In God Makes the Rivers to Flow; An Anthology of the World’s Sacred Poetry & Prose, Eknath Easwaran includes a selection from Sri Ramakrishna entitled “Dwell, O Mind, Within Yourself.”  I’ve written the following poem-like reflections inspired by this selection.

The Mystery

Dwell, O mind, within yourself;

Enter no other’s home.

If you but seek there, you will find

All you are searching for.

—A Song of Sri Ramakrishna

I have searched in sleep for answers.

I have searched in a lover’s arms.

I have sought the counsel of a friend.

I have sought the approval of my parents,

but I did not approve of their answers.

I have searched the church, under the pews,

in the fellowship hall, in classes, behind the pulpit.

I have searched school playgrounds.

I have sought guidance from my teachers.

I have searched the Bible, scrying

as if it were a crystal ball.

I have consulted oracle cards.

I have called upon my spirit guides.

I have accessed my Akashic records.

I have delved deep in prayer.

I have travelled across country, homeless.

I have walked the streets.

I have hiked the dunes.

I have swum the beach.

I have sought answers in the mountains.

I have sought answers in the city.

I have begged my government for answers.

I have gone to meditation classes,

visited an interfaith church.

I have done zikr.

I have searched my home, dug through my closet,

emptied the cupboards, sorted my storage.

I have sought answers in silence.

I have sought answers in music.

I have heard violins speak, but they gave me no answers.

I have heard trumpets speak, but they gave me no answers.

I have heard cows moo, dogs bark, cats meow, birds chirp,

but they gave me no answers.

I have heard waves crash against the shore, but

they gave me no answers.

I have heard rain fall, but there were no answers in the rain.

I have heard wind blow, but there were no answers in the wind.

I have heard thunder roar, but there were no answers in the thunder.

I have heard fire crackle, but there were no answers in the fire.

What is this life I am living?

How do I find meaning and purpose?

What is the origin of love?

How do I find peace?

How did all of this begin?

What is the nature of all-that-is?

What am I here to do?

How do I serve?

What do I serve?

Does God care?

I have many questions.

I have found no answers in the world.

My mind seeks to dwell in another’s home.

It does not dwell within itself.

Maybe there are no answers.

Maybe there is no need for answers.

Maybe the only answer is being.

Perhaps, if I searched my own mind for answers,

I would find all I have ever been searching for.

What would I find?

That is the mystery.