The Paradox of Noise

It is a paradox that we encounter so much internal

noise when we first try to sit in silence.

It is a paradox that experiencing pain releases pain.

It is a paradox that keeping still can lead us so fully

into life and being.

Our minds do not like paradoxes. We want things

To be clear, so we can maintain our illusions of

safety. Certainty breeds tremendous smugness.

We each possess a deeper level of being, however,

which loves paradox. It knows that summer is

already growing like a seed in the depth of winter.

It knows that the moment we are born, we begin

to die. It knows that all of life shimmers, in shades

of becoming--that shadow and light are always

together, the visible mingled with the invisible.

When we sit in stillness we are profoundly active.

Keeping silent, we hear the roar of existence.

Through our willingness to be the one we are,

we become one with everything.