The TONIC and the TOXIC

The TONIC and the TOXIC

One fine line divides this from that

Phurba-dart of mind rends the horizon

Injecting the poison to subdue the demon of wild danger

In sickness and in health do we travel time and space

That which heals and that which kills share an essential palace

Points of contact, Points of contrast

The eyes and the heart and space unconfined

Mountain and Sky conjoined

We burn earth blood and earth flesh for comfort and creativity

We threaten the future of life with our devouring

We aspire to leave no marks and tend this garden

Yet we still walk the fine line of hypocrisy

What color is your mind comrade?

Beyond praise and blame, Unfettered by guilt and shame

Knowing both infamy and fame

Unaffected by loss and gain, Free of the slavery of pleasure and pain

Knowing both boon and bane

The eight selfish aims are as dew on sunlit grass to the sage without ego

All phenomena appears as medicine to the quiet river traveling patient

All phenomena appears as poison to the patient traveling the path of turbulent rapids

The river appears to go, from fierce headwaters to smooth and steady mouth

The Nile is a meandering Line, from hidden source along motherly course

Earth and Water neutralize poisons while Fire transfers them to Air where they linger

Aspire to be the happy friend of the Nature Mother

Aspire to keep the toxic from devouring life

Aspire to imbibe the nourishing tonic

The old world culture of poison devours us

Let us be vigilant without the poison of bias and hatred

May the dangerous group-mind of misconception be subdued

Yet may we re-dedicate ourselves continually to authenticity and self-honesty

Toxins warm our hearts and feed our joys

Yet we ferry poison elixirs o’er dangerous lands

Strange drugs intoxicate the questing knights

Possibilities of symbiosis lurk among the tribal enemies Us and Them

True Collaboration is most potent medicine to keep manifest the mandala

One fine line separates the healer from the killer

One fine precipice separates the earth and the sky

One fine line separates guilt and self-congratulations

Mindful vigilance is required to tend the mine-garden

The ore-wisdom is revealed and the techno priests swarm to the quickening

Training in technique is the armor of the battle-ready warrior

Attack Not. Leap Not. Retreat Not. Mountain Goat Fool wanders along.

One fine line fades into the horizon-gate and all is integrated space.