The Wind of Karma

THE WIND OF KARMA
Who killed my only father? Who killed my only mother?

Who caused the rain of blood? Who gathered the black clouds of the thunderbolts?

Who caused the earthquake that shook the whole world?

I asked these questions in the middle of a crowd

But no one was able to answer.

So I asked a second time and a third,

Shouting at the top of my voice.

My mind was blank and I didn't know what to think.

Suddenly the great red wind of karma arose.

The king of death appeared on the face of the earth and raised a fearful hailstorm.

The flag of no-retreat, emblazoned with the knot of eternity, unfurls before the storm.

Even the wind of karma takes delight in blowing it.

The truth of the pattern emerges

And unshakable confidence is aroused.

Now I am certain, I am fearless,

There is no retreat:

The voice of truth is heard throughout the world.
>From TIMELY RAIN: Selected Poetry of Chogyam Trungpa, page 140. Composed in Bhutan, 1968.