I am a big fan of Aesop’s Fables. You can find no better material describing the movement of thought and the self (although you may need to use your imagination to do so).

According to legend, Aesop was a slave in Greece during the 6th century B.C. Here is a bit from Wikipedia:

During the reign of Peisistratus he was said to have visited Athens, where he told the fable of The Frogs Who Desired a King to dissuade the citizens from attempting to depose Peisistratus for another ruler. A contrary story, however, said that Aesop spoke up for the common people against tyranny through his fables, which incensed Peisistratus, who was against free speech.

I am inclined to find truth in the contrary story. I guess I am a romantic at heart.

The following story struck me in such a way, I thought it might be interesting for all of you. It brilliantly describes how thought builds the image, then…well, I don’t want to give it up for you. Find out for yourself. Haha.

The Ass Carrying The Image
Aesop

A certain man put an image on the back of his ass to take it to one of the temples of the town. As they went along the road, all the people they met uncovered and bowed their heads out of reverence for the image; but the ass thought they were doing it out of respect for himself, and he began to give himself airs accordingly.

At last he became so conceited he imagined he could do as he liked, and, by way of protest against the load he was carrying, came to a full stop and flatly declined to proceed any further. His driver, finding him obstinate, hit him long and hard with his stick, saying, “Oh you dunderheaded idiot! Do you suppose it has come to this, that men pay worship to an ass?”

Question of the Week: 6/30 - 7/6

A recent question through e-mail:

Are you a member of any religious, philosophical, or spiritual organisation? You never really talk about that, but it seems to me that you’d be resistent to the idea.

Because one is not a member does not mean that one is resistant. It simply means one is not a member. When the period appears at the end of the sentence, that is it. Nothing carries over, and there is no idea that one should or should not do something, due to a conflicting belief. When it is finished, nothing else begins.

Some would equate every apparent state with an opposite. There is hot because there is cold. There is hate because there is love. There is light because there is dark. This is life as it is lived by so many, but is any of it true? It is an incredible waste of energy.

When it is extremely cold, we talk about how cold it is, and then wish for warmth. Why do we talk about the cold when it is cold? If you and I are together, and it is below freezing temperatures, do either of us need to mention how cold it is? If you say it to me once, I understand and I am right there with you. But why keep saying it?

It is cold, it is cold, it is cold!

Do you really know that?

Think of it for a moment; all the time you spend talking about the cold, you are not there with it. You are only thinking about how cold it is. Stop thinking about it and live it.

If it is cold, and it very well may be, do you really need to tell yourself at all? The body has its own physiological barriers that will take care of the situation. And beyond that, we dress accordingly. If there is snow outside, it is generally understood that it is also cold. Why can’t we leave it at that?

When it is noisy, we resist and resist, complaining of how noisy it all is. But is the problem the noise, or our resistance to it? Again, the body has its own protective mechanisms for excessive noise. Beyond that, we can put our hands to our ears or stuff something in there to help balance it all out.

If you complain and complain about the noise, are you really hearing the noise in the world? Or merely the noise in your head?

Our use of imagination is misguided and destructive. We never sit with the cold, even during the moments when it is cold; we think about it, talk about it, and wish it weren’t so.

We never sit with the apparent noise. We cannot love it and learn how to listen. We resist and complain about how noisy it is compared to what it should be.

But these are the moments to flower into what is. Every moment is the perfect chance to see clearly.

Now, having said all of this, I am not a member of anything. (Apart from humanity, I suppose.) This does not mean that I am against anything, or have an idea that some other philosophy is better. If I reject something because I think something else is better, then I am a member of the something else.

I reject, but not due to an idea; it is a rejection born from intense curiosity. It is a necessary rejection, in order to find out what is really there. But there is no activity here that is pushing against. It is just that things come and go, but nothing sticks here. Not because I push it away, but because there is nothing here that can grab it and cherish it.

A bit long-winded, but I hope it answers your question.

I have seen many familiar faces today; some for the first time in several months.

There is a recognition there, but at the same time, I do not know them. It may seem natural to say that you know someone, but in this organism, there is nothing more unnatural.

If I see my brother, there is recognition there. But I can never say, “I know him.” There are memories, obviously. I can remember the things we have done, certain situations and events. But that is all of the past. If I say I know him, it is due to memory. And memory is of the past, and therefore, unchanging and immutable. That would mean that he has no chance of ever being different from what I remember. I effectively kill him with my mind, because I cannot see him at all. I only see my image of him; my memory of him.

