On Humility

by Thomas Heng

Humility, you are profound indeed!
You slip out of our grasp when we speak
You elude us when we stand to profess
Yet you reside in us when we are still

In silence we marvel at your nature
In solitude we wonder at your beauty
Rare indeed is the one who truly is
Humble amidst the company of humans

For you are not proclaimed through words or deeds
Not in accomplishments alone are you clearly seen;
But through the mere act of being amongst nothingness
Are you most accurately discerned

Blessed Morning

by Thomas Heng

Bright is your light

Great is your promise

Precious is your moment

Eternal is your union with all creation

On Risk

by Thomas Heng

Risk is inherent in today's world. Some may believe that in an increasingly risky world, it would be best not to do anything at all and watch the world go by or sort itself out, that it is better to wait till it's 'safe' again. Nothing could be further from the truth.

While it may seem that the world has become a lot more dangerous today than ever before (by the way I would disagree with that, though it will probably best be left to another post!), the opportunity for ordinary people to become all that they can be is also greater than ever. Having said that, it would be prudent to examine the nature of risk before plunging headlong into a venture based on a nebulous concept of reward. For to undertake any meaningful enterprise without clarity as regards its potential risks and rewards is, well, very risky indeed.

It is essential to distinguish between the risks that are external to oneself, and those that are created within. Risks that are solely external to oneself are few and far between; most of the time such risks occur suddenly without forewarning, and can at best be managed only after the event. However, it is precisely the management of risk that can and should be the premise of the individual, that is, risk management is wholly internal in nature.

This insight provides comfort for those of us who feel that life is increasingly outside of our control, that business is becoming unsustainable, and that the future of our very existence lies in the hands of people (or other entities) whom we do not know, let alone understand. One of the keys is in our perception of risk and the occurrence of unexpected events. How one handles major global events is not identical to how another deals with them. Which means that we have the power of choice to determine the precise meaning of each event that 'happens' to us.

A strategic approach to life and business that incorporates the principle of risk management does not mean that we start treating the people in our lives as chess pieces. Rather, it means that we are acutely sensitive to the environment around us, and that we pay particular attention to how, on an individual level, affect others around us, and ponder upon our words, thoughts, and actions as we release them from our inner being.

On Pursuit

by Thomas Heng

Not to beat down the Other

Nor to promote Oneself

Not for Riches from without

Nor for Glory for its own sake

Not to avenge some Injustice

Nor to cast aside one's own Afflictions

Not for one's Redemption

Nor for Others' sake

You are but the natural Consequence; the

Sum of mind, flesh and ego; when

Aligned to universal Spirit; a

Response to divine Grace

On Conscience

by Thomas Heng

The voice of conscience

Eludes the wisest of sages;

Its nature often cloaked

In the unlikeliest of guises

Desire shouts it down

Fear drowns it out;

Two emotions both alike

Yet neither are true to Self

Still the soul, quieten the spirit

Notice while looking within;

Let Wisdom lead one to the

Essence of one's Being