September 13, 2002

  • Somebody here at work just mentioned that I looked totally “lost”.  I responded that I wasn’t, but might look so for having to deal with so many people here who apparently are.


    Then I asked in return: “If everybody else in the world were lost, would you not by societal dynamics be so too?” 


    That was too deep for him.  He merely laughed and shrugged it off (just as any other incognizant lost soul might do).


    What. indeed, would it mean to claim knowledge of being *here--> X* while yet having no additional bearings or keys to external relationships?


    "The _Ch'uan Teng Lu_ records a fascinating encounter between Tao-hsin and the sage Fa-yung, who lived in a lonely temple on Mount Niu-t'ou, and was so holy that the birds used to bring him offerings of flowers. As the two men were talking, a wild animal roared close by, and Tao-hsin jumped. Fa-yung commented, 'I see it is still with you!'--referring, of course, to the instinctive passion" (klesa) of fright. Shortly afterwards, while he was for a moment unobserved, Tao-hsin wrote the Chinese character for 'Buddha' on the rock where Fa-yung was accustomed to sit. When Fa-yung returned to sit down again, he saw the sacred Name and hesitated to sit. 'I see,' said Tao-hsin, 'it is still with you!' At this remark Fa-yung was fully awakened...and the birds never brought any more flowers."
     
    --Alan W. Watts, The Way of Zen


    Never lost, just lost (like the birds) in love with those who are.

Comments (204)

Comments are closed.

Post a Comment

notforprophet

Recent Posts

Categories

The End of Days

September 2002
M T W T F S S
« Aug   Oct »
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30