In Fall 2014, I took the MIT Media Lab class Principles of Awareness, taught by the Media Lab Director Jio Ito, and Venerable Tenzin Priyadarshi.

Part of this class involved blogging about the topics. I started the blog here, and later picked up at the class blog.

On the conclusion of the class, I wrote this poem about my experiences.

Emperor Moth

Sometimes when I lie awake at night
trying to fall asleep
The cares of a waking human badger my thoughts
I think to myself:
“I am an emperor moth”

And I am the moth
for a moment lightly fluttering
through the evening breeze
the full moon on my wings
reflected in the forest river far below
And I am human again

lying awake and night
a forgotten obligation
Hounded by the cares of a waking human
I think to myself:
“I am a gray wolf”

Far below the moth
I am standing on a hill
I am hungry for my next meal
I am beside my brothers and sisters
To the wolf, thoughts and feelings are the same
An unfulfilled promise has slipped into my mind
and I am human again

The wolf cannot make a promise
but lives for family relations
And the moth never tries to be a moth
only flies toward the light

But I can make or even break a promise
and I can live for my family and my pack
and try to be the moth
And I can fly toward the light

Somewhere between my own restless mind
and the cardinal thoughts of the wolf
I am flying toward the light