MARIAN DZIWISZ

 

Destiny!

 

In every atom and in every being,

closed in the circle that surrounds it,

possible fates are written,

which depend on sensations and feelings;

on the awareness of being;

- desires and will;

sometimes on chance,

which, like a comet,

falls and strikes without intending to,

because it falls on

what is and what attracts,

though it is not heading there.

 

Destiny is not a calling,

a promise of happiness

– a promised land.

It is life,

in spite of adventure and chance,

which changes fate.

It is Sisyphus's heavy stone

that carries him,

and when it falls, it rests.

 

Although destiny is a worry for man,

who, like Narcissus, gazes

at his reflection on the water,

in his smartphone screen and gossipy words,

if he recognizes the taste of life,

he will be born again of himself;

he will not consult an oracle;

he will go to a tarot reader or a fortune teller

to inquire about the future.

 

For life is,

like the light of a MANDAL,

in the center of which the seed

for you are born from it,

and in it is the memory

of your ancestors hidden,

and you draw karma,

which satisfies the senses;

binds with feelings,

or breaks bonds.

 

Your life, therefore, depends on you,

because, as in a mandala,

from the center of life run

luminous rays,

between which paths of various colors;

there are chiaroscuroes,

but nothing transcends its circle.

 

This light of life

that shines in circles,

you can preserve within yourself

for eternity,

if you take care

not to burn out,

but to fall asleep peacefully

when the time comes

to be covered with

the fleece of NIRVANA,

to enjoy the light

that will be preserved

in the memory

of generations from it.

From it you will be born

to a new being,

like a PHOENIX from the ashes.

 

But follow

Solomon's judgment,

to remain always within the circle

of the chalk field,

with your sensual desires,

or feelings of desire;

nor thoughts of power

or ownership

- do not extend beyond the circle,

for you do not know

whether they will tear you apart

or seize you

and call it your destiny.

Krakow, April 13, 2026

 

Being Has No Destiny

 

He was, is – and will forever remain

BEING, self-aware,

endowed with memory,

senses, and the will to exist.

 

He, with the movement of his body,

with his radiance and voice,

announced and announces

– his own existence,

to every being

– with whom he desires to be associated,

– or wants to avoid it.

 

He, through an effort of will and thought,

– translated the content of memory,

– the language of his senses,

– feelings, and imaginations,

– into words.

 

 

MARIAN DZIWISZ

 

MARIAN DZIWISZ: Poland, Krakow. Doctor of Humanities – philosopher, born on 1 January 1943 in the village of Michałowice near Krakow. In 1966, he obtained a master's degree in Polish philology and in 1980 a doctorate in humanities. He was the editor and secretary of the following editorial teams: social and cultural monthly magazines: ‘ZDANIE’; ‘PISMO LITERACKO-ARTYSTYCZNE’ and ‘FORMUM MYŚLI WOLNEJ’ in Krakow; assistant professor at the ODN Teacher Training Institute in Krakow; Polish language teacher in secondary schools and technical colleges; lecturer in philosophy at Krakow universities, including Postgraduate Studies in Philosophy/Ethics for Teachers at the Krakow Institute for the Development of Education. In 1987-1989, he became interested in religious studies and became co-editor of the anthologies: ‘Buddhism’ (1987); ‘Taoism’ (1988) and editor of the anthology “Judaism” (1989) published as part of the ‘Literary and Artistic Writings’ Library. He is the author of entries on philosophy and religious studies for the Popular Universal Encyclopaedia, published between 1995 and 1998 by the FOGRA Publishing House in Krakow. In 1978, he made his debut as a poet. Later, his poems were published in, among others, ‘Zdania’, “Okolice” and ‘Pismo Literacko-Artystyczne’ until 1990. His poetry collections include: ‘Bieszczadami natchnione’ (Inspired by the Bieszczady Mountains) 1998; Ergo sum (2007), W kręgu Suchorzeckiego kominka (Around Suchorzecki's Fireplace, 2007); Madonna (2011), Imperatyw kategoryczny (Categorical Imperative, 2014), Wierszozbiór (Poetry Collection, 2018); Tak sobie (Just Like That, 2020); 1/2 dialogu (1/2 Dialogue, 2020); ‘Rajska jabłoń’ (The Paradise Apple Tree), Lul.com, 2021; ‘Nasz powinność’ (Our Duty) [Polish-English], 2021; ‘Michałówka moja mała ojczyzna’ (Michałówka, My Little Homeland), Lulu.com, 2022; ‘Tajemnice Rajskiego Ogrodu’ (Secrets of the Garden of Eden), 2022; ‘Sacrum i profanum’ (Sacred and Profane), 2023. Between 2015 and 2017, he published three volumes of short stories, Semper in altum – Zawsze wzwyż (Always Upwards), with LSW. In 2021, he published Wieża Babel (The Tower of Babel) with Lulu.com, a collection of essays inspired by Olga Tokarczuk's Nobel Prize speech.