Mindful Limericks about Buddha and Buddhism

Lord Buddha, great sage of the East, icon of mindfulness, avatar of compassion, he has so much to teach us about rightful living. The essential message of Buddhism tells us that life is suffering, and that suffering is the result of grasping and attachment to the illusory objects of the physical world, also known as Samsara. Release from suffering is possible through the Eightfold Path, consisting of right speech, right effort, right action, right mindfulness, and so on.

     Gautama Buddha 
     There once was an Indian mystic
     With musings conveniently cryptic
               Nibbling on rice
               He opened his eyes
     And became evermore optimistic

Enlightenment

The ultimate goal, enlightenment, is not easy for the ordinary practitioner to achieve. With luck, we might catch a glimpse of enlightenment at one time or another. But it’s not really about the goal; it’s about the process. You might not fully embrace your emptiness to become one with the big Buddha Mind, but if your practice makes you a kinder and gentler human being, then you can consider it a success.

     The Passage
     There’s a key to the wisdom arcane
     Like a bridge between bless’d and profane
               Completely entwined
               In the big Buddha mind
     Where the sacred respects the mundane 

     Compassion
     Just what are you hoping to find?
     To advance you must empty your mind
               There’s no need to search 
               Or belong to a church
     Simply strive to patient and kind

     The Uncarved Block
     I feel like it’s better to listen than talk
     And faster to run, though it’s wiser to walk
               A field to be tilled 
               Or a cup yet unfilled
     For this is the way of the unsculpted rock

Levity

Have you ever noticed how much laughing the Buddha does? He understands the importance of a good sense of humor. It’s essential that we don’t take our spiritual practice too seriously. Otherwise, the awakening could be too much to swallow.

     Simple Gifts for Simple Minds
     A potion they speak of in more than one subplot
     Is known to cure blindness and sometimes a blood clot
               I’m glad to have drunk it
               But who woulda thunk it?
     And now I’m in tune with the Big Buddha Whatnot

     Eastern Outreach
     All faith groups are worthy of careful assessment
     Some that I’ve seen have achieved an advancement
               But now I watch Ted Talks
               And scroll through my inbox
     Here’s one from the Buddhists, it has no attachment

If you like these limericks about Buddhism, you’ll also want to check out my Limericks about Yoga and Meditation, Limericks about Indian Philosophy, and Limericks about Taoism.