured by wisdom's

swift emerging.

When knowing's ended

in light at the center,

and life's sacred meaning

is in you surging.

Then at the center,

in blinding encounter

you be it.

What does it mean to “be it” at the center?

As it is in our Oral English in China, “encounter” is our primary pedagogical mode. Now, encounter is not just saying “hello” to friends we meet, or wave at folks on encounters in the street. Encounter has more of the quality of a forceful bump that may occasion a radical shift in consciousness, a reformulating of images, which, in science, is called a paradigm shift.

The lyrics of our song were penned by kindred spirits in the 70s. As we unwind into our exit out of this page, we realize that sometimes, prose will have to give way to poetry so readers can hear us sing.

There are five directions in the Chinese language: east, west, north, south, and center. Wu fang, the center, qualitatively different from being in the middle, Zhong in Zhongguo (country) and Zhongguoren (people), is more akin to the stillness at the center of being that is our focus this week. It is from this position that one dares take the transcendent lucidity from the heights of Olympus, to the immanent intensity of the depth and profound core of being on this earth. It is the courage to care at the center of the mystery of life itself.

As you can tell, we wax poetic on the subject. Now, back to our song.

When you encounter

the peace at the center

where earthly hopes

are all transcended.

When life's unburdened

with peace at the center

where worldly cares

are all suspended.

When you're delivered

to peace at the center

for mortal foes

your hatred's ended.

Then at the center,

where no problems enter

you be it.

There’s a lagoon shore bench not too far from the Oleai Center where the FHB is located, and a ledge where planters are placed at Garapan Square, where I spent late afternoons or early evenings humming my song. At the center is in the midst of ordinary existence.

When you encounter

the joy at the center,

your tingling deeps

in animation.

When you're possessed

by the joy at the center,

all things received

with affirmation.

When you are speechless

in joy at the center,

all moments brim

with wild vibration,

Then at the center,

in wonder filled rapture

you be it.

At the center, we encounter awe, we become awe-filled, and the experience is awe-some.

When you encounter

the life at the center,

condemned to be

a dead man waking,

When you are boundless

with life at the center,

compelled to live

on water waltzing,

When you are risen

to life at the center,

a man who is ageless

with history walking,

Then at the center,

while dancing forever

you be it.

No need to wonder. We are not dying; we are being our encounter, and we are dancing!

Jaime Vergara
pinoypanda2031@aol.com

yesterday, appreciate; tomorrow, anticipate; today. participate. In all, celebrate!