Dear Guys and Gals, Students and Lurkers, Posters and anyone who comes this way:
From the age of five or six, about the time I learned that there was no Santa, I have been immersed in the standard lies of society…. and I knew it. I couldn’t express it well, and that was probably a good thing, so I mostly kept my mouth shut. I never got answers to any of my questions so I gave up asking but the questions didn’t go away. Eventually I realized that those folks ‘out there’ were more lost than I was, as evidence by their apparent lack of questions. I figured that when questions stop, learning stops… and most adults seemed to qualify.
Given a couple of decades, I realized that there was only one place that any answers could be found, in me. By examining that ‘me’, I came to the conclusion that there was one fundamental lie, only one. From there on out, everything that followed was, ispo facto, also a lie. How could it be any other way?
This foundational lie is not overt, it is covert, a lie of omission. As such, it is quite insidious and a real challenge to face head on. My conclusion was that this human appearance was a dream with a beginning and an end, and was therefore only real to the degree that I (we) think it is. Everything that has a beginning must have an ending and thus my naming it the ‘Lie of Permanence’.
How can one enjoy life after realizing that it is based on such a lie? Turn that around… how can one enjoy life while thinking it is permanent… real and substantial while everything arising and falling continually reminds them of it's impermanence. Would you enjoy a life that was totally permanent? Would you really want to live forever in your human form?
If you are upset or fearful of the thought of impermanence, that response is impermanent as well. You will not be feeling the same in a little while. You will have forgotten your concern and turned back to thoughts about the cold coffee you were just served, or the warm beer, or ‘fill in the blank’.
While your concerns, loves and hates, etc. all appear substantial and important in the moment, the key is that it is only ‘in the moment’. They soon disappear or morph into your next concern. Where is the permanence? Mommy, Daddy and Santa will all disappear eventually. My answer was ‘I can’t find any’. But, I didn’t stop with that one negative assertion, I went deeper, much deeper.
Most of you have a pretty good idea of what I am pointing at, so what is the point of my pointing? How about this: why not match and mirror the rather obvious nature of this dream while you appear absorbed in it? Could it make things go a little easier? Perhaps lighten up your experiences? I’m sure you can guess my answer, but it’s your answer that matters. Do you think that if you were to use the nature of this dream as a kind of ‘tour guide’ you might have a freer, more wondrous experience? Perhaps even welcome or seek change.
Here is a thought, how about letting go of Christmas? Some of you have really enjoyed past Christmases while others have found them to be rather tedious, insincere and even fractious to the family. In either case, there is an impermanent to that experiences, as there is to all experiences. Letting go of Christmas, or anything else, doesn't mean hating it, ignoring it or rejecting it. Letting to of anything is not about that. You know what it's about... well, you probably know by now.
Could it be that all events are meaningless, impermanent and unimportant? Remember, your conclusions and answers are what matter, even though I am not-so-subtly pointing you in a particular direction, I also push you towards your own observations and conclusions.
Back to my title of this rant: Caring, Clinging and Christmas. In my experience, there is a powerful distinction lying therein. Let me know your thoughts on it and if I get too ‘Grinchy’, you can just chalk it up to old age.
Much love and best wishes to you and your family. Stay healthy and safe.
Love ya, Jed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu2RqvKVwxQ&feature=youtu.be