Poem #274 - With New Eyes

Each man has his own troubles.
Each sees things his own way.
You feel as if no one understands you
At the end of the day.

Why these deep misconceptions?
Why put up with such strife?
For you see not the oneness –
The unity of all life.

For now there’s a struggle,
Be it for money or power.
It brings turmoil and pain
And leads to life’s darkest hour.

What to one is perception
To that one is reality.
So try as you might
You can’t change his finality.

So what’s the solution?
When the facts two confuse?
It’s always quite simple:
Put yourself in his shoes.

Seeing through different eyes
May not cause you to change
But at least understanding
Will make the problem less strange.

Judge not the other
Who sees you with such scorn,
But see yourself as he sees you,
And ask to be then reborn.

Put down your defenses.
See through the eyes of your brother.
See how the picture does change
When viewed by another.

Release all the judgment
And with it your pain.
You have nothing to lose
And great peace, yes, to gain.

How can two beings see things
In such different light?
Insisting so strongly
That their way is right?

It’s because they are seeing
Through their built-up defenses,
Which prevent them most strongly
From coming to their own senses.

When at such an impasse
There’s only one thing to do:
Make the decision to walk
As one being, not two.

If the other won’t change
Then on you change does rest.
Can you do this with love?
That, dear one, is your test.

While with the other seen separate
You may never agree,
If you send only love,
You will finally be free.