Thomas Merton 1915 – 1968
I Am – Kirtana
Before the body, before the story, before the name
Beyond the mind’s attempt to find or explain
Before the breath, beyond the sense of pleasure or of pain
And after death, and after death, I am
Within the heart, the whole and part of everything I see
Behind the eyes, beyond disguise, reflecting me
At the silent core, and yet before phenomena began
And after it, and after it, I am
Many differences separate us on the surface, yes.
But I cannot find a boundary in consciousness
And when you ask me, where does awareness begin and does it end
I have to say, I have to say I’ve always been
Within the body, without the body, not subject to
Changing moods or states of health or points of view
Without needs before the deeds and the monuments of man
And after them, and after them, I am
Many differences separate us on the surface, yes.
But I cannot find a boundary in consciousness
And when you ask me, where does awareness begin and does it end
I have to say, I have to say I’ve always been
At the silent core, and yet before phenomena began
And after it, and after it, I am
Mary Oliver 1935 – 2019
“Praying our Questions” Who am I and Who are We ?
PSG @ Edmund Rice 