mac

/|\

Pure Love

is not

mere romantic sentiment —

physical sensation —

whimsical emotion —

conceptual abstration —

but it is the very warp and woof —

the Fundamental Ground of Reality —

that animates

and innervates

all manifestations of Life —

that weaves

the very tapestry

of the cosmos

in

Purity

and

Integrity.

This is a Great Mystery.

Indeed, you can not comprehend it.

But you can embody it.

For when you re-alize (re-actualize)

the very Quintessence

of

your

True

Nature —

as a manifestation

of Pure Light-Love

in physicality,

then will you also experience

the Pure Unmitigated Bliss

of

Union

—

the

Harmonious

Unicity

of

Be-ing.

Not two.

/|\

— a literary adaptation based on a teaching of Yeshua an Nasiri Ihidaya (Aramaic for ‘Jesus of Nazareth, One Who Is Awake’) as recorded in the ‘The Secret Sayings of Yē Sū’ — a collection of wisdom sayings attributed to Yeshu’a an Nasiri Ihidaya, compiled in China in the Jǐng Jiāo tradition (‘Jǐng Jiāo’ might either be translated as ‘Teaching of the Light’, ‘Awakened Teaching’, or ‘The Great Teaching’) during the Tang dynasty, c. 618-906 CE and translated by Jay G. Williams

A drop of water

clings to the lip of a leaf

—

trembles —

struggles —

to hold on

for a while

and then...

lets

go

—

free

falling

falling

—

sheer

delight

/|\

Do what is beneficial

not only for your self

but for all manifestations of Life.

Embody purity in your intentions

and do no harm —

either in

thought,

word

or

deed. 

Let go

of clinging

to the pernicious need

to compare and compete.

Live in peace. 

Live in joy. 

Live

in

Pure

Love — 

even amidst those

who choose

to violate,

harm,

and perpetuate suffering.

Be in the world,

while not being of it.

Look deeply within —

every day 

and 

rest —

take refuge

in the Pure Heart-Mind —

in the Still Point — 

the Eye at the Centre of the Storm — 

where you are free from fear and aversion —

craving and clinging —

attachment and addition —

where you are free

to experience the 

pure

childlike 

gratitude

joy 

and 

wonder 

of 

the 

Way.

 — an adaptation of a teaching by Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha, as recorded in the Dhammapada, (lit. ‘The Way of Eternal Truth’, a collection of wisdom sayings attributed to Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha)

/|\

Today, I would like to tell you a little story…

One day Zhuāngzǐ 庄子 (Master Zhuang) and his good friend, Huìzi 惠子 (Master Hui)

were out together on their customary quotidian perambulation,

when their course happened to cross the bridge over the River Hao.

Enticed with such a breathtaking view,

they stopped on the bridge

to enjoy a few minutes of silent contemplation.

After a while, Zhuāng noted,

"Look at the fish.

See how free they are.

They frisk and frolic —

leap and dart

to and fro —

as if playing hide and seek.

Indeed is this not their happiness?"

Huì commented waggishly,

"My old friend,

since you are not a fish,

how do you know

what makes fish happy?"

Zhuāng laughed,

"Ho ro!

And since you are not me,

how can you possibly know

that I do not know

what makes fish happy?"

Huì, up for a little friendly mental sparring, responded,

"If I, not being you,

can not know what you know,

well then it certainly follows that you —

not being a fish —

can not possibly know what a fish knows."

Zhuāng, deftly parrying the mental thrust, replied

"Ahh old friend, well said!

Well said indeed!

But let us return to the original question.

What you asked me was,

'How do you know

what makes fish happy?’

From the terms of your question,

you evidently know

that I know

what

makes

fish

happy!"

They both looked at each other for a moment —

two old friends

engaged in a little lighthearted mental grappling —

and then

burst into a fit of laughter.

After they had recovered,

Zhuāng put his hand on his friend’s shoulder, and said,

"That was indeed invigorating, was it not?

Now, let us put all wordplay aside for a moment,

and consider this:

How do I truly know what makes fish happy?

I know the joy of fish in the river

as I know the wonder

of the joy

of

my

own

True

Nature —

here —

now —

even as we walk

along

the

bank

of

this

river!

Not two."

— a literary adaptation of a parable from the Zhuāngzǐ 莊子, a collection of stories, parables and wisdom sayings attributed to 4th century BCE philosopher and teacher, Zhuāngzǐ (Master Zhuang) 莊子

May your every breath be peace, light and love.

