When you’re not free, an open space appears like a small darkened room.

Claustrophobic, no ways forward no way back
Indeed, nowhere to rest and recover.

The widest pastures of perfumed delight and the highest slopes of adventurous dare hold no charm over the heart closed and trapped.

A heart so heavy, overburdened with care.

Look, there is a colourful bird flying in the sky!

Regard, the waterfall flowing into the creek!
Look at the sun over the mountain it peeks.
And, the moon, a saucer of light high in the sky guiding our way,
Illuminating the darkest night.

These wonders do not interest a heart with failing eyes or ears.
A heart deeply feeling, but too tired to recognise that it’s bearing gloomy weight, a weight self-feeding.
Heavy from thoughts of missing out on a world passing by,
Of life’s spice, and sensuous delights.

Missing such things may be a blessing, truly needed.
Going without may bring knowledge of impermanence
Gifts of simplicity.
Understanding what really matters.

Each other, the birds, the earth, and water.
Fire and air
Life, breath.
Love and care,
Through thick and thin…

It’s grinning when sometimes you’d prefer to sink not swim.

It’s touching when you want to run away.
It’s having patience and searching for a better way.
Giving not taking
Time and love,
Of balancing night with day!

An open space lives in our hearts
Blossoming in the mind.
Transforming darkness to Light
Turning confusion into rhyme.
It counteracts, balances, and regenerates
Gives life spice beyond the sensuous kind.

This open space is found when we breathe deeply in and out.
When we pause and stop,
Reflecting on what it’s all about.

With a quiet mind, we clearly see the immense expanse within.
An open space abundant with untiring love.
A space so refreshing and precious
One needs to be thirsty to find it.
Ready to stop and rest against wide tree trunks of great thought
Giving love.

To live in a mind of great wonder, tranquillity,
Serene peace.
Is to access a mind overflowing in eternal space
With limitless capacity
to live a full life
In one’s own glorious
Open Space.