Growth! Enlightenment of the Soul: Reflections of a Soul Growing Through Life's Experiences

By Rainier

He chose the path of the Ronin, the masterless warrior.
He picked up not his sword, only the pieces of a broken heart.
Slowly, he set out on a mission to gently put back the pieces,
Seeing how each piece fits by looking in life's way.
He learnt to sing with the birds; he ran with the wolves,
Flying with the eagles; he won the battle with the devil.

Driven by events in life, Rainier travelled the expanse of Australia as a young man, aimlessly riding in the wind without a set destination or schedule. After his journey of many years concluded, Rainier returned home to build a foundation, reflect on life's meaning, and poetically express his related thoughts and feelings.

In a second volume of diverse verse, Rainier shares poems that provide further insight into his life experiences, lessons learned, and inspired thoughts. Through his candid reflections, Rainier provides a lyrical glimpse into his continued search for emotional fulfillment and growth through life experiences that expose the polarities of emotions such as joy and sorrow, success and failure, the elation of love and the pain of loss, the smiles of contentment and tears of emptiness.

Growth! Enlightenment of the Soul is a collection of poems that share an introspective analysis of one man’s life experiences as he grows and develops an appreciation of life, the grandest of gifts ever bestowed upon us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: Jan 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9781982296421

Rainier

Rainier was born on the tropical island of Sri Lanka. After losing his father at a young age, he migrated with his mother and siblings to start a new chapter in Melbourne, Australia. Today, he still resides in Melbourne where he enjoys writing. Events that transpired over the journey of his life found Rainier reflecting on life’s meaning, and he commenced writing for his own personal self-expression. Many years later, Rainier elected to expose his work to a wider audience through various social platforms and finally by publishing this book and shortly, a sequel which continues his story in verse. For more about Rainer and his literary contributions, visit www.poetrybyrainier.com.

Book preview

Contents

Preface

Dedication

The Journeys

The Forgotten Journey

Letting Go to a Greater Power in Trust

Life! A Passage through Time

A Wandering Nomad

A Passage Through Growth

Footprints on Time

A Dream Not Complete

Stepping Out of a Cocoon

Does A Nomad Dance

The Soul Searcher

Broken Arrow

Wings of a Raven

The Final Dance

A Reflection unto Myself

An Ode to Our Journey

Friendship

Reflections of Time

The Call in the Night

Echoes of the Past

Another Time; Another World

A Beautiful Encounter

Divided Roads Do We Travel

The Conflict Within

Crossroads So Familiar

Chill Winds of the Past

Riding the Waves

Walking Through Life’s Gateways

A Parting Gift to a Beautiful Soul

Drawn like Moths to a Flame

Walk a Road to Nowhere

As I Emerge from a Chrysalis

Destined Encounters

Adios! Till We Meet Again

Farewell! A Dove Has Flown

A Sense of Reason

Life’s Gift

Drifting Through Life

Withered Dreams

Father to Son

Fears Paralysing

The River

I Remember You

Attachment

Beating Drums

A Father’s Wish

Door Left Open

Inspired Poems

A Place Called Home

Betrayal

Scarlet Ribbons

Pathways

Blizzard Ahead

Feathers and Tears

The Uprising

The Will of the Warrior

Peaceful Harmony

The Medusa

Magical Mirror

Beneath the Arabian Sky

A Fisherman’s Crush

Life’s Search

Old Man River

A Heavenly Soul

Red Dirt Sunset

Verses

The Soul Eternal

Unseen Hands

An Ode to Past Love

Nurture Growth

The Watcher Within

When Love Fails

Love’s Euphoria

The Past

Transformation

Colours of the Rainbow

Fog of Illusion

The Old Birch Tree

Choices

Key to Fulfilment

Darkness

Love Can….

Beings of Light

About the Author

About the Illustrator

Preface

In reading the words of a simple soul learning through life’s experience for the purpose of growth within, may you find enjoyment and satisfaction if not simply interesting reading.

In writing the poems and verses herein, I relived each experience in my mind’s eye as I explored my feelings, inner sentiments and lessons learnt from each experience.

As we live through our interconnected lives, we experience many joys when we succeed, sadness in times of failure and a whole variety of other emotions which help us to grow within ourselves. Looking back in hindsight, we see that each event was sequentially staged to prepare us for each subsequent stage of growth.

As with my previous book Life! The Journey of the Soul, learn what you may from my experiences, intimate thoughts, and feelings that I have openly shared. May they instigate your own individual thoughts as you transit through the experiences of your own unique journey. Look within for your answers as they lie deep within in what some call the soul’s memory. The many signposts stationed along each of our paths through life simply show us the way to a point of enlightenment.

As we move through the fabric of space and time, I wish each of you the strength and determination to walk through life’s way, climbing each hurdle, learning its wisdom, venturing to the next, enjoying each step for life remains our greatest gift of all.

Dedication

I dedicate these writings to my parents, ­­Ronald, and Barbara Paul, who lovingly brought me into this life and set the stage for my development through the years of infanthood and continued to give their limitless support through my life till their passing. Without them I may not have been blessed with the life I have and the many opportunities it has gifted upon me.

My son Dane, who continues to shine like a jewel through life; he gives so much meaning to my existence today, without our close bond, my life may have been quite different and much less grounded. The gift of most value I leave unto this world when I eventually depart is his beautiful soul.

I extend my thanks to my loving family, partners, and friends who have consistently given me the drive and support to proceed with my written work.

I thank all those I have encountered through life, each playing their individual parts to stage each unique experience in life for the benefit of my inner learning. May divine love shine on you all always.

Finally, I extend my thanks to Ketut Endrawan for the beautiful illustrations he created to compliment the emotions of my poetry, words cannot express my gratitude for his dedicated efforts.

The Journeys

The following poems are a product of my inner reflections after significant events that transpired in my simple life. Though challenging at the time, each event instigated my growth and subsequently developed my understanding of life as I know today.

Hope you can relate to these poems, and in some small way, my words are able to instigate your own thoughts and understanding as you progress in your own beautiful and unique lives.

The Forgotten Journey

On a black day in August in the year of the cat,

He was set free—two days before the day her heaven and earth met.

Stripped naked of the dreams they once knew,

Frozen they stood, alone in a world so isolated.

Their two hearts broken; tears filling their eyes.

A token of two birds perched on a branch he gave her,

A remembrance of the time they once shared.

A silver fox made of soft fur, a memory of the place they met.

They knew they had to go to find their separate worlds.

The truth they knew now gone; a new life must be born.

Angels standing by, held their trembling hands, guiding them through.

They looked to the heavens to deliver them through.

He chose the path of the Ronin, the masterless warrior.

He picked up not his sword, only the pieces of a broken heart.

Slowly, he set out on a mission to gently put back the broken pieces,

Learn how each piece fits by looking in life’s mysterious way.

He learnt to sing with the birds; he ran wild with the wolves,

Flying with the eagles; he won the battle with the devil.

Passing tests of faith, he found new strength and trust in the gods.

Through empty loneliness, he found life and death as one.

Walking a fine line in the middle, black and white were within his reach.

No right, no wrong, he had to find the truth—the truth being himself.

Closing the doors to love, he sharpened the skills of the warrior.

His only weapon now his body, for his weapons were laid down to rest.

By mastering the flow of his body, he mastered his fragile mind.

He was now ready to travel the many miles, leaving all that was behind.

Riding the wild storms, learning with each breath taken.

His only lasting companion being himself, for others he leaves behind.