Nuts & Bolts
Maya, this world; is the realm of illusion. Even from the relative perspective most would agree that much of what we see in the world is smoke and mirrors. Well, from the absolute perspective the same holds true.
If you keep up with modern physics you know that we are on the cusp of the discovery of the ‘God particle’. The Higgs Boson. Once it’s been ‘isolated’ it will provide the scientific proof that all things and (non-things) are made of one fundamental particle. Of course this is the stuff the masters have been sharing with the seeker for thousands of years. Nothing new. Just physically manifested evidence of the Truth.
Nisargadatta’s metaphor (my favorite) is that of the wave and the ocean. Many waves lose sight of the fact that they are connected to the ocean. That they ARE ocean. Watch a wave rise, crest, and recede back into the sea. The whole time we watch nothing but water. The ice sculpture in the shape of Mickey Mouse glimmers in the sun and then melts into the tub in which it sits. That water is then poured down a drain and eventually returns to the sea. It is water regardless of its form or location.
The forms we experience, visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile, tastes and thoughts, are all made of that fundamental ‘stuff’, that God-stuff that links the myriad of things to the entirety.
All this shit is one. More accurately, not two.
The fundamental questions are these:
Who am I?
Am I happy?
Am I psychologically prepared to die?
If you can answer the first one correctly and say yes to the last two then let’s go have a drink some time…
Take good care,
-kc
I really relate to what you’re saying. I have dysthemia (chronic low-level depression), and it can really affect my thought patterns. I have to watch out for that on a daily basis.
Hey Mollie,
I’m glad the post hit home for you. I’m curious how you go about dealing with the dysthemia. Depression is a condition that literally crushes the life out of normally vibrant, beautiful and happy people. Many people close to me suffer from it. Most of them medicate with anti-depressants to deal with it. I respect the fact they have to do what they have to do. But i contend that there are other ways.
-kc
Here in the U.S., we’re a overmedicated society that’s blissfully ignorant of ancient wisdom. Mention the “tao” to the average joe and he’s accusing you of un-American activities and thought crimes.
Xenophobic, sexually repressed and compulsive about food, guns and tacky reality shows, we are a highly neurotic society that wants to be numbed out of life instead of living. We sing along to the jingles of pharmaceutical companies’ TV and radio ads but then bitch and moan about the weekly holdups at pharmacies.
Less keeping up with the Joneses and more agape love, compassion and meditation, and just maybe folks will figure out that Nature’s arms are always extended — but folks have got to be aware — and that popping pills or getting hammered is no way to deal with depression. The Universe and, in the case of assault, the justice system, will take care of those who intentionally or recklessly inflict pain on others. As for minor organic pain, a seemingly harmless ‘script can turn into a serious and fatal addiction (for the addict or for his or her community).
Chamomile tea, anyone?