Apr142021
Words of Wonderi am not i -juan ramon jimenez
 I am not I
            I am this one
walking beside me whom I do not see,
whom at times I manage to visit,
and whom at other times I forget;
who remains calm and silent while I talk,
and forgives, gently, when I hate,
who walks where I am not,
who will remain standing when I die.
Translated by Robert Bly
Juan Ramón Jiménez, “‘I Am Not I’” from Lorca and Jiménez: Selected Poems. Translation copyright © 1973 by Robert Bly.
Source: Lorca and Jimenez: Selected Poems (Beacon Press, 1973)
• • • • •
This haunting poem stirred something, or someone inside me, the ancient one, the kind one, the forgiving essence of myself,
the one who you do not see, my secret self. It is exhausting to present a version of ourselves to the world out there;
mindfulness has shown me how to cut through this delusion of a persona created for others. Shedding that skin brings me closer to myself.
Mindfulness, I have found is the pathway back to my true authentic self, the quiet one, who knows what to do.
Jacky was happy that I had found a great poem for this week, I hope you enjoy it too and connect with the slippy concept that you are not you!
And I too, am not Kristine! Words of Wonder will be brought to you by Kristine again next week who will be refreshed after a lovely holiday I hope!
Warm wishes
Lisa

Author: Lisa Hellier

Originally from Glasgow, Lisa now lives in Pembrokeshire west Wales where the midges are "less ferocious". Lisa works alongside Jacky Seery in the communications department. With a BAHons in Graphic Design, Lisa has worked freelance as a designer working in many media over the years, from leaflet and brochure design, designing illustrative town and village maps, to training to work creatively with children and adults with Community Arts group Arts Alive in Crickhowell, and more recently with older members of the community mainly on collaborative textile projects. Her first visit to Samye Ling in 1992 was to spark a journey into Buddhist teachings which created a strong connection with Samye Ling. In 1994 she took the first year's Mindfulness & Compassion course which has led to her now studying on the Msc Mindfulness Studies Course run by the University of Aberdeen, where she researching the place of mindfulness in the delivery and practice of the creative arts.