Monthly Archives: October 2017

HEART AND MIND

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Socrates said, “know yourself,”
While Jesus taught us to “love others.”

But, of course, we need both!

If you don’t know yourself, then you won’t be able to see the reality of others –
Because there’d be no true “you” doing the seeing.

And, if you don’t love others, you won’t be able to know and love yourself –
Because we can’t exist without real relationships.

It’s also known that it can be difficult to know one’s “self” – because we’re too afraid to look –
Afraid we’re ugly!

It’s this dual path that we really need –

So, go down these two ancient Jewish and Greek spiritual paths,
And, surprisingly, we’ll find ourselves feeling less ugly – more beautiful –
When we go down, others will suddenly begin appearing more lovable to us –
Especially after we finally decide to forgive ourselves.

TIME IS NOT REAL

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The past and future are not “real” – but simply “mental bookkeeping” –
True reality is present only in the “Now” –
The sole “eternity” that exists
And where God, in fact, actually lives.

This “Now” is experienced, ordinarily, only when we get “out of our minds” –

However, when we experience life mainly “inside” our minds,
Real life will continue on in its spontaneous and colorful way – on the outside –
Totally ignoring our inner obsessions.

This “outside” life could be ours – all the time –
If we ever decided to “wake up”
And start sharing life with God in the “Now.”

THE FREEDOM IN BEING “NOTHING”

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Shouldn’t we view “God” as a dynamic “Nothing”
Since, after all, everything originally came out of nothing?

How could anything have more freedom than nothing?

The same goes for our “true self” –
Take away your ego (or, in some cases, multiple egos)
And you’re left with the kind of freedom God enjoys.

So, now, you’re telling me –
That “God” and the “true self” might, in essence,
Be One?

YOUR “ORIGINAL FACE”

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I’ve frequently written about the “true self” –

That is, when you come to be able to live the life you were meant to live – before being born –
Before getting “beaten up” by family, society, and culture
And “molded” – with or without your active participation –
Into an “ego” that occasionally reflects aspects of your true self – but frequently does not.

Zen people call this true self – our “original face.”

To illustrate the weight of mask upon which your roles are typically displayed –
Start by relaxing your facial muscles –
Then check to see whether your face still remains tight –
If so, try to let your face become as “liquid” as possible – completely non-judgmental –
Until you’re left with as un-tense a face as possible.

That’s as close, without a lot of additional spiritual work,
That you’ll be able to get to your “original face” for now –

A face that exhibits your naked heart –
A face that reflects your essential being –

Your “true self.”