/|\

The Great Way is not difficult for those unchained to preferences.

Attach to the smallest preference, however,

and Heaven and Earth are set infinitely apart.

To set up what you like against what you dislike

is the dis-ease of the (conditioned) mind.

The Way is perfect

like the vast infinity

of time-space

where nothing is lacking

and nothing is in excess.

When the heart-mind abides

undisturbed in the Way,

no-thing in the world can offend,

and when a thing can no longer offend,

it simply —

naturally —

of its own accord —

ceases to exist in the old way.

So just let things be —

in their own way —

and there will be no

“this” or “that” —

“black” or “white” —

“good” or “evil” —

“right” or “wrong” —

“coming” or “going.”

To fathom the indescribable mystery of this One-Essence

is to be emancipated from all entanglements —

all

suffering.

When all things are perceived clearly —

without distortion —

the

timeless

boundless

Heart-Mind

is

awakened.

No comparisons or analogies are possible

when we return to the Origin —

where we

ironically

have

ever

and

always

been.

To come directly into sympathetic resonance

with the Fundamental Reality (Truth) —

whenever you find yourself confused

or mired in doubt —

remind yourself…

“Not two.”

In the realization of

not two

we

awaken —

as if from a dream —

and

remember…

nothing is separate —

nothing is excluded —

nothing is abandoned —

nothing is rejected.

Nothing is missing.

Nothing is broken.

Perfect Integrity.

Perfect Equilibrium.

Perfect

Peace.

And as we awaken

to this fundamental law of Life

we likewise awaken

to our own Innate Integrity —

our own Innate Purity —

and

naturally —

without force

or contrivance —

manifest

(embody)

the

Truth.

And the Truth is beyond extension or diminution —

beyond

space

and

time —

in it a single thought is ten thousand years.

What more can I possibly say?

Words are truly inadequate —

for the Way

is fundamentally beyond language.

In it there is no yesterday

no tomorrow

no today.

Just

this…

not

two.

/|\

— a literary adaptation of select verses from Xìn Xīn Míng 信心铭 (The Heart-Mind of Absolute Trust Sutra), a gāthā of Sõsan Sêng-ts’an, 6th century CE Ch’an (Zen) Buddhist monk, abbot and spiritual teacher, based on works by Osho, Anil Singh-Molare and Stephen Mitchell

In my observation and experience,

i have observed a suggestive frequency pattern

superimposed upon the human psyche

which addles and distorts the purity of hu-man nature

and which might be described as a kind of

*certainty of fear* —

a kind of (false) certainty —

rooted in the matrical control system —

of the acquired, conditioned, egoic, separate sense of self —

what some have called...

"the I-Know-Mind."

This distortion is however,

in truth...

nothing more than 

uncertainty —

simply

in

disguise.

Remove the mask

and what you will find

is the motivating energies

of fear and aversion,

craving and clinging

addiction and attachment —

the pernicious egoic need (ego=a sense of *'i-dentity'* or *'self'*) 

for security and survival,

esteem and affirmation,

power and control —

innervated

by a fundamental uncertainty

of one's own sense

of innate beauty, belonging and belovedness.

These fundamental energies

of fear and uncertainty

are filters —

distortions —

a phantasmagorical looking glass —

through which we (mis)perceive our subjective, conceptual reality —

a labyrinthine house of mirrors —

a wonderland —

of illusory abstractions, (mis)perceptions and limiting beliefs,

in which we perpetually struggle and strive

to avoid pain, discomfort, and uncertainty

in the seeking of pleasure, comfort, and certainty.

*“People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own soul.” — Carl Jung, 20th century CE psychoanalyst and psychiatrist*

Because the certainty of fear is actually uncertainty

masquerading as certainty,

fueled by fear and egoic craving,

this distortion is rigid, inflexible, dogmatic, fanatical, contentious and polarizing,

expressing perceptions, beliefs, views and opinions

in ways that are deeply divisive, sectarian and alienating —

all which create conflict, harm and perpetuate deep suffering

in both our internal world and our external world —

within and without —

without and within —

*(though in Reality there is no "within" and "without", we only call them "within" and "without").*

The certainty of fear clings desperately and dogmatically to narrow (mis)perceptions, beliefs, views and opinions

without considering the big picture —

without perceiving the totality.

