The Centre and the Circles: One and the Many

Wong Weng Hon

In the infinite universe,
There are many circles
Only one Centre exists
Many radii converging
From the circumference to the Centre
The Centre is the Absolute
The Absolute is Brahman , Buddha or God
The circumference  is People
The radii are diverse religions
The Centre is the inner Heart

The Centre
Unsurpassed and unequalled haven of refuge
Religions shepherd believers towards the inner Heart
We all return to the same homeland
This is our original homeland
From the Centre
Countless circles can be created
People are creatures of the Absolute
Multiplicity of forms are creatures  of human minds 
The ordinary people move exoterically

The ordinary people moving
Away and away  from the centre
Creating more and more circles
The wise move esoterically
Towards the Centre  to self-redeem
The Centre
Dissimilarly designated
Nirvāna, Ātman, Brahman,Tao, God, Jesus, al-Fanā’ and Baqā,
Buddha-nature, Tathāgata,  Dhamadhātu, cosmic Self, True Self …
It is actually ineffable and designationless

Writer’s Auto-commentary:

There is no necessity to argue for the dissimilar designations or appellations of the Lord for different religious adherents. There is only and one absolute Truth of Unity of Existence. The Unity of Existence is the communal Lord.  The dissimilar designations or appellations are immaterial.

 If one lives in unity in a family life full of love, one lives in God. If one lives in brotherly concern with the neighbour, one lives in God.  If one lives in unity in a team enterprise with mutual respect and harmony, one lives in God. If one conceives a wholesome project and accomplish it righteously, one lives in God. If one lives as peace maker in a plural society, one lives in God. If one lives in a united country, one lives in the haven of God.

The exoteric ritualism, prayers and meditation alone do not make one a true or genuine religious practioner or adherent. The love to live in harmonious unity is a genuine God lover. Such a believer truly  lives in God. If an influencial person  employs his religious identity to discriminate against others of different faiths, he or she does not really know his or her God. God commands that we love all. All includes believers of the similar and dissimilar faiths  as well as non-believers or even atheists.

(The God concept in this poem is synonymous with the divine designations of Brahman, Tao, Buddha and Allah in terms of Unity of Existence).