How to quarrel
There were two monks who
shared a cell in perfect amity.
Yet they, concerned to perfect their compassion
for all humankind, wished to know all
mankind’s troubles.
Mankind, said the one,
seems always to be quarrelling –
always too ready to pick some fight -
how can this be?
It seems, said the other, that in order to
assert their selfhood and to be ‘somebody’,
they must then invent an enemy,
who seeks to take something from them
that they deserve to have…
so then, they can allot
a ‘mine’ and ‘thine’, and pick
a violent quarrel to prove
their right to be themselves…
they’ll find anything so to label –
‘my tribe, your tribe’—even though
to anyone else, they seem the same –
my religion, your religion – though God is unaware
of any such division or allegiance; or when they’re
really desperate for something to fight about,
‘my postcode public territory,
your postcode public territory’…
Oh dear Lord, said the other monk,
how can we have compassion
for these suffering souls? We’ve never had
a quarrel…
Then we must invent one, said
the first monk: suppose I draw a line
in chalk along the floor of our cell..
and then we’ll call one side, my space,
the other yours…
And this he did. Now, he said,
we can have a quarrel: look,
I’m standing in your half of the room…
No you’re not, said the other,
it’s not my half…yes it is, we’ve agreed,
said the one…
Oh very well then, take it … you win!
said the other.. But there’s
nothing to take! said the first…
The two monks sat and sighed.
They would never know how
human kind could ever own
anything worth the quarrel over.
How difficult a holy life can be.
Have compassion, then, for the plight
of those two monks…
*
[Based on a story from the
early days of the Desert Fathers]
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Quarrels
There's not much time. All the reasons to quarrel;
used up moments, and never you are right. life
Crumbles when we fight- why not wait to reason,
and then call your rights. Is a thing we all feel…to
win the quarrel against the other. What makes you
think you are always right- you’re full of egocentric
thoughts and lock of selfless. The mirror looks
back- not knowing who reflects. Full of it you!
You detest my opinions and speech, all my intensions
of deed, turn dark. The enemy looks sweeter than you.
I never know which words to speak, where to
start or even how to end...when you try to seduce
my thoughts you end up in quarrels somehow,
it never ends, it never stops, Then you ask “forgive
me” And the humble spirit in me forgives- but again
the war comes back to defeat our peace. Quarrel.
Without you he just can’t be.
poem by Elenushka Toledo
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Towards the animal world
Towards the animal world
His foot touches his foot.
He became angry.
Quarrel starts between two.
Such scenes are common at public places.
Human beings is quarrelling each others
On small things to which they must avoid
Cruelty is growing in our society day by day.
Patience is reducing day by day.
Kindness & love among us is decreasing day by day.
Hatred ness is increasing day by day among us.
Which is a very bad thing?
People are ignoring the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ, Lord Buddha & other saints.
It is also a very unfortunate for our human society.
Violence, hate redness & quarrel are common in animal world.
Is human society advancing towards the animal world?
poem by Vijay Gupta
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The Best is Good Enough
I quarrel not with destiny,
But make the best of everything-
The best is good enough for me.
Leave discontent alone, and she
Will shut her mouth and let you sing.
I quarrel not with destiny.
I take some things, or let 'em be-
Good gold has always got the ring;
The best is good enough for me.
Since fate insists on secrecy,
I have no arguments to bring-
I quarrel not with destiny.
The fellow that goes 'haw' for 'gee'
Will find he hasn't got full swing.
The best is good enough for me.
One only knows our needs, and he
Does all of the distributing.
I quarrel not with destiny:
The best is good enough for me.
poem by James Whitcomb Riley
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Saying the unspeakable
Such as President Obama
may not say it; but I
who am nobody, may speak it:
the God of many names and One
does not wish division;
you and I (there are no others?)
do not wish division;
who makes division?
Why do all seek an ‘enemy’?
The dispossessed invent an enemy
on whom to blame their plight;
the rich invent an enemy
to excuse their greed;
those who worship God under one name
make enemy of those who worship God
under another name;
even those who worship God under the same name
make sects in order to invent an enemy;
is it because it is easier
to make an enemy than a friend?
is it easier to fear
than to love?
is it easier to hate
than to love?
is it easier to count to two
than think of three or one?
do we feel more powerful
if we have an enemy?
and now we fire at enemies
invisible beyond the horizon..
are enemies more attractive
to our life than friends?
Tell me, poets, tell me, sages;
tell me, saints; oh tell me God;
tell me, arithmeticians:
when division multiplies
our enemies, why do we
so love division?
The God of many names and One
makes division in Himself
with love and without hate;
you and I (there are no others?)
love each other all the more
in the sameness of our differences;
does human kind
now hate itself so much?
who thinks division, loves division?
makes an enemy of otherness?
forgets that God is One?
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Devotion
As a priest of dedication and devotion
My life is gorgeous, complete and emotional.
