THREE SECONDS

“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!

SEA OF WHITENESS

Western people live in a sea of whiteness
Like they’re on a big ship traveling from one white land to another
Observing colored people only from a distance
Through tiny portholes, and then only
Dimly.

White people can be cruel at times – without thinking about it –
About the pain they cause –
While still relishing all the societal buttons and levers
Designed especially for their personal use.

They can’t see into the past
Because, for a long time, they’ve been living off its fruits –
They also can’t clearly make out the present because, to them, it’s wholly white –
And the future promises to be more of the same –
That is, if they have anything to say about it.

What could change?

White people’s souls could become more humble – more human;
Christianity could begin disconnecting itself from the tight grip of capitalism;
Or the old Gods might get re-shuffled – into surprising new patterns.

One day, however, Nature might commence a long and serious talk with us
Sometime before the human world comes to an end
When, from that vantage point, all our political and racial differences
Might no longer appear to be so great
After all.