Tag Archives: mind

STEPPING AND LEAPING

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There are multiple steps required to reach God –
Too many, actually –
So why not take a single leap –
Exclaim “God!” and, suddenly, be there.

God likes these kinds of surprises.

Of course, God counts all the steps you’ll actually need
In a single glance –
While you’re still reciting: “One Thousand Nineteen, One Thousand Twenty….”

Each step represents an increase in human consciousness –
That is, in the quality of soul, mind, and life experience –
And each takes a lot of work –
God appreciates that –
While whispering: “You know, there’s really a more direct way to achieve this.”

Counting may eventually get you there –
But leaping is daring and beautiful – reflecting the elegant thrill of dance.

God loves both daring and dance
Muttering: “Here, take my hand” –
“Watch this step” –
And sails through the overarching Universe –
Penetrating Time itself.

Suddenly, you’re there, that is, here!
Taking personal tea with God
In a long and intimate conversation
Between best of friends!

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

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What’s the difference between a mental concept and a mentally direct experience?

“The tulip is reddish-orange.”
“Snow covers the mountainside blindingly white.”

Are these mental concepts or mentally direct experiences?

Or perhaps both?

Zen argues we should rely solely on direct experience
And avoid mental concepts which can be manipulated inside one’s head
And end up, really, as almost anything at all.

So, tell me, are love, truth, justice, and beauty, direct experiences or mental concepts?
If they’re direct experiences – they could be reality – the same as God.
If they’re mental concepts, on the other hand, they might be mirages, dreams,
or complex manipulations inside one’s mind – i.e., lies!

Zen repeatedly has attempted to distinguish between mental concepts and direct experience
but, in my opinion, has not had much success in parsing this.

I think that’s because, sometimes, mental concepts actually are identical with reality –
at least in certain times, circumstances, and places.

They just are!

THREE SECONDS

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“Be here now!”
Say the Zen Masters –
Because the past’s already gone
And the future’s not yet arrived.

This is the point of “no time” or “eternity”
Which is where we’re all trying to reach.

But, wait, just what, and where, exactly, is that?


According to Galen Strawson, a second generation Oxford Philosophy Professor,
It’s a “hiatus free period of thought or experience” – a few seconds at most –
Because our eyes and minds are always “jumping” –
In fact, the latest scientific research shows that this experienced “Now” is not actually a point,
but an extended period – of up to three seconds.

So, when the Buddha tilted his head back, opened his eyes and saw the morning star –
His own “hiatus free moment of enlightenment” – suddenly, he could understand everything.

Everyone can have a similar experience!

That is, if you can just get past your gabbing, obsessive-compulsive telling stories
and producing mental films of yourself as a “star” or “hero” of your creative imaginative/dream productions –

After which, getting past all that – and opening up your eyes and heart
You accept what you are seeing and experiencing – at that moment.

Then, trusting your mind and heart as to what to do next – and do it –
That is, what your “true self” knows needs to be done.

Seeing through this open window – at reality itself – and then acting!

That is “enlightenment-plus.”

Both the Buddha and Jesus emphasized that one needs to act upon what one sees or experiences
In that spiritually-open moment.

This is what it means to be a human being who thinks, experiences, and acts as God does –
Jesus, the Buddha, and Mohammed repeatedly illustrated this to us –
Not to show how great they were – but how great the potential of each single human being
on the planet actually is!

GOD LOOKING AT GOD

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Jesus did it –
So any of us can.

We need freedom, however, to accomplish it –
Because the “self” our parents and society provided us
Prohibits real freedom –
Yes, unfortunately, that “self” which we use to survive
And, hopefully, prosper in the world –
Partially blinds us to reality – as well as to God.

Very few individuals are able to drop their societal “self”
In order to glimpse God –
Zen Buddhist monks tell us that one should “Know nothing” –
And keep repeating it –
Because one’s “self,” and all its mental constructs, restricts our freedom.

This, however, is partially incorrect –
True, to the extent that when we accept any mental constructs
They tend to blind us to reality –
But false, in light of the millennia of human striving for greater understanding
That has led to acquiring tools that can test reality
For the presence of God –
That is, for “Love,” “Truth,” “Justice,” and “Beauty.”

Scientists of consciousness teach that we’re provided with approximately three seconds
To open ourselves to reality – that is, to God –
That we have a 100 trillion synapses available to accomplish this –
And that our mind has a capacity even larger than the entire known universe –
But also, of course, limited by the time available to take a look.

God, however, has no time limitations
(since “time” for God exists in an entirely different realm) –
Therefore, God is always looking at us –
And greatly pleased when we’re able to “feel” God’s presence
And, in response, turn in God’s direction.

Sometimes, we can “see” a flicker of God’s robes passing by –
In and out of our psychological reality –
Out there, on the edge of consciousness –

Not only “see,” but also have the ability to think about what we’ve just seen –
Using those spiritual tools of love, truth, justice, and beauty,
To reflect upon it.

This is what Jesus did, and why he was able to say the things he said,
And why the people who looked into his face could see God.

So, yes, Jesus is God
But so are you if you truly want it.

You just have to give up everything – so as to gain sufficient freedom
To “see” –
And then, have faith in what you are seeing,
Using those “spiritual tools” handed down to you
Over millennia of human experience.

We should be talking with one another about all this –
About God – and about our selves –

What could be more important?

TIME PUSHES THROUGH THE BODY LIKE A BABY

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God isn’t found in any scientific theory
Because God’s alive in hearts – not unraveled in the mind.

God lives totally in, and actually is, the Spirit
And won’t be uncovered by computer algorithms.

God is simply a dance.

Also, God is Beauty, as to the presence of which
There’s simply nothing more to say.

