21 Jul Koan 23
“Enlightenment is like everyday consciousness, but two inches above the ground.” -- D.T. Suzuki Enlightenment is proverbially described as "being one with everything." It is a state associated with the dissolution of the illusory self, transcending duality and realizing our oneness with the Everything. Consciousness is consciousness. The consciousness of enlightenment is not different from the self's consciousness in the now. Describing enlightenment as being two inches above the ground seems the antithesis of enlightenment, as it implies separation/duality. No! Two inches above the ground implies enlightenment is transcendental, beyond our conventional understanding of the material world with forces like gravity. The "ground" represents the now. When we are on the ground, we are in the now. Through the consciousness of the self, we experience the now as a duality: the self and all that is not the self. The consciousness of enlightenment is observing the now which can be doing through meditation. The now is breathing. We can observe the now when we are in the space between exhale and inhale. In this silent space we realize we create the now and, once created, we are the now....
21 Jul Koan 7
What do we see everywhere but rarely notice? Light. Things we see are not things, just light reflecting off things. What we don't see, the essence of all things, is also light. All things are energy slowed by the speed of light squared (E = MC²). Reformulated, mass is energy divided by the spend of light squared (M = E/C²).) All things, outside and inside, are light. Perceiving things otherwise, as solid or distinct from other things, is an illusion. As all things are light, all things are enlightening. When you see things as things are, what are you?...
21 Jul Messiah Is Here
In January, 1990 I went to trial in U.S. Federal Court for "insider trading." Prior to trial, I went to Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the spiritual leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic Judaism dynasty, to ask for a blessing. The "Rebbe" as he was commonly referred to was renowned for his wisdom, compassion and connection the the Almighty. As there is a good deal of randomness determining the outcome of a trial, I had hoped the Rebbe would put in a good word for me and bring me some luck. Some days after my visit, the Rebbe sent me a message: "Hopefully, the Messiah will arrive before the trial ends." I took this message to mean I would lose the trial which three months later I did. However, as I considered my good fortune in terms of healthy, family and future opportunities, I gracefully accepted the loss and the resultant financial penalties and time in prison. Now, 34 years hence, the Rebbe's message still resonates with me. Life is a trial. Everyone is executed at trial's end. Yet, there is hope for reprieve before execution. The Messiah will bring reprieve. In the "Messianic Era" there will be peace, harmony, abundance and prosperity. God will be universally recognized and communicated with and evil will cease to exist. Moreover, the dead will be resurrected; that is, we will realize no one dies. Essentially, all will be enlightened. Looking around the world today, it seems a far cry from the Messianic Era. Yet, Messiah is here for those who open their eyes, for they will be enlightened. Enlightened, they realize that however difficult their circumstances, they are lucky their circumstances are not worse. They realize that when circumstances are difficult, things will likely get better. The Rebbe's message did bring me luck. The luck to realize the Messiah is here. "Hap" means luck. Hap is the root of happiness....
17 Jul Kotodama 69
As everyone who is not me is U and I am U to everyone else, all beings are Us....