Howard Tunick Poet Rhyme

What a Buddhist Knows - Samsara Revisited

I am not a Buddhist
But a friend of mine you see
Is a student of the Dharma
And passes on to me
The wisdom of the ages
To help me understand
That though there is suffering
There’s also goodness in the land

Suffering the product of envy pride and greed
Subject to Karmic forces both good and bad indeed
To help diminish suffering good Karma is required
In striving for enlightenment we also are inspired
To think right thoughts do right deeds and speak only of the truth
But idealism optimism all easier found in youth
Seems to fade with age, experience and onslaught of nightly news
But still many try to find the good and build more positive views

With succor in religion through life they try to face
The misery and suffering so rampant in life’s race
Like Buddhists Christians Jews and Muslims who all see a better place
They depend on the good we do right now to earn reward and grace
So all the world’s religions depend on another life
To rescue us from ourselves and hunger thirst and strife

But I am not a Buddhist a Christian or a Jew
I’m forced to face the facts of life that seem to be too true
We’re stuck here in Samsara with no hope for some relief
From all we do to ourselves that cause us so much grief
All the Karmic forces that drive us to despair
Greed corruption affliction overwhelming everywhere

But in the end we can depend on relief from all discouragement
Because in the end it's all too true that all things are impermanent
Life will end and with its' passing peace will finally reign
Relieving us from misery suffering and pain

Unfortunately for the Buddhist death is no way out
He’s forced to return again and again to try to work things out
An eternity of attempting to overcome our nature
Never even coming close to avoiding all the danger
Of being reborn into a world becoming stranger and stranger

The mess we created is here to stay
No matter how hard or much we pray
So my advice to you while you still have life....
 
Appreciate the gift
Enjoy what you can
It’s part of the plan
And try to give others a lift

Howard Tunick  
May 2015

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Ggg Bbb March 5, 2016 at 11:22 AM Liked this writing. Am also not Bhuddhist, but i believe in karma, was nice to read about it Howard Tunick March 5, 2016 at 2:40 PM Thank you Salamandra. Wondering why bad karma seems so overpowering these days.

Afolabi Muideen June 18, 2015 at 5:40 PM What an excellent write friend, i enjoyed the read and thanks fir shared................A.M. Howard Tunick June 19, 2015 at 6:41 PM Thank you so much Alfolabi. I enjoyed writing it. It was the first time I've written a poem on request. A follow up to my poem Samsara was requested by another poet who did not have a Buddhist to ask. Thank you again. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.