The Mystery of Mastery

The Mystery of Mastery

 In childhood

Lives unrestrained creativity

But lost in adulthood

Stifled by parenting;

For the caretaker murders the seeds of mastery

Ignorantly perhaps but selfishly

Seeking to continue own legacy

Against the uniqueness of the new

And emerging individual being.

 

Creativity lies in the being

From birth is the endowment

And must be brought forth

From within to connect with the external

But not contrariwise.

 

Through much observation of its character

Is it identified and known

Through acceptance and use

Is it perfected

For without application

Is the power in knowledge mere potential;

 

Flee seeking to be like a friend

Quit emulation of others

Eschew envy of another’s growth

Exchange service for being served

Seek to serve than to be served

With your own inscrutable being be content

For like your Maker, your riches are unsearchable.

 

In much digging shall you find

The goodness and riches of your fountain

Wherein is no defilement once attained

And continuously serviced without respite

For failure to serve

Is accompanied rot, waste, silt and blockage.

 

Man knows not self

Until he makes it an occupation

To search within

That which was lost to mismanaged upbringing

That which was lost to sin, distraction and indolence;

 

For these seal up the fountain

But ceaseless watching and sacrifice

Keeps open the fountain

To meet the Master’s use;

 

Seek not your own

For of such is no enduring benefit

Seek that which is in service to others

For therein lies satisfaction and true recompense

For nothing was made to fulfil self-purpose

But all things exist

To meet the need of another;

 

Herein is the true nature of Mastery:

 

How do you explain the deaf?

Who plays to those who hear?

 

How do you speak of the poor?

Who makes others rich?

 

How do you speak of the foolish?

Who bears the wisdom of the most High?

 

How do you justify the fool in the Way?

Who errs not in same?

 

How does one excrete sweet fluid?

That never goes bad

And yet eat not of it?

 

The Master fills every vessel

For His own pleasure only

To fulfil and do His bidding.

 

The search for Mastery

Is in the acknowledgement of the Master

The Owner of all

In daily seeking and serving

Without recourse to self-profitting;

 

For in helping others prosper

Lies your own prosperity.

 

The Mystery of attaining Mastery…

 

Think on these things…

 JOSEPH AYENI

July 8, 2016.