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!