Guest guest Posted July 6, 2002 Report Share Posted July 6, 2002 Personally, who I mistake myself for, dies all the time. But Something doesn't die. Then I mistake who I am to be that Something and then It dies too. God, how long can I keep this up? It just never ends... Its like that deadly question of "when there was nothing but the void prior to the universe existing, then where did the universe come from? Or before there was God, who then created God?" "Before the beginning" is of course the logical absurdity that collapses the thinking process. Just as the "death of I" is essential to becoming a person, in the fullest sense. But, just like cellular replacement, all new, still the same, or nearly so...but essential to growth and existence. When one has travelled the winding and often wild paths of existence, replacing old thoughts for new like some character out of Aladdin, it is not the thoughts that define who we are, but the journey that we have experienced--after much of this, we may not believe any or all of what we once thought we did--and that is no matter--but who we are has essentially been altered forever by the journey...and we are much more for it...or sadly in some cases, we are diminished by it, if we allow that to happen. A student setting out on the path of knowledge and wisdom often mistakes the ideas or words for the thing they represent...and in the end, the thing is always the sublime attainment of non-attachment transcending philosophy or words. It does not mean that the words had no use on the roadmap of life--its just that they are words, and a map is a map, not the real destination. So, if we struggle to hold on to our "ideas" we just delay the journey. Letting go, does not really mean becoming empty in the way that one who has never had the journey is empty. When a person empties themself of all their "ideas" what is left is a beautiful, artful and remarkable vessel. When a person has yet to make the journey, they may be empty, but the vessel is not formed, nor is there that unique beauty--it is potential at that point. When a child says "I know nothing" it is because they have little experience; when a true seeker has made the journey and states "Now I know nothing" it is because they have vast experience and have finally gained wisdom. One should not be equated with the other. Me? I am like Nasrudin, the Sufi. I am sure at times that I am an idiot! Blessings, Love, Zenbob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 6, 2002 Report Share Posted July 6, 2002 Zenbob & Friends, Zenbob says: it is not the thoughts that define who we are, but the journey that we have experienced. eric asks: In what way is the "journey that we have experienced" anything other than thoughts? yours in the bonds, eric , zen2wrk@a... wrote: > In a message dated 7/6/02 5:53:09 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > david.bozzi@i... writes: > > > > Personally, who I mistake myself for, dies all the time. > > But Something doesn't die. > > > > Then I mistake who I am to be that Something > > and then It dies too. > > > > God, how long can I keep this up? > > > > > > It just never ends... > Its like that deadly question of "when there was nothing but the void prior > to the universe existing, then where did the universe come from? Or before > there was God, who then created God?" > > "Before the beginning" is of course the logical absurdity that collapses the > thinking process. Just as the "death of I" is essential to becoming a > person, in the fullest sense. But, just like cellular replacement, all new, > still the same, or nearly so...but essential to growth and existence. > > When one has travelled the winding and often wild paths of existence, > replacing old thoughts for new like some character out of Aladdin, it is not > the thoughts that define who we are, but the journey that we have > experienced--after much of this, we may not believe any or all of what we > once thought we did--and that is no matter--but who we are has essentially > been altered forever by the journey...and we are much more for it...or sadly > in some cases, we are diminished by it, if we allow that to happen. > > A student setting out on the path of knowledge and wisdom often mistakes the > ideas or words for the thing they represent...and in the end, the thing is > always the sublime attainment of non-attachment transcending philosophy or > words. > > It does not mean that the words had no use on the roadmap of life-- its just > that they are words, and a map is a map, not the real destination. > > So, if we struggle to hold on to our "ideas" we just delay the journey. > > Letting go, does not really mean becoming empty in the way that one who has > never had the journey is empty. When a person empties themself of all their > "ideas" what is left is a beautiful, artful and remarkable vessel. When a > person has yet to make the journey, they may be empty, but the vessel is not > formed, nor is there that unique beauty--it is potential at that point. > > When a child says "I know nothing" it is because they have little experience; > when a true seeker has made the journey and states "Now I know nothing" it is > because they have vast experience and have finally gained wisdom. One should > not be equated with the other. > > Me? I am like Nasrudin, the Sufi. I am sure at times that I am an idiot! > > Blessings, > > Love, > > Zenbob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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