Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"I Fail as a Dharma Teacher" by Diane Di Prima is a candid and humorous reflection on the challenges of conveying the profound teachings of Buddhism to others. Through self-deprecating humor and vivid imagery, Di Prima navigates the complexities of teaching dharma, the cosmic law and order, in a way that is accessible and appealing to all. The poem weaves together traditional Buddhist concepts with the realities of modern life, highlighting the poet's struggle to fulfill her role as a teacher while also expressing her deep desire to do so.

The poem opens with Di Prima's admission of her perceived inadequacies as a dharma teacher, humorously noting her inability to make Sunyata (emptiness or the absence of inherent existence) and the Four Noble Truths (the essence of Buddha's teachings) as enticing as "Easter candy." This comparison not only introduces the theme of teaching spirituality in a material world but also sets a tone of humility and approachability.

Di Prima describes her "skillful means" (upaya, a concept in Buddhism referring to the ability of a teacher to adapt teachings to the student's level of understanding) not as gentle guidance but as a blunt force—a "two-by-four banging on the head / of a reluctant diver"—a metaphor for her straightforward, perhaps less refined, approach to awakening her students to spiritual truths. The image of "pyrotechnics" that follows captures the chaotic yet transformative nature of her teaching method.

The poet laments her inability to be "kind and persuasive," to liberate "hundreds of shackled housewives" from their suffering, or to present the Eight-fold Path (Buddha's guide to end suffering) as the ultimate solution available everywhere in Samsara (the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth). This passage reflects a deep compassion for her students and a recognition of the vastness of the task at hand, teaching in a world filled with distractions and attachments.

Despite acknowledging her shortcomings, Di Prima's poem is ultimately an expression of her earnest desire to teach and to see the "old eyes shine" of her lamas (spiritual teachers) in the Kaliyuga (a dark age of conflict and sin in Hinduism, borrowed here to describe the current era). The imagery of stars going out like "birthday candles" suggests the diminishing of light and wisdom in the world, underscoring the urgency of her mission.

The poem closes with a beautiful evocation of the "Empty Clear Luminous and Unobstructed Rainbow Bodies," a reference to the Dzogchen practice of realizing the body's innate light and clarity as part of the path to enlightenment. Di Prima yearns to see these qualities manifest in her students, imagining their enlightened states as "transparent fish" swimming through the murky waters of existence.

"I Fail as a Dharma Teacher" is a touching and humorous meditation on the challenges of spiritual teaching and the yearning to connect others with the transformative power of Buddhist teachings. Di Prima captures the tension between the ideals of spiritual practice and the realities of daily life, offering insight into the human condition with compassion, humility, and a touch of whimsy.

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