It is a path without feet, and feet without a path. Haha.

You said it very well.

I would say the beautiful creatures are not seen when the mind becomes too absorbed in what is behind it. That is to say, in the details of the past and what might be done.

That would include nature and more subtle things. We miss so much when we spend too much time in the head.

I am sure you have noticed most people reply with their conditioned and believed answer. Not that it is right or wrong, but this seems to be the way things unfold for most.

There is the blog topic, then the comments that follow.

“I think it is this way.”

“Yes, that resonates with me.”

OR

“I think it is this way.”

“No, that is wrong. It is this way.”

And so on. It can be tiresome.

But you rarely see others question what is being said. Not for the purpose of proving something wrong, but to come closer to the meaning of the speaker. From there, inquiry becomes simple. But it cannot be, without that understanding.

If Takuin does not understand what is being said, but he wants to, then it is natural to ask. Most people do not mind explaining further, while some tend to have their feathers ruffled for whatever reason.

But we cannot assume it is any fault of the person that leaves a comment. If I don’t understand, it is only within the operation of my mind. So it very well may be my own deficiency.

But I do find it necessary to question others to find out what they mean. That, at least, brings us a little closer together.

Yes, I’m with you on that. Much would be better if more people were willing and interested to really listen to, and hear, each other, and ask “what do you mean” a bit more.

The sky here is, indeed, pretty amazing. Never even imagined anything like it before I came here.

As for reality, I finally came to a definition that I like best: reality is the absence of illusion.

I have not been to New Mexico in a very long time. What I do remember is driving through the middle of nowhere during the sunrise. I cannot explain the beauty of that moment, so I will not try.

Some use the word reality to mean, the world as it is, beyond thought. Some use the word to mean, the world that thought has created (not including nature). And some others use it in some foo-foo mystical way that says, I am the center of the universe.

I am not able to settle into one, as a center to work from. But I do find it necessary to question others to find out what they mean. That, at least, brings us a little closer together.

I also really liked your section on “the path.”

We throw these things out in speech, but do we even know what we are saying?

Exactly. This is one of the processes I speak about—questioning, and all that entails. It can be a difficult process. Especially when our illusions begin to crumble. (That’s also a great time to get out into nature…)

Beautiful picture, btw.