36 Views of SF: 26. To the Mamas and the Sistas
July 1, 2018

All beings are my mothers
And we don’t all get along.
I do group therapy in my mind
Wondering how we’ll all belong.

I’m a Buddhist man, you see, and (it’s said) from the very beginning
Bikkhus demanded Bikkhunis move
to the back of the boat the Buddha was building.

(If so) I think they were afraid of Prajapati’s brilliant volition.
Queen Maya, her sister, died after parturition.
Her loss lingered in his sati recollections.
Prajapati cultivated her boy’s compassion.
Sidd’s quest required his wife Yashodhara’s permission.

Now, the monks, you see were seeking liberation from karma.
Liberation for the boys meant separation from Mama.
So, basically, Prajapati’s strength was viewed as too much drama.

Buddhist cultures since then have frequently devalued women
While praising the mother, they placed her in submission.

Her beautiful heart hides a wound with hidden rants.
Pray for rebirth as a man, they’re taught to chant.
“It’s your only shot at an enlightenment plan!”
As if they’re here only to support the birth of a man.

Never free of motherhood
Never victorious, forced to play good.
“Smiles everyone, you’re on Fantasy Isle!”
“Sure,” they reply, “but beware our bile.”
Mr. Roarke, he thinks he’s in charge
but these women charge for Fantasy Isle smiles.

They charge me with crimes of asking for affection and attention
“What have you done,” they ask, “to deserve our redemption?”

What have I done for women’s pain?
My mind plays this GD game.
But down below, my heart’s known the germane:
The world is suffering –
My beloved’s in chains.

But new eyes always hold me guilty
“Who is this guy? Is he just horny?”
They wonder what kind of man I am
They wonder what considerations I might demand.

I say I’m a doctor and a lover and a failure.
Your suspicion of me and my gender is quite a derailer.
Praise to the patients for carrying their loads.
Praise to the lovers who’ve gotten my goat.

If I’m a child of all beings,
Praises to my mamas!
If I’m a brother to all, then
Praise to my sistas!
But please, girls, be patient resistas!

Bless my ears, to hear your wisdom,
Believe you this, I live in your Queendom.
I’ll stand tall in time, but not on your back.
I’ll take your wisdom, and I’ll take your smack.

The genders are interdependent, no one’s in charge.
Our gifts are complementary
Our Great Big Boat is a Unisex Barge.

And it’s a party.
Believe me, it’s a party.

Let’s call it the CW.
Compassion and Wisdom.
Someday we’ll have an Unconventional Convention.
(First, we’ll post our interbeing failure confessions.)

Group therapy in our mind
Means a love supreme –
For All Time.

We’re FAT,
and that’s my phat rhyme.

Blog pairing: On Han, Soul, Collective Psyche and Microaggressions

© 2018, Ravi Chandra. All rights reserved.

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