Your Only Obligation

Settle down into the bottom of things.

The scrape of your finger on the page.
The mission of an ant.

In silence, the air is speaking.
The far-away chirp of a cricket resounds.
The soul turns over in her sleep.

Take a breath, and another.

Prayer is not for an appointed hour,
but should mingle in the daily affairs.

Peacefulness will seek you out,
like water through the soil,
establishing itself.

Those who have known this peace
will never go to war again.

Come to rest in the lap of the Mother.

You have been too long in the marketplace,
and forgotten what you went there for.

In the soft grass, lay down your seeking;
let the breeze come to seek you.

By the side of the murmuring stream,
you are watchful of all that transpires.

See your weapons spread out before you;
strange objects without reason.

Once,
you killed your family
to defend your home.

The command of the devil
seemed like your duty.

Now you see your duty in stillness,
present and receptive to the secret charm;
tenderness in the grace of the Father.