The monks climb the ladders of faith,
And my life feigns a disorder, always bold.
The monk enjoyed his life when cold
But the shrine I build for my prayer is gruelling.
The shrine is gold, fully old and never shining,
Like the precious thoughts so pretended.
We save our time and find some space
For serious worship but the monks are fully told.
poem by Naveed Akram
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Compassion and Anger
Compassion and anger were my only love
Came to me winging like a lonely dove
Gimme some loving from the Lord above
Compassion and anger
Down on the quayside things getting rough
Somebody trying to prove they are tough
Compassion and anger will soon call their bluff
Compassion and anger
Compassion and anger won't make you sad
Compassion and anger will just make you glad
What will you do when the world's turning bad
Without compassion and anger?
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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Sonnet: When Kinship Fight …
Two women fight: one is my own sister!
The other is my better half- my wife;
Husband to one: to the other, brother;
What only can a man do in his life?
Two men quarrel: one is your own husband;
The other, your belov’d elder brother;
A woman can’t one of them reprimand,
Nor end the fight: some things she mustn’t bother1
When adults fight within the kindred, then,
The embarrassment can’t be told by words;
The bond of love can’t ever be broken!
At times, mankind behaves worse off than herds!
Mere prayers, patience, peace-making efforts
Undo the harm done by loose word that hurts!
poem by John Celes
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Matter closed
Who said what
Does not matter
It needs two
To make a quarrel.
I said nothing
Matter closed
If you said yes
I said no.
Quarrel begin
And I am
In between.
And I withdrew
Myself
To go the light
That is in my
Reading room's shelf.
poem by Gajanan Mishra
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Compassion.....
pity for sure
is an enemy of empathy
it is the lower kind of
this hierarchy of
compassion,
so please
do not ever say
that you pity me
for you do not deserve
to own those words.
compassion is different
as it transforms my suffering
and your
suffering as our
suffering,
as it enhances
our system of
immunity, ...
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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We make out of the quarrel with others, rhetoric, but of the quarrel with ourselves, poetry.
William Butler Yeats in Essays, Anima Hominis (1924)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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It was completely fruitless to quarrel with the world, whereas the quarrel with oneself was occasionally fruitful and always, she had to admit, interesting.
quote by Soren Kierkegaard
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Though a quarrel in the streets is a thing to be hated, the energies displayed in it are fine; the commonest man shows a grace in his quarrel.
quote by John Keats
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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0006 Prayer for the Condemned
He’ll be the next to go.
In the Condemned Block, over many years,
he’s moved up the line; now he’s got that end cell.
All legal processes have been tested.
Of course his lawyers will fight once again –
a pardon’s out of the question, of course,
but maybe just a lifer? (He’s spent half of it
behind bars anyway.) At Association Time,
if it’s allowed, the others look at him
covertly – how’s he taking it? And maybe
know a little more of themselves..
And so, we’re asked to pray for him
knowing in our hearts, that he’s but
a metaphor for all of us.. so despite his crimes,
there’s that in us which feels that we are he…
and redemption’s not unknown, to God or man…
are we just praying for ourselves?
But how to pray, and how to pray for – what?
that he be free to be himself again?
but we don’t know him well enough to trust
him when he says, he’s found God in there…
And if we pray that he remain himself,
but where he is, behind those bars,
to work out his life, like a monk
(who also needs more time, even forever,
to understand ‘ forever’ more) –
there’s mercy for you, of a sort,
if he will get that spiritual support
that monks may call upon…
We may pray to God to bring him change of mind,
if it’s not too late now.. and here again,
who is to judge, or how may he himself so prove?
‘O Lord, please give him one more chance…’ –
are we thinking more of him than of ourselves?
Yes, we may pray, deep in ourselves, that human law
may bring together as we best may know
justice and mercy in their godly match..
and in a subtle sense, his death, if it bring
that dedication in our social thoughts,
will have been in some small way
another death but on the cross of life for us;
And for some of us, prayer's not unlike
the action of a wounded animal - as if comatose,
gathering all one's capabilities, and diving deep
beyond words, beyond thought, beyond any wish,
like a surrender of one's living soul
to seek, deep within oneself, that place
where all souls meet...;
Those who live a life of faith
need but to dip into
the holy water of eternity
flowing in the sweet words
of the age of faith:
'Lette goe the teares
of earthlie wepynge -
comende hys sawle
to Cristés kepynge'...
So should we not, when and if we pray each day,
and use the Lord’s Prayer, reaching that too familiar line,
‘Thy Will be Done’,
pause, and remember him in his last hours,
- perhaps remember Him in His last hours -
and live the remainder of our lives
(as we move up the line towards That Day)
slightly, subtly, differently; and know
a little more about prayer; about ourselves.
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Sonnet: Compassion
Compassion is one thing we all expect
In life on earth, from womb to tomb endless;
In giving it, we seldom are perfect;
We live our life that is not just selfless.