This is why the living in the image, living through thought, is inherently violent. One kills the possibility of reality, of seeing what is. There is no true sight, only the remembered image.

If I meet with you, why should I rely on my memory to tell me anything? You are there, and I have no need to imagine you. After all, If I wanted to think about you or imagine you, I could have just stayed home.

Living life through thought, through the image, is living a life of violence. It is the killing of what is.

How many people have you killed today?

When the sun rises, and the eyes open, don’t wait for someone to come.
You are alone now.
The years of fog will lift.
But watch the first step going into the bathroom.

When you see a couple violently arguing, you’ll simply watch.
When the child plays too close to the road, you’ll simply watch.
When the friend gets her hair perilously close to the fire, you’ll simply watch.
But when action is needed, you’ll move with a certainty,
You’ve never before experienced.
The mind is alive, full of energy,
And action takes place when needs arise.

You’ll always feel,
On the verge of exploding.
Sit with it.
Just sit there.

When someone asks how to be liberated,
Be as nice as you can in your reply.
But don’t lie.
They won’t understand the answer, but still…
Don’t lie.

You may never dream again.
At least, not of your own accord.

Significance will be lost.
Mostly.

Put less food on your plate. You won’t need it.

Your own body will become fascinating.
You’ll stare at certain parts for long periods of time.
Do not do this in public.

People will try to tell you how you are functioning.
They won’t get it right.
But accept it graciously.

Questions will come.
Questions will go.
You’ll never again be able to face anything with a conclusion.
Then,
Questions will come,
Questions will go.

Your oldest friends may never understand,
Or accept,
What has happened to you.
If they become angry,
Sad,
Upset with how you have “changed,”
They may want to leave.
Please let them go.
It is for their own good.
Really, it is.

Sheep in wolves’ clothing,
Spring from every crevice.
Wolves in sheep’s clothing,
Are not far behind.

Your art will lose its technique.
But through this loss,
Technique is reborn.

The sign reads,
“No Pets Allowed,”
And not,
“No, Pets Allowed.”

Their experience,
Becomes extremely important.
As you can no longer,
Have experience,
Of your own.

Your body will burn,
With the fire of being.
This heat may make others uncomfortable.
But you can never burn them.
They can only do that to themselves.

This comment is from the previous post, Questions on Peace and War.

War will always be a constant in our lives. Violence and peaces are just smaller peices in the stream of chaos. Chaos rules all of us and everything we percieve as reality.

The war within ourselves, I believe is nothing but the constant struggle one goes through to find who we are as a person. Once you come to terms with who you are, then you can achieve “peace”.

This can never stop war because who we are as individuals is opposite from others, thus creating conflict and adding to the chaos that rules us all.

War may have been constant, and may indeed currently be underway as it is. It is all plain to see that it is caused by ideas and beliefs saying there are differences and opposites. But are there any differences or even opposites? Or only ideas about differences and opposites?

This is all very important to see for yourself. Just because something appears in one way doesn’t meant that it has to continue. Why do you accept it? Why do you say it is a constant, and therefore, doomed to continue? I don’t care about what has happened before, just look at it now, as it is. Why do you want it to continue?

You might say, “I don’t necessarily want it to continue,” but what do you do to stop it? You clearly see that the belief in the opposite, the belief in the individual, is the root cause of conflict, but why do you accept that it has to be that way? Why do you see it, and at the same time, cling to it?

Why do you assume there is a “who” at all? If you have never gone into it, it may seem confusing, but what if there is no who? What would happen? Is it even possible for the “who” come to terms with itself? These are important questions to meditate on.

I am not saying any of this is right or wrong, and please keep in mind, I am not necessarily talking about “YOU.” This isn’t a “you are wrong” kind of thing. Not at all. But you see the movement there. It is clear that you see it. But do not stop there. Keep going and find what is at the root.

Don’t stop…this is your life, and more importantly, your children’s lives. No one else can give this to you. You have to find out for yourself. Not, “find what is right or wrong based on a conclusion.” Just find out. Be curious.

I say it can come to an end. You might rightfully ask, “How do you know?” I say these things because it doesn’t exist here. And if it is not here, it doesn’t have to be there.

There is absolutely nothing special about this organism (Takuin). And if it lives with no conflict, you don’t have to either.