You explicated Buddhist points of view
you'd studied in extensive private hours,
comparing Theravada—which rang true
(you thought) in aspects—with the wellspring powers
of Mahayana. Piqued, you'd probed each path
that sprung up from the Buddha . . . also Tao
(less path than river). Nonetheless, your math
and reason couldn't quite conjecture how
to cull from these one concept of the soul.
And Plato didn't help. "So," I inquired,
"in practice, have you ever sought the whole
by which these many concepts were inspired?"

"I try to 'free my heart to all,'" you said.
For real? Come on! I've only seen your head!