27 Apr Kotodama 76
The Way is not a way; it is here, not away....
26 Apr Koan 299
The real reason we die is that the self’s consciousness is a finite construct--having a beginning and an end--carved from the soul’s infinite consciousness. When we transcend the self’s consciousness, we are what we are: eternal being....
25 Apr Koan 298
In the chaos of the now, the self seeks peace; yet, the consciousness of the self is the impediment to peace. Individual consciousness creates many an edgy piece from what is otherwise eternally one continuous piece harmoniously at peace....
24 Apr Way Of Way 278
Mysticism refers to the pursuit of communion, identity with, or conscious awareness of ultimate reality, the divine, spiritual truth, or God through direct experience, intuition, or insight. It's often characterized as a profound spiritual experience that transcends ordinary understanding. Mysticism is the foundation upon which most religions are based. On this foundation, early adherents stand together; united by a shared spiritual experience. As more people join a religion, structures are built upon its foundation to house them. The structures have many stories, stories upon stories; each supporting the story above it. The most desirable living spaces in these buildings are those with the best views; those on the highest stories, closest to the heavens. In the high stories live religious leaders and their wealthy supporters. As for the foundation, it's deep underground; making mysticism hard to find. All that's visible are the stories: the doctrines, rituals, and traditions that sustain the religion. This is the way religions transition from a mystical experience into a community sharing inherited stories. At the end of days a fire erupts in the building, allowing only two ways to escape to eternal life: through the basement at the foundation with the aid of a mystic or jumping out of the stories. Many will die in the fire, as they are afraid to jump out a high story; for they think they would surely die. Those willing to abandon their comfortable stories above the foundation, descend to the foundation, and ask for guidance will find rescue in the hands of the mystics....
23 Apr Koan 297
Why be upset at the idea of people enjoying themselves? There have been instances where a Zen master, though married, privately engaged in sexual relationships with one or more students. When these actions came to light, the community’s reactions were divided. Some students felt betrayed and responded with anger, ultimately demanding the master’s resignation from the monastery. Others laughed, viewing the scandal as the master’s final koan before retirement: “Why be upset at the idea of people enjoying themselves?” Those who know, do not speak; for they are laughing. They can't explain what's funny, for a joke is not funny to those who need it explained. What's funny is that we are laughing at our selves. Those who have preconceived ideas about what things mean are often blind to what's real....
23 Apr Way Of Way 289
Rich are those who appreciate all things. Poor are those who can only appreciate things in comparison to other things....
21 Apr Psychedelic Journeys, Remembered
In college, I had three psychedelic journeys. Now, in hindsight, I understand their revelations. In the first journey, I wanted to eat my brain. I felt that my mind (the consciousness of the soul) and body (the self) were a duality. By eating my brain, my self and the consciousness of the soul would merge into oneness with everything. In the second, I was looking at a painting and seeing its colors dripping beyond its frame and onto the floor. This was a revelation that all things are interconnected, like in peripheral vision; yet, our mind, through foveal vision, creates independent things. In the third, I was wallowing naked in mud in the backyard of my parents' attached house in Brooklyn. I was holding onto Earth for dear life as Earth was spinning incredibly fast and I was afraid I would otherwise fall away from Earth and into endless space. This suggested that if we let go our self-identity (as Earthlings), we will be one with the universe. While these journeys might sound somewhat harrowing, I remember them as wonderful—psychedelic, soul-revealing. Each vision, in its own way, was a lesson in dissolving boundaries: between mind and body, between things, between self and cosmos. Perhaps, in the end, all journeys—psychedelic or otherwise—are invitations to remember our oneness with everything....
21 Apr Koan 19
"Crow with no mouth" -- Ikkyu, 1394 - 1481 Can a crow with no mouth caw? Does a crow with no mouth have a craw? Is a crow with no mouth a crow? Is a crow with no mouth simply a crow with no mouth? Crows are exceptionally intelligent birds. They can solve complex problems, use tools, and even recognize human faces. They are also highly adaptable, learning to thrive in various environments. They are keen observers and can consider alternative strategies to realizing their goals. Crows are symbolic of wisdom. Those who are wise as a crow observe that birds have beaks but no mouths. A crow with no mouth is not unlike any other crow; only our thoughts make it otherwise. Crows don't need a mouth, for wisdom cannot be conveyed with words: “He who speaks does not know, he who knows does not speak.” (Lao Tzu)...