Tuesday 18 August 2009

A Pack of Sorrows Which Would Press You Down, Being Unprevented, To Your Timeless Grave.

It's all very well, bandying about concepts or pointers or what have you along the lines of "there are no questions, there are no answers." So there aren't. What's left, when all the extra stuff of humanity is stripped away, conceptually or otherwise, is one, or presence, or the still source, or whatever we're calling it today. (I'm pretty keen on calling it Fred for awhile and seeing if that pointer moves "anyone". However, it might be confusing for the Freds of the world.) Fair enough if you've surfed and ended up here, or on any of these nonduality websites, a "spiritual seeker", having a moment of existential angst, doing that "what's it all about" thingy that has caused so much cosmic hand-wringing; these concepts are more or less what you expect. There are a lot of to-the-point pointers around, lots of good stuff about "you are the center, and life flows around you", or "how can 'awakening' possibly be something in the future, all is oneness, complete and whole as it is, so seek what is, right now"; or "you are all you see, feel, hear, touch, smell, taste and think," and don't forget "my" favourite: "nothing exists, despite appearances." Then some more concepts can fly about, stuff about the nature of the brain, the illusory essence of reality, just electrical impulses, what seems so solid isn't there at all, the very nature of matter itself seems, scientifically, a nature of nothingness, whose physics change when apparently observed (by itself). And we can marvel, and sort of get it, even the brain gets it, then it somehow becomes clear there is nothing to get. Whatever's been happening is all there is, and it's "been" that way "all along". So no questions, no answers, just the miracle of existence, lived.

But if someone surfs up to this website, or another similar one, and sees concepts like "there are no questions, there are no answers," they might get upset if they're not a typical "spiritual seeker". If they're an educator, they might get angry - it's difficult enough to motivate young people into the sciences, there is a shortage of scientists as it is; we certainly don't need anyone spouting off metaphysically about no questions and no answers! Happily, these websites are on the fringe, and the concepts they espouse are not probably going to take the world by storm; there is no need. Anyone concerned with the apathetic tendencies of humanity, another fruit of fear, will be outraged that to read of the idea that there is nothing wrong with suffering, taking that to mean that the oppressed should be left to their fate, with no intervention, or that the criminal should be unpunished, or that the heinous deed should be sympathised with. But any outraged reader is another step of the dance. So is the criminal, and the mercenary; so are the misguided enforcers of a limited brand of righteousness. Yet so is the healer, so is the red cross worker, so is Abdul Sattar Edhi and all the selfless, tireless workers for the dignity of humanity; they wouldn't be swayed by the ambivalent musings of some enlightenment devotee. Their role in the dance is clear. Anyone concerned that the noblest, best tendencies of humanity might be diluted by some fatalism or solipsism, some surrender that suggests that since nothing can be done, nothing should be done, perhaps may rest assured that each urge must have its opposite to even exist. Even those who fear the machinations of some elusive Illuminati, forever distracting us-we, the herd of common humanity-from holding any real power over our lives, they can go on with their crusade for societal freedom. Nothing changes, yet everything changes. There is nothing to be done, yet we will be lived. There is no separate entity, some little me or you, that can claim anything, though claiming may stridently arise. Everything ever sought, is right here, and what is sought is what seeks, always eluding any pat description. Revel in it.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

As always, a beautifully woven tapestry of silken words. You have a gift, Suzanne.

I have been resisting the urge to read the titles of your posts anymore. Shakespeare is difficult enough as it is, much less trying to find the alternate meanings as they pertain to what you've written. Yet, like my search for "it", I just can't help myself.

Thanks for being there for me in my search!

No One In Particular said...

Where else could I be?

No Plane Zen said...

Hey! I wanna change my role in this play. I'm calling my agent!

:D

Brenda said...

The vessel holding fluid sometimes needs to be shaken to reconstitute its holdings. Tornadoes have shaken my town today (Walmart and Mall hardest hit - ha!) It is all so natural, isn't it, shaker queen.

Shanto said...

Thank you for writing! And, by the way (in case you didn't know), "fred" is Swedish for peace... :)

Fred,
Svante

Wellness Education Institute said...

how about... "it's Fun"?
:) len

lune said...

it is all a bit unfathomable isn't it? x

No One In Particular said...

Brenda, oh no! I love the mall and Walmart. No Plane, my agent's number is speed dial number 86. Svante, may much Fred be in the flow of life. Len Dude, you are fun personified. And Lune, inscrutable and effing ineffable as well.

No Plane Zen said...

99 calling agent 86, chaos is erupting!

Maury Lee said...

OK Dudette, I want to see a blog on the fullness that no thing in particular IS. A story about Fred who has everything he could possibly desire. So fulfilled that he misses desire. I'm sure you're up to it. I'm waiting now.

No One In Particular said...

Hey No Plane, nothing wrong with chaos. Sorry about that, Chief!

Hey Maury, "I'll" see what "I" can do.

No One In Particular said...

Hey Maury, in the "meantime" try

http://nothingexistsdespiteappearances.blogspot.com/2009/05/thy-life-is-dear-for-all-that-life-can.html

Closish in your desired theme.

Anonymous said...

Sshh, I think Chief is a double agent!

No One In Particular said...

So he's responsible for all this duality!