The handicapped expect much compassion;
So does a newborn child suckled at breast;
Who cares about a beggar’s life’s passion?
Compassion is a must for ev’n a beast.
When God can shower compassion on us,
Why not all earthlings on one another?
If we can show compassion without fuss,
Much more will be bestowed on us, brother.
Compassion is an attribute of man,
And giving it is easy, if you can.
poem by John Celes
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Provide space
No problem, we can provide you space
Whatever color you have or race
Night is same for us all to take rest
Branches are ideal place and very best
Just push from one side to find place
Come and settle in between if you can’t adjust incase
You won’t be able to see foes or friends
See in the morning when open the eye lid end
It is permanent refuge to be found
Lovely place and suitably above the ground
No fear to life and berth is secured
Peaceful night with noiseless environment assured
Away from the crowd and nothing to hear
Peace and calm very much essential to ears
No one can climb on thin branches
We have left no space not even in inches
With fast disintegration and turning as species
It is delightful to watch in night with fancy
Where is the quarrel among birds for space?
Peaceful stay with calm atmosphere even if no space
They have their own way of adjustment
Not to fight among even if with little displacement
Enough of space to be spent with no quarrel
World to take note of animal’s kingdom and tale
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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A Doorway
When you gave your love to me, I never gave you chains.
If you need to prove youre free.
My love for you remains (you know my love stays)
Love is not a prison cell.
True love can never die
Theres nothing that you shouldnt tell
You never have to lie (to me you shouldnt)
But if you have to keep something inside you.
You know Ill never want to steal it away
I respect your territory.
Hope theres room in world for me.
Is there room in your mind to see.
A doorway ? if you say
Blood is pumping through my heart.
And flowing through my veins.
All it keeps me living for.
The love that is sustains (you now I never).
Time stopped when I saw your face.
And if it start Ill cry
The universe is in your smile.
Is heaven in your eye ?
But if you have to keep something inside you.
You know Ill never want to steal it away
I respect your territory.
Hope theres room in your world for me.
Is there room in your mind to see.
A doorway ? if you say
I respect your territory (you need your territory.)
Hope theres room in your world for me (find a place in your world for me).
Is there room in your mind to see (I want a doorway).
A doorway ? if you say.
I respect your territory (you need your territory.)
Hope theres room in your world for me (keep a place in your mind for me ? ).
Is there room in your mind to see (I want a doorway).
A doorway ? if you say.
I know you need your territory (you need your territory.)
Is there room in your world for me (cant you see what it means to me ? ).
Hope theres room in your mind to see (I need a doorway).
A doorway ? one fine day (I want a).
I respect your territory (you need your territory.)
Hope theres room in your world for me (cant you find a place for me ? ).
Is there room in your mind to see.
A doorway ? if you say (I want a doorway).
I respect your territory (I need a territory.)
Hope theres room in your world for me (cant you find a place for me ? ).
Is there room in your mind to see (I want a doorway).
A doorway ? (I want a, I want a, I want a doorway).
If you say.
song performed by by Human League
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Compassion
You want more, and still more,
Until you get more than you ever bargained for.
Now its plain, clear as rain,
Ive seen your symptoms many times before.
Lying on your bed of pain
What will you have now?
What are riches untold in a life without compassion?
For theres no winter as cold
As a life without compassion.
Theres no prescription thats sold
That can heal you like compassion.
Well you tried and you cried,
And let your disappointment make you hard inside.
You have doubt, you reach out,
Still youre the only one you care about.
Hiding in your sack of woe
What do you need now?
For there is nothing so sad
As a life without compassion.
And even love has turned bad,
It was love without compassion.
And you dont need what you had
cause you did not have compassion.
Dying on your bed of pain
What will you have now?
Youll get no judgment from me,
I can only feel compassion.
And if thats what you need,
I will give you my compassion.
Just dont forget about me
cause we all need some compassion.
Open up your heart
So you can start to feel compassion.
Get down on your knees,
Pray to heaven for compassion.
Everybody needs compassion.
If you want to be healed
Then you know you got to feel compassion.
song performed by by Todd Rundgren
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Enjoy Eden Together
Animals, birds and insects say
All of us have the same way
We have only one God to pray
So we pass our days in gay
No caste, colour and religion
No politicians and region
We don't have human's vision
Safe from boundary division
No education and culture
Free from ego, pride any rupture
No quarrel for bright future
Enjoy equal rights of pasture
Ram, Ramayana and scripture
Don't reflect in their character
Would that we were human birth
We enjoy Eden together on earth
poem by Shujaat Hussain
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In Mindanao
no one likes violence and everyone wish
an end
to everything violent
to stop the sound of guns
to let the children have the soundest sleep
this war
about land and religion, this must end
we just want to get over these
and over with
why must we quarrel over some patches of this land
when it does not even remember us?
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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