The Big Bang

I'm one of those who believe in the theory that the universe started with a Big Bang. In the gender sensitivity training that I attended in the last two days, one resource speaker-- a Catholic priest-- gave a fresh dimension to that theory. He said:

The world started with a big bang,
and we are all part of it.

All of a sudden, that moment of creation flashed again into my mind. This time, it was different from the usual way I imagined the Big Bang to be. As I envisioned that cosmic explosion (or song?), I saw myself in it.

The universe is constantly expanding. And its present expansion may be thought of as part of that Big Bang that happened in the beginning of time. I'm also beginning to see now that every birth and growth on earth, whether of a human being, a plant or an animal, is an extension of that Big Bang.

Haiku for the Right Brain

the storm is over
in the company of birds
dancing blue waters

This is a haiku I wrote and posted for the daily haiku writing contest in http://www.poetry.com/ . I'm not after winning the contest though. I'm simply after the experience of composing that short japanese verse form. I find haiku writing to be an excellent way of relaxing, meditating and exercising the right brain which is often neglected by professionals who usually do technical work which relies mostly on the left brain. The site I just mentioned is perfect for this (you may wish to try it!). Everyday, it presents an inspirational photo and then you compose a haiku based on your observation and reflection on that photo. You can even read other's entries too.

Actually, a haiku should be based on one's actual experience or encounter with nature or one's environment, and not a simulated one (as in the abovementioned case. I just do that for fun and for brain workout.) My "more serious" haiku poems, reflecting my actual daily experiences, are published in PoemHunter.com .

In these days of living dangerously and precariously, haiku writing is a good source of lasting inner peace.

joy from the unexpected

I'm very much heartened today by two events. One is the unexpected visit this morning of a priest, who was a former president of a catholic university in Mindanao, and a well-known peace advocate and peace maker. It was a brief visit. In fact, i even forgot to offer him coffee or a seat! But his gesture of thoughtfulness really touched me. And then, this afternoon, i received a call from a lady who is the founder of an interfaith group promoting nonviolence and a culture of peace. Having discovered the Taoist and the poet in me, she encouraged me to share my spiritual journey and experience both in writing and in actual dialogue with the members of that group. Seemingly, these two events are unrelated. But the simple yet profound joy they gave me are one and the same. It's the same spirit at work.