INKBLOTS & DOTS
By Michael C. Andrade
METANOIA: A REVOLUTION FROM WITHIN
“As above, so below; as within, so
without...”
-The Emerald Tablet (300 BC)
The above-quoted aphorism is
known to the sages of old as the
hermetic principle of correspondence the
application of which has led them to
discover and unlock mysteries of the self
and of the universe. For to them, the self
is but a miniature universe or a
“microcosmos”. Traces of this concept
can be found from Plato’s “Republic”
(wherein the State/society for that matter
corresponds to the human individual) to
Jesus’ prayer “The Our Father” (wherein
he taught his disciples to pray for the
advent of God’s Kingdom and ask that
His Most Holy Will “be done on earth as
it is in heaven” --- elsewhere in the
gospels, we find that heaven is within
each one of us.). But what’s the point,
why do I bother to introduce to you this
eerie and cryptic saying leafed out from
the arid sands of the ages? Why do I
bother to trouble your perplexed and
restless minds with this strange axiom or
enigmatic “koan”? Because I feel and
know that there is something in it which
we can apply to our present times and
needs.
In past ages, humanity has
envisioned and dreamed for a perfect
society. Sages, philosophers, educators,
men and women of science and of faith
have imagined, searched, and worked
out independently or collectively for the
advent of a utopia--- a society where
there is peace, freedom, and happiness
for each individual; where the whole of
humankind are citizens of the world and
where each one is a brother or a sister of
one another--- reminds me of John
Lennon’s “Imagine”. Their efforts
weren’t in vain despite the fact that the
envisioned society has not yet been
realized. The span of the ages and the
pages of history reveal the steps and
leaps we have been through in our path
towards our envisioned destiny. Yet,
records show that our journey was not
that smooth. Many times over, we lose
track of our goal. There were times when
we stumbled and fell short of what has
been expected of us. Maybe it is
because, sometimes, we need to learn
things the hard way.
We have tarried long enough
along the way. At times our stars and
suns of hope were covered by mists and
clouds of confusion. Then, despair set in.
We turn to our leaders whether secular or
religious for light, guidance, and
answers. Some of them have been true to
their trusts, but most of the others have
failed us. Some of us seek refuge in
money, power, and prestige motivated by
the greed and lust of the material world
while most of us suffer in poverty.
Humanity has been through countless
battles and has endured the rise and fall
of empires, kingdoms, and nations. In a
local scale, the Philippines had been
through the upheavals of armed and non unmanifest manifesto
–violent revolutions. We have been a rebel poet’s credo
through different types of governments. by Michael C. Andrade
We have been witnesses of the several
turns-over from one administration to
the next. Yet, despite some changes and what do you stand for
some progress and developments when all beliefs
brought about by what we have been are shaken
through, it cannot be denied that we have and all ideals
not done enough; there is still so much broken;
left to be done to keep us back on track
towards the attainment of our goal. We what do you fight for
need to pray more and we need to work when nothing seems
even harder for the realization of our worth the effort
dreams--- the advent of our utopia, the and nobody’s there
coming of God’s Kingdom, the reign of to take the risk
the Divine in us. For indeed, we have to even shake
been told that heaven is within us. your hand
Therefore, we must realize that and under
manifest it in our day to day lives. This the cloak
is what is truly meant by the Greek word of darkness?
“metanoia”. In English, it means “a
change of heart” or in religious terms, it for nothing
is what we call “true conversion”. other than myself…
---that’s what i stand for;
Revolutions, changing from one in nothing else
form of government to another, and the than my true worth...
regular changing of leaders and ---that’s what i believe in;
administrations would be in vain unless my ideal:
and until we have become the …FREEDOM!!!
personifications of that change we have
ardently hoped, longed, and prayed for. a war i wage,
Society is just the reflection of each ---the war…
individual. If we want to change the to say,
world, let us start the change within to name,
ourselves because true revolution begins to call
from within. Thus, we have unraveled black, black;
and grasped a spark of the otherwise white, white!---
cryptic quotation above. not only
without
I take it as my mission in life to but more so
set the world on fire. Would you dare to within.
join me? Let me end this column with
my new piece of poetry. alone but unafraid,
amidst the dark of night,
i march unto…
 the battlefield, P.S.: You may send in your comments,
the arena, suggestions, and sentiments regarding this
column through my email address:
---the body, www.meesha8@gmail.com
the mind,
the soul,
and the heart---
to confront
the archenemy
humanity has
ever known…
---the self!

in the wake of dawn

when this war is over
and the guerdon gained,
when the self is conquered
and victory attained,

i know, i will have won

the world over
not by guns,
or bombs,
or swords

but rather,
by faith,
and deeds,
and words!

oh no, no, no!

don’t put on me
that crown
of laurel
or of gold,

for, in truth,
i’m not the real
victor…

i am just
the voice
of every person
struggling silently
to renew the world!