_LIGHTHOUSE
a lighthouse sits,
where I live,
although it is not by the sea, nevertheless a lighthouse,
eye of the searchlight keeps track
what is in the vicinity? danger?
alerting the sailor,
it is a kind of mindfulness I am referring to,
of every single activity verbal, mental, or bodily;
it is being recorded, the lighthouse has the memory of an elephant;
although, one dies and forgets; the lighthouse does not forget
the irreverent act; There is something in the world 
that retains decency in the world;
it is that shame of doing the wrong thing, 
"hiri": shame over moral transgression; 
"otappa": fear of the results of wrongdoing;
the two bright guardians of the world,
two angels wing-
ing 
_

Shantha Hulme 
#irreverence 

#poetry #Buddha #angels

Influenced by the teachings of the Buddha
an excerpt 
Hiri is an innate sense of shame over moral transgression; ottappa is moral dread, fear of the results of wrongdoing. The Buddha calls these two states the bright guardians of the world (sukka lokapala). 
Why the designation? because as long as these two states prevail in people's hearts the moral standards of the world remain intact.
When their influence wanes the human world falls into unabashed promiscuity and violence, becoming almost indistinguishable from the animal realm.
link https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/bps-essay_23.html