History of Mindfulness Poems
Mindfulness poetry, with its roots embedded in ancient spiritual traditions, has long served as a conduit for conveying the profound principles of mindfulness and the art of living in the present. These mindfulness poems, spanning centuries and cultures, have been instrumental in guiding practitioners towards a deeper understanding and appreciation of the here and now. By marrying the eloquence of language with the depth of mindfulness practice, these works illuminate the path to inner peace and awareness, offering insights that resonate with the timeless pursuit of serenity and understanding. This collection presents a selection of mindfulness poems by pioneers in the field, alongside contemporary contributions, reflecting the enduring relevance and transformational power of mindfulness across ages.
Mindfulness Poem #1
Mindfulness
by John-Paul Kozah
Mindfulness,
Mindfulness by John-Paul Kozah
Minds full of stress,
I’m mindful that my mind is a mess;
Mortgage, deadlines, emails, texts,
Notifications overload,
Vibrations hit my chest.
School work, my tools don’t work, my TV froze, my nerves exposed, my burdens load, it overflows.
Family passed, a half-filled glass, unfulfilled pasts, a future seen through frosted glass.
Passion wanes;
Nothing feels the same;
I’m uncertain about the pathways mapped,
Like neurones in my brain.
Where does hope lie?
As the urban landscape scrapes my mind’s bloodshot eyes;
No respite, no time to unwind;
Thoughts and feelings intertwined;
Like a web.
Capturing my soul.
©2024, John-Paul Kozah
Mindfulness Poem #2
Interbeing
by Thich Nhat Hanh
Interbeing
The sun has entered me.
The sun has entered me together with the cloud and the river.
I myself have entered the river,
and I have entered the sun
with the cloud and the river.
There has not been a moment
when we do not interpenetrate.
But before the sun entered me,
the sun was in me—
also the cloud and the river.
Before I entered the river,
I was already in it.
There has not been a moment
when we have not inter-been.
Therefore you know
that as long as you continue to breathe,
I continue to be in you.
Call Me by My True Names (1993)
Mindfulness Poem #3
Tasting Mindfulness
by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Have you ever had the experience of stopping so completely,
of being in your body so completely,
of being in your life so completely,
that what you knew and what you didn’t know,
that what had been and what was yet to come,
and the way things are right now
no longer held even the slightest hint of anxiety or discord?
It would be a moment of complete presence, beyond striving, beyond mere
acceptance,
beyond the desire to escape or fix anything or plunge ahead,
a moment of pure being, no longer in time,
a moment of pure seeing, pure feeling,
a moment in which life simply is,
and that “is-ness” grabs you by all your senses,
all your memories, by your very genes,
by your loves, and
welcomes you home.
Coming to Our Senses (2005)
Mindfulness Poem #4
A Quiet Mind
inspired by Pema Chödrön
A quiet mind, like a clear lake,
Reflects the beauty of the world awake.
Ripples of thoughts, come and go,
In mindfulness, peace begins to flow.
Letting go of what clings tight,
In the stillness, find your light.
Mindfulness Poem #5
The Eternal Now
inspired by Eckhart Tolle
In the eternal now, we stand,
Not future’s dream, nor past’s demand.
The present is our only land,
Where time’s grains slip through the hand.
Here, in the depth of the current minute,
Lies life’s essence, all within it.
Mindful presence, our true power,
In this fleeting, timeless hour.
Mindfulness Poem #6
Path of Stillness
inspired by Tara Brach
On the path of stillness, we walk,
Beyond words, beyond talk.
In silence, our spirits soar,
Finding peace at our core.
With each step, let go of fear,
In mindfulness, everything’s clear.
This journey, within us all,
In stillness, we heed the call.
Mindfulness Poem #7
The Guest House
by Jalaluddin Rumi
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Translation by Coleman Barks – The Essential Rumi
Mindfulness Poem #8
Fear
by Khalil Gibran
It is said that before entering the sea
a river trembles with fear.
She looks back at the path she has traveled,
from the peaks of the mountains,
the long winding road crossing forests and villages.
And in front of her,
she sees an ocean so vast,
that to enter
there seems nothing more than to disappear forever.
But there is no other way.
The river can not go back.
Nobody can go back.
To go back is impossible in existence.
The river needs to take the risk
of entering the ocean
because only then will fear disappear,
because that’s where the river will know
it’s not about disappearing into the ocean,
but of becoming the ocean.
Source material available here – Mindfulness Association
Mindfulness Poem #9
Centre of Being
by Lao Tzu
At the centre of your being,
you have the answer;
you know who you are,
and you know what you want.
Source material available here – Poet Seers
Mindfulness Poem #10
Autobiography in 5 Short Chapters
by Portia Nelson
Chapter 1
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost … I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter 2
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter 3
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in … it’s a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter 4
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter 5
I walk down another street.
Source material available here – Good Reads
Mindfulness Poems For Life
Mindfulness poems are not mere collections of words but are profound reflections of the human experience, echoing the stillness and depth of our inner lives. Each poem is a beacon of light, guiding us back to the immediacy of the present moment. These works draw from a rich history of mindfulness practice, encapsulating the essence of being truly present and fully alive to each moment.
This collection, while rooted in the age-old wisdom of mindfulness, is designed to be a living, breathing repository of poetry that will continue to evolve over time. As a dynamic resource, it will be regularly updated with new contributions, reflecting the ongoing dialogue between the enduring practice of mindfulness and the ever-changing tapestry of human experience. Through this evolving collection, we invite readers to explore the depths of mindfulness poetry, discovering new layers of meaning and moments of clarity in the journey towards mindful living.
