January 21, 2018

Vishnu says “I am become Death destroyer of worlds.”

Abandon home and family and friends,

abandon all safety and security and comfort,

abandon everything you think you know and see and understand,

take up a robe and a begging bowl and a staff,

wander out into the unknown,

alone, abandoning life itself,

seeking the infinite.

 

Ooh that’s scary.

 

The birds of the air have nests,

the foxes of the field have dens,

the son of Man has no place to lay his head.

I don’ wanna.

Most likely not gonna, if the truth be told.

Definitely want a place to lay my head.

 

What I’m gonna do is walk the dogs and make something to eat.

That’s as close to the unknown as I am willing to get.

I’d just as soon that Vishnu put it off for now.

Thats it for today , January 21, 2018.

 

 

January 14,2018

Thus sayeth Popeye, borrowing from the Burning Bush. Great, he’s a tuber, but what yam I?  Isn’t this the most important question that can be asked? For this particular Yam there have been several different ways to look a this, borrowed – very loosely – from sources other than the Scriptures.

I am a perceptual process that stores and processes information, from which a self is extrapolated and out of which a future state is projected – this from Krishnamurti

I imagine that there are people and things and a universe out there, but its all and only electrical impulses in the brain – this from neuroscience (have you seen the 6 part PBS series “the Brain” by Dr David Eagleman?)

I imagine that I am a little control center just behind the eyes, that directs the activities of a sack of protoplasm, and that there is an in-here, me, that is separate from the out-there, the universe, caught in the imagining that I can be a separate thing from everything beyond my skin – this from Watts

I imagine that there is a mind-body-spirit entity called me, not aware that there is within a hidden and unknown essence of the divine – the pure state of the Self is identical with the Ultimate Reality – this from the Upanishads

I am like the sound of one hand clapping, an impossible illusion – no-self is the nature of all living beings – more or less Buddhist

And now, heres this entity calling itself Bill, sitting at this electronic device causing these characters to appear as though they were words and thoughts  – what is to be made of it, if anything?  Some Sufi mystic said something along these lines: “man is asleep – must he die before he awakens?”

Back to Popeye. Does Bill know, can he know,  what kind of yam he is?  If I awaken as a tuber it will be a surprise.

 

 

 

 

 

The most basic answer to “why do it” is because I said I would.

I stated off thinking that this blog exercise would be a way of communicating with people. What do I have to say? Its all been said before in many different sources and from many different perspectives. And who might be interested, who would care?  Friends and family? Those of you who might have gotten here by accident?

But I’ve changed my thinking about it. It will be a place to record the contents of my mind for myself, a recording on the surface of time to trace who I have been and how I have constructed the universe in my brain. Its for me. If you happen on it, and read it, it might mean something to you, or it might not. Come again if you like. Thank you for your time in any case.

So far, the word “I” has appeared seven times, and “me” and “my” three. It seems fundamental. What is it? How is the entity that says “I” to be understood, comprehended, conceived of? What does life signify, mine or all life? Of course this is not a new question. Countless philosophers, sages, saints, have considered this question, as have grandmothers and kids and clowns.

If you are are part of the western religions, you might say that I am a soul. If you are a Freudian them I am a closed hydraulic system dealing with the forces of ego, superego, id. If you are a philosopher you might say its a moot question. You might say that I am a being inhabited with the divine essence. You might say that the self is an illusion. But I’m not thinking that there is an answer, or that you can teach me on this subject, although I would not be surprised if you try.

Anne Dillard said “our life is a faint tracing on the surface of a mystery”. And so, my life, the mystery expanding, the tracery fading. Frost on a window, beautiful and then gone.

In  agreeing to do this blog, I will commit an hour once a week, and thats where I am now. If you are interested it will be posted on my Facebook page.

 

My bestest friend forever has encouraged me to put out to the Universe some glimpse into the contents of my mind, which you can guess can be erudite and profound, or trivial, or profane, or nonsensical., or even offensive.  With considerable trepidation I have decided to give it a shot. So, this is a test – I imagine that you might have a reaction, such as:

• Yes, lets hear it
• Hummm, we’ll see
• Ooooh, no thanks
• Get away
• Do I know you?

Heres the first message. If occasional little messages from me are of interest to you, let me know.

This is it

All of time and eternity and space are wrapped up in this moment

The clouds dissipating after the long cold rain

The fresh green baby leaves sparkling in the sun

The rushing stream below

The little dog lying in a pool of light

Coffee in a white mug

Silence and stillness in the morning

No purpose but to be

Nothing to be done

Sit still