At the recent Deepening into Stillness retreat, lead by Subhana Barzaghi and Alan Bassal with delicacy, heartfelt care and boundless wisdom, we were invited to consider how easy it is to become present to that which is around us or within us. To just Be Present is relatively straightforward - the awareness lands, and we are present with that which we can see, hear, touch, smell, taste or experience.

"Staying in" is perhaps a little more difficult! Deepening into presence requires further examination. We were invited during one of the teachings to "observe what takes you out of presence" - as can so easily happen. This became part of my practice for the retreat. The teaching landed deeply in my own stillness, and reflected back to those gathered as a poem - which I am grateful for the opportunity to share here.

Watch what takes you out
Watch what takes you out
Perhaps the battery of cruise missiles
You heard of on the news last night
Or the terrorist they were, apparently sent to defeat.
The quickly spreading Tropical disease,
that will most likely Never reach these shores;
Jack-knifed trucks, bridge dangling accidents
Perhaps one day these things 
May end your time - 
Why would you let them take from you
The life that you are living now?
Watch what takes you out
You're standing on the platform once again
About to board a thought train
To the same old dead-end nowhere -
Prefer instead the lush green grass
Of a winter morning's dawn-lit lawn.
A perfect ripened watermelon
Crumbling sweetly on your tongue
The lingering of a lover's hand
As you say sweet and soft farewells - 
A skylark's distant call
The body softening to hold  
The ever changing breath that powers 
This constant stream of gentle moments
With their friendly invitations 
To stay in, stay in, stay in……..
(c) Daragh Byrne 2017