if all living beings are by nature Buddha, <br />then how can we designate worth to one, <br />and no worth to another? <br />what makes us think we have the right <br /> to choose? <br />if all a baby understands are nipple, light, <br />darkness, and being loved... have we grown <br />wiser? <br />if a faithful dog follows us till the day he dies, <br />only asking to be fed and loved, giving <br />unconditional love in return... <br />who is the real master? <br />if we spend all of our lives in the pursuit <br />of money and possessions, ... do we own <br />them, or do they own us? <br />what happens to them when we die? <br />if we love someone so much that <br />we're afraid to let go.... do we really <br />love them? <br />if we have food to eat, and a place to sleep... <br />what else do we really need? <br />if we have food to eat, and a neighbor <br />is going hungry... how can we eat? <br />if prejudice is born of fear... what are we <br />afraid of? ... them, or our own selves? <br />if killing is wrong, and war is killing... <br />why do we keep marching to those infernal <br />drums, like sheep being led to slaughter? <br />if all living beings are by nature Buddha... <br />then how can we not care? ... how can we <br />use, abuse, and discard? ... how can we <br />turn our backs and walk away?<br /><br />Eric Cockrell<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/if-a-buddhist-poem/
