Interbeing

Interbeing means we are together -

We have never truly been apart,

For we are deeply connected,

Our life pulses with all other life.

Interbeing means we are family -

We are related to everything,

We are sisters and brothers,

We are from the same one family.

Interbeing means we can see clearly -

Every action flows on in transformation,

Death is just a conventional marker,

All things continue in everything.

Interbeing means walls are illusions -

Walls of the mind and walls of society.

Although they populate our world,

They are actually artificial.

Interbeing means we can walk freely -

Understanding our habit of discriminating,

From parents, friends and society,

And from our own past suffering.

Interbeing means we take responsibility -

For our actions can affect everybody.

We flow together in helpful harmony,

We feel love for this amazing planet.

Interbeing means we dwell in love -

We see kindness and love as our own,

We share and receive gratefully,

Help all people in our community.

Interbeing means we stop running,

We dwell in a river most amazing,

We are connected to everything,

We abide in peace and harmony.

— Luan Dinh

My poem on Interbeing and how we inter-are:

We Inter-Are

If you can see that all things inter-are with each other,

Then you will not be fooled by the labels of the mind.

Because all things depend upon all others,

There cannot be or will ever be a separate I.

Without a separate I then all things are inconceivable,

All things are transient labels of the mind.

All people are wondrous trails of smoke,

Great endless chains of mysteries.

Although we are not exactly the same,

We are also not totally different…

We are more than our rising thoughts,

More than a string of names and labels.

When we realize our deep connections,

We will understand our non-separation.

We are an endless river flowing,

Intermixing with everything.

With this understanding, we can see…

All the things that we quarrel about…

They are like ants on an oak tree,

A little pebble swirling in the sea.

Words and descriptions are provisional,

They can never describe our whole being.

It is like this with all thoughts and things,

Intangible and quite magical!

When we touch our inter-being,

We realize our great dependence,

We see that we are not separate,

We go beyond old illusions.

Mist and fog will disperse…

With the rising of the sun.

Calm lakes and green forests,

Rain clouds and bright flowers.

— Luan Dinh

If you can see that all things inter-are with each other,

Then you will not be fooled by the labels of the mind.

Because all things depend upon all others,

There cannot be or will ever be a separate I.

Without a separate I then all things are inconceivable,

All things are transient labels of the mind.

All people are wondrous trails of smoke,

Great endless chains of mysteries.

Although we are not exactly the same,

We are also not totally different…

We are more than our rising thoughts,

More than a string of names and labels.

When we realize our deep connections,

We understand our non-separation.

We are an endless river flowing,

Intermixing with everything.

With this understanding, we can see…

All the things that we quarrel about…

They are like ants on an oak tree,

A little pebble swirling in the sea.

Words and descriptions are provisional,

They can never describe our whole being.

It is like this with all thoughts and things,

Intangible and quite magical!

When we touch our inter-being,

We realize our great dependence,

We see that we are not separate,

We go beyond old illusions.

Mist and fog will disperse…

With the rising of the sun.

Calm lakes and green forests,

Rain clouds and bright flowers.

— Luan Dinh

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