God hums and we start humming along with her
So, when we picture any external threats,
We understand they’re going to  be met by the drawn sword
Of a gentle young girl.

God arrives right before the “second birth” of every human being –
First there is raw attraction,
Then, an amiable and patient waiting,
Consummated by intense pleasure/pain
Opening up one’s body, soul, and spirit
As God bursts through the doors of our being.

It’s unceasing, this pounding on the doors of life,
When time pushes through the body like a baby –
Or even the birth of God herself!

THE MIND BUILDS ROADS

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The mind builds roads
That go both somewhere and nowhere –
Also, the mind likes to place stone blocks in strict order
So people know where to sit.

On the other hand, the heart flies –
The heart is the sky –
And knowing God,
Has nothing to fear.

Philosophers cherish their large paper collections
While churlishly competing for second place –
The cheering stops as soon as they start wearing
Learning like brass and silver medals
Covering proud European chests.

It’s true that God actually hates theology
And dismisses, out of hand, the latest philosophical trends –
Instead, God prefers to dance –
Before eventually changing into a fountain of joy.

Today, I take my little whisk broom
And brush away dust
From the books in my library –
But, the best thing of all,
Is the expansive green space outside medieval windows
Where the lawn is held close within surrounding stone walls
Like a green heart deep inside ancient wisdom.

THE NECESSITY OF BECOMING GOD

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God offers us a life to become as much like God
As a human being possibly can –
But it’s up to us whether or not to follow up this offer.

God doesn’t allow this to animals much less to inanimate objects –
God whispers only to human beings –
However, if you do decide to remain primarily an animal or an object
Betraying your life’s true mission –
You’ll have forgotten everything God whispered to you at birth –
And leave behind everything you were ever intended to be.

God insists: “I gave you imagination and a mind unlimited as the myriad stars
And the capacity to love equal to that of a first-time mother.”

God reminds us: “At birth, you were provided with the gift of infinite potential
And the ability to move everything forward – towards me.”

God says: “Why did you take even an instant
To obsess about your “self”?
“Who are you if not on the way to becoming a fair reflection of me?”
Who are you to waste yourself
Simply accreting materials to a “false self” –
And failing to add more “God” into the world?”

“Who are you to waste the gift of your unique ability – over time –
To turn yourself into Me?”

HOW TO LOVE GOD DURING A CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOMPANYING PANDEMIC

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It’s hard to stay focused on God, especially now,
But that’s what I want –
Even though I’m worried about finding food, toilet paper, and other life necessities.

This makes me irritable.

At such times, it’s hard to bring God close,
Especially when worried about society
And that reality show “wannabe” tyrant spewing lies,
False assertions, and made-up facts –
(And I don’t know how to stop him).

I’m older now, and want the presence of God
To become ever-present –
But, don’t know how to do it –
Even though that’s what I want most.

God is everywhere –
Especially hovering near my heart –
And mind.

God encompasses Nature and everything above and beyond Nature.

Question though:

Is God present in “man-made” things –
Like tables and chairs – houses – cups and bowls?
My real question is whether God may be experienced derivatively –
That is, through “man-made” as opposed to “natural” things?

Then, going even a step further –
Can God be experienced digitally – through the internet –
That is, to what extent can the derivative world overlap with the world of God
Through man-made technologies unleashing algorithms of artificial intelligence
Which, in turn, recreate human-like ideas through the use of intelligent machines
And which, at some point, might get disconnected completely from mankind and life itself
Through a “Singularity”
Or a “Singularity” squared.

Where could God be in any of that?
My biggest problem now, though, is one of forgetting –
Because I get distracted by so many things
And lose touch with God – repeatedly.

How can I make fresh contacts with God – and hold onto them
More than a few seconds?

I want God to come into my heart and remain there
I want to hold onto God with determination –
To fall asleep repeating God’s name,
And wake up with the joy of God on my lips.

I want other people – coming into my presence –
To feel God –
Like a spiritual surprise!

I want you – reading this – to find God
Coming like an eagle straight through your eyes –
Down into your heart –
And then, lifting your feet high up into the air,
You’ll begin feeling ecstasy
While quietly nibbling away on tiny bits of “Diner Mystic.”

TWIRLING

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Soul asks Mind to leave the room
Because Soul can’t see itself while being watched –
And Mind does nothing else.

Mind is terrific at counting
But Soul doesn’t care about that – refusing to accept totals –
Instead, Soul closes its eyes and waits.

Soul is fond of surprises
Because its secret desire is to wake up
Delighted.

It’s super-important not to get Soul and Mind mixed up –
Though purity is essential to each –

Looked at from one direction – diamonds –
From another – raindrops.

I really don’t know much
But certainly want to go a lot deeper –
Life turning into death, and then, turning back into life again –
That long-forgotten dance.

So, I bow to God, saying:
“Let the dance commence!”

Joy frequently arrives through twirling.

CLAP HANDS

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I want to clap hands
And with each clap initiate a separate universe.

I want to rain down beauty
So everyone can get “heart” wet.

I want to migrate with the birds
So I’ll be able to find my way back home.

I want to light a small fire in the hearth of my heart
And substitute a “pearl” for my everyday mind.

In Roman times, pearls were even rarer than diamonds
Because ancient mining industries moved mountains to produce them –
But it’s only when holding your breath while diving
That you’ll be able to discover the iridescent beauty hidden in those deep water shells.

The sun provides infinite life over almost infinite time –
But, someday, it will go out –
Truly, it’s only the green life that matters –
Everything else dross.

I’m dying to say one new word –
One that can never be forgotten –
God, why don’t you slide it across that green baize table
So that, when I turn it over, I can look surprised!