Thursday 7 October 2010

Reason Thus With Life: If I Do Lose Thee, I Do Lose a Thing That None But Fools Would Keep.

Before it is analysed, it is. Before it is labeled and categorised and put into the stream of a story, it is. Before thinking, before feeling, before perception - it is. Undeniably, thoughts weave what is into time, and a story; there is judgment, and the assignment of relative merit: health is more desirable than disease; help is more natural than indifference; and love is the underlying quality of it all - for instance. Yet it is unnecessary to map a course of action. That is done, whether consciously or not. Paradoxically, if the outcome is unimportant, the outcome can often seem to be healthier, more natural, and more loving.

If effort seems urgent, make it. If confusion is the case, be confused. If despair takes hold, or seems to, simply wait - in this endless moment, eternity, what seems to be is in constant flux. If an urge to enquire into who or what is feeling and thinking and perceiving all of this comes up, explore it. If anger causes destruction, know that it could not have unfolded in any other way. What is, is what is; whatever it is, whatever judgment thought puts on it, is unimportant. Peel back every layer; take another, and another step back; question each and every belief, each and every revelation, each and every conclusion; there is no solid truth. There is simply what is. The story that seems to unfold may be anything, absolutely anything at all. Whatever it is that values one outcome or another is an interesting phenomenon - it is not what you are.

This clip is from one of my favourites - Kramer Vs. Kramer. I could wax lyrical about the merits of Meryl Streep, but she knows how good she is and keeps it in perspective. The scene is useful for revealing what we feel when the best possible outcome is achieved; it's no wonder that so many stories are about the pursuit of positive outcomes! The look Joanna gives Ted in the lift after he tells her she looks terrific is an acting masterclass in subtlety: it promises so much, Kramer vs. Kramer II could have been made on the back of it. This is also a shamelessly self-indulgent clip I'm sharing today, on my 46th birthday (or so it seems)...enjoy!

33 comments:

............. said...

Happy seeming birthday! ;-)

Dion said...

May each and every passing year bring you wisdom, peace and cheer.

tom sullivan said...

Happy Birthday! I feel your writing is getting increasingly fresh, specific, and provocative.

It's also a welcome change from all the gooey, positive, (supposedly non-dual) stuff on-line.

Cheers!

Ruud said...

Happy birthday Suzanne! Thanks for the writing, artwork and filmclips...good stuff!

Brenda said...

Happy 46th, amazing lady. If that's the model and genius in the photo, well, wow, what a lot of fun your days must be. Cheers!

Barry said...

Congratulations on your birthday, Suzanne!

Gorilla Bananas said...

Happy Birthday. If I knew what you looked like I'd say you didn't look a day over 39.

Leslie said...

Hey Suzanne,
Happy Birthday!
Heck...You're looking younger and younger on FB :)
XOXO
-Leslie

Anonymous said...

Hi Suzanne, that's a great clip and I noticed that look too. Is it a look that none but fools would keep?

Happy birthday!

:-)

No One In Particular said...

Hi Being, an apparent thank you to "you".

No One In Particular said...

Dion, thanks. In the story that only seems to unfold, it does.

No One In Particular said...

Hi Tom, thanks, and the highest compliment is to be called"ungooey".

No One In Particular said...

Ruud, thanks, and you are so welcome.

No One In Particular said...

Hi Brenda, that's the genius and the model alright. The genius loses his kit all the time and the model thinks she's unphotogenic. Typical!

Anonymous said...

Happy 46th, and may the count continue to increase. :)
Hope the book is going well. It seems that your karma is moving you into a teachers role. I don't think you can avoid it. I know it's just projection, but I see you being able to "read" people, and then trun their karma around. You probably are already doing this. If someone comes around you and are struck in their self-created illusions, you help loosen their grip/clinging. The bodhissatva vow is the next stage. Your already there, might as well formalize it. By that i mean self-initialize to the next level. Remember to not eat other people's sin. That is the difficult part and almost unavoidable. We begin to actually do other people's work ( awakening ) for them without realizing it. Also a good spiritual friend is a great resource, hope you have at least one. :)

No One In Particular said...

Hi Barry, thanks, nice to see you around (figuratively).

No One In Particular said...

Hi GB, I'll have you know I don't look a day over 38 1/2!

No One In Particular said...

Hi Leslie, thanks, and next I'm putting up a baby picture on FB!

No One In Particular said...

Hi Andrew, thank you so much for wishing me well and keeping in touch.

No One In Particular said...

Hi Anonymous...well, OK...but it all sounds like a lotta work to me! Does helping my son cover up a lost conduct card count as eating other's sins?

Tapestry said...

Felicitations Suzanne! Looking forward to another year of your amazing writing talent.

Mary said...

Happy Birthday Beautiful One!!!

No One In Particular said...

Hi Tapestry, when I say I don't write it I really mean it!

No One In Particular said...

Hi Mary, thanks so much for your kind words.

Bob Seal said...

Brill post as usual!
Spot on. . .
And a birthday too!
46 it's just numbers:)

Bas said...

Happy birthday darling, you're my hero!

Bernard said...

Before it's analysed, no one can really tell if "what is" is or isn't. After it's analysed, no one can tell either :-)
Sorry being so late wishing you a Happy Birthday !

Bernard

No One In Particular said...

Hi Bob, thanks for the birthday wishes. It's not even numbers!

No One In Particular said...

Hey Bernard, true...relatively speaking! There is no absolutely speaking. Thanks for birthday wishes. I got a Blackberry! Apparently.

No One In Particular said...

Hi Bas, thanks, and you're my hero too.

beninamti said...

I must have watched this movie may be 20 times and the killing the mocking bird likewise. The book paved the way for me to immigrate to US in 1970. Your expression of Nothingness and extraordinariness/ordinariness draws great attention! Bless you.
Ben

No One In Particular said...

Hi Beninamti, the story of drawing attention...it's a fickle story! Kramer Vs. Kramer is indeed a classic. He already is home...so are "we".

No One In Particular said...
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