Such a deep, dark, depressing crevasse to look down upon, the notion that all is meaningless. Yet it is, after all, just a notion, and the thing that believes it a construct. Constructed by what? By learning through time, which is a concept in itself; by thoughts taken seriously by themselves; and by reinforcement from a collective of thought constructs. Reality is airy-fairy. The solidity of matter, the mystery of life, and the consciousness that registers it all is a bonus, and enigma, and a wonder, no matter what the interpretation or quality of reality seems to be.Much is made of the concepts by which our inadequate-to-the-task minds explain the very thing the mind arises in. Concepts suggest that concepts are in the way. Planned thoughts and actions, only accomplished through the convenient tool of time and more concepts, infer that there is a method by which the mind can be occluded and the seamlessness of existence be apprehended directly; and it is implied that this direct experience is always the case, and the thoughts that are "in the way" are actually part of the seamlessness. And, in fact, that there are no object or subjects, not even the consciousness that separates and labels things; that actually, whether it is labelled "oneness" or "twoness", reality is what reality is, however it seems to be. Period. And it is this reality, no matter how inadequate or painful, that's what is sought by everyone; and it is the inability to realise this that causes (in nonexistent time) the pain and the feeling of inadequacy.
There is nothing wrong, not even (or possibly especially) the feeling that something is wrong. The journey home starts from home, roves around the intricacies of the home we call all creation, and ends, amusingly, at home.
Mimi wo Sumaseba (Whisper of the Heart) is a lovely, gentle amime film that meanders placidly through the life of a little girl, Shizuku. A plot device is several rewritten versions of Country Roads by John Denver. The road home is also home.
20 comments:
There's no place BUT home, of course,
that's why there is NO WAY home, and forgetting this too simple truth, that's why we are so completely lost. How sad ! How funny !
B.
Hey Bernard! Yup.
Thanks for the kind words (and music).
Hi Suzanne,
am enjoying your blog, you are definitely adding something to the panoply of non-dual literature.
I do have a specific question for you and that is about the implied commentary on other non-dual teachers in your links. Classically only the wise can recognise the wise and on that basis I would appreciate any elaboration on this implied commentary.
I had not come across Gilbert Schultz before so thanks for the definitive endorsement of his work.
In theory at least the the self-realised could not be offended by the pronouncements of others - so any further elaboration that you may do on other individuals should not cause any offence. If it does that would be telling in of itself.
John
Hey John, there's room for all voices and resonances and pointers. There has to be. They exist!
And to elaborate on the implied commentary, good or bad, about linked-to sites on my blog, just to say that I also have doubtless neglected to link to fantastic sites and continue to link to sites that may be more or less defunct...I look at those sites and blogs occasionally and think, "oh dear, I don't know about that" or "that's fantastic" or "how clear" or "what the hell is he on about now"? I also look at some older entries on my own blog and think the same thing!
The linkage is somewhat arbitrarily arrived at. Let the Universe decide.
Hi Suzanne, another comment not directly related to this blog entry but to the never not here videos... You (and others) say categorically that there is no time. What exactly does this mean?
One of the corollaries of there being no time is that any thoughts relating to time are meaningless. Is this actually what is meant - the thoughts/memories etc. are meaningless - or is it stronger than that and if so what does it mean? If I look out a window and see a bird flying - that is clearly impossible without time, similarly an eye saccade - also clearly impossible without time ...
john
Hi John, well, it's a thing nearly impossible for the mind to grasp, for the mind and its piecing together of what's happening using memory and anticipation is what has constructed time, as a convenience. But I'll have a go...when is now? When does the present become the future, and the past become the present? Is the present quantifiable? When is it now? Even the tiniest measurement of time - say "now" is one nanosecond - can be divisible into ever smaller parts. It is always now. It is never then. The past is memory, just electical impulses happening now. Same with speculation. The future never comes. The past doesn't exist. It is always now, one endless moment. So, I suppose, saying "there is no time" is just another way of looking at reality...present awareness, which it always is. The bird flying, the movement of the eye that follows it, it's all now. The energy that comprises the matter of the bird and the eye is always the same energy, it just rearranges interestingly for the mind. Or something like that!
The important thing is, it's always very obviously now no matter what thoughts seem to be happening. Enjoy.
We bob up and down in the stream of meaninglessness - but then what were we expecting from a fairground ride- a philosophy lesson? As we look hopefully into the waters, hoping for them to reveal an answer, all they do is reflect our image.Whether we sit back and enjoy or keep believing we have seen something we ought to follow, the ride goes on. Thanks Suzanne for never losing the plot. Hope your life is cool. x
"using memory and anticipation"
I like that. But what if there is no Now? Just a frenzied flickering between memory and anticipation? Me, I have no now. Or I haven't found it yet. Now is like plate-spinning. Or trying to hold two magnets together. Suzanne, I love your writing, it is dense and rich. But it's hard for us caterpillars to listen to you butterflies. If we ask "how do we become enlightened, how do we manage present awareness in the same sense that you do?" The answer will maybe be "you already are enlightened, you already have present awareness". Then we'll say "Yes, but we are ignorant to this fact. How do we realize this and gain knowledge, rather than just knowing intellectually?"
You had me staring at a knife last week! It's just a knife! Aarrghhh!
The minds rearranging everything and nothing is really happening, but the dreams so good or, at least,convincing, that something here cannot bare to leave it. Whether its real or not, suffering arises. If this something does not want to suffer in the dream it seeks ways to escape or be at peace, one of which is to give up seeking.
Hey Walbart, present awareness is best managed by not managing it. And what's wrong with caterpillars?
Hey Julian, life is, indeed, cool. And giving up seeking, seeking, not giving up seeking...just watch and enjoy.
Ha, I knew it.
Caterpillars can't fly.
And it's too dangerous down here on the ground, I don't like it. My mate was eaten by a crow just yesterday.
Just answer the question goddammit! ;)
How do I rid myself of my ignorance and lack of appreciation/understanding of the moment/now? How can I laugh in present awareness?
No guruspeak please.
WB.
Oh dear, Walbart. I don't know if I can avoid "guruspeak" 'cause I'm not sure how you define it. But, if you don't like being answered in riddles or smart-ass-speak, which is what I would label my answers, it's probably not a bad idea to ask yourself why that is. You want some simple, direct answer from somewhere. The answer is this. Ignorance is simply how you are judging what your experience seems to be. If you want something to do, some act of will by the ego that will cause the ego to evaporate, it's tricky because any act of will by the ego reinforces the ego. Now, step back from that, conceptually. The story of the ego reinforcing itself is just a thought-narrative, with accompanying feelings. It doesn't matter what the story is. All stories are equally valid, by virtue of their existence. In all likelihood you have some concept of "awakening" (or "butterflies") as something different to what is, right now. There is nothing different. That is "enlightenment". This is home, now, just good ol' life as it has always seemed to "you". Relish it! Even the uncomfortable bits.
Thank you. What you say is very clear and it does contribute positively to where I am and what I need.
But, I am still none the wiser. I have only recently been exposed to the idea of home being here, enlightenment is now, and all the rest. It's an uncomfortable part of seeking but obviously that implies a step in the right direction I think. I am getting a whiff of something "here" and "now".
All I am is my Ego right now though. Can't see woods for the trees etc etc etc.
WB
One of my favorite titles, this one. The wisest beholder could not say if the importance were joy or sorrow. How wise the observer who does not judge. Hope you had a happy mother's day, madam butterfly.
Thank you, for this, for being you.
Constance
Wow, what a beautiful video clip! I feel the desire to become the member of one of those DVD clubs so that I can watch all these films you post, and more! I used to think I shouldn't waste my time watching films when the real world is out there...now, I'm thinking, what the hell, why not watch lots and lots of films. It's all part of the great game of life I suppose. :)
Hi Shamash, I'm sure there's something in what you say about real lie...but sometimes, that's watching movies!
I've always loved film, have worked in the industry, and consider film to be a beautiful marriage of all the arts, visual, performing, and musical. In the story that seems to unfold, I'd probably identify Suzanne as a frustrated filmmaker!
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