Beguiled by the trees,

while unable to see the totality of the forest,

certainty of fear

projects itself into the world —

the collective field of experience —

the collective consciousness —

of this planet —

as a compulsive craving for,

and addition to,

power, prestige, position, privilege, wealth and control

in order to ensure its own certainty, comfort and control —

it's own

security

and

survival.

**THE CERTAINTY OF TRUST**

However there is another kind of certainty that I might describe as,

*"the certainty of trust."*

This profound inner state is not merely a belief, an affirmation, a creed or some other construct of the discursive mind,

which needs to be continually propped up and defended,

but a naturally-arising virtue —

an in-spiration and ex-piration —

of

Pure

Love —

the undisturbed unity, balance and harmony

that animates and innervates this universe —

That Which Is In All Things

And

Is

All

Things.

Certainty arising from trust is not rooted in fear and uncertainty,

but in the confidence

*(Latin: 'confidere' meaning 'full trust')*

and inner clarity

that arises from a direct experience

of profound, experiential, intuitive

Heart Knowing

*(Latin: 'Gnosis’)*

of

Truth.

**SRADDHA**

The Sanskrit word *‘Sraddhā'* provides insight into this concept.

Sraddhā is a compound word combined from two words:

*'srad,'* which can mean both, *'trust'* and *'truth,’*

and *'dha'* which means *'to establish,' to firm,' 'to set,’ ’to ground,’ ’to stabilize,’ 'to put into place,' and 'to direct one’s mind toward.’*

’Dha’ is also found in the Sanskrit word *‘Dharma’* which we might say translates something like:

*"That which is the foundation or basis of; that which upholds; that which supports and uplifts (referring to the Foundational Ground From Which All Life Arises)."*

It is also found in the Sanskrit word *‘Mūlādhāra'* which means ‘the Foundational Root of Physicality.” (*‘Mula'* means *‘root'* and *‘dhara'* means *‘basis’* or *‘foundation’*).

The Mūlādhāra chakra (a *‘chakra’* meaning: *a whirl, wheel, pivot, portal or vortex*) is a toroidal energetic vortex —

a portal —

a fundamental force —

a process of nature —

found throughout the manifest universe in everything from the apparent immensity of a galactic black whole,

to the apparent infinitesimality of each of the estimated 7 octillion atoms that manifest as the average adult human body,

is found at the root of the spine —

at the base of the perineum —

and is the very basis —

the fundamental ground —

from which we begin our embodied hero's journey

when we incarnate in this physical density —

in this experience of Life.

**FUNDAMENTAL GROUND**

The cognate for the word *’Dharma'* in ancient Aramaic is *‘Malkuth’* and *‘Basileia’* in ancient Greek,

commonly translated into English as: *'kingdom' 'realm' or 'rule.’*

The word basileia shares the same root as the word *‘base’ or ‘basis,’* and the word *‘basilica,'* which we commonly use as a synonym for a *'cathedral' or 'religious headquarters.’*

In ancient Greece, the *'basiliké stoà' (the royal portico in Athens)* was the headquarters —

the base —

the *root* *of power* —

of the realm of the Archon Basileus (The High Chieftain or King).

**SONS OF GOD**

With this as our basis (pun intended),

it makes a little more sense if we understand that in ancient Greek culture,

the Archon

*(lit. the ‘Basileus \[βασιλεύς same root as ‘Basileia’, and meaning: a chieftain, amir, monarch, king, emperor, ruler, etc.),*

like most ancient cultures,

was seen as the embodiment of the Divine on Earth —

a manifestation of the Unmanifest,

incarnate in the physical realm —

the "The Son of God.”

The ancient cultures of the Middle East, who organized themselves in clans, tribes, kingdoms, and empires, with lords, chieftains, kings and emperors ruling over the caste structure on which such forms of hierarchal government were built,

the Archon was an incarnation of God —

 the "Son of God” —

as was the case in nearly all ancient cultures ranging from Egypt and Mesopotamia, to India and China (where the Emperor was called "The Son of Heaven" or "The Son of God” and ruled under the "Mandate of Heaven”).

The 16th century CE theologians, scholars and linguists who, over a seven year period, translated the current Western-Roman Christian canon of sacred writings into English, translated ‘basileia' as 'kingdom' because that is also what they understood through the lens of their own experience of a monarchial caste system.

English kings (as do all monarchs and rulers) tend to lay claim to and proclaim themselves as ‘Sons of God’ ruling the Mandate of Heaven.

**THE NATURE OF REALITY**

In that light, the fundamental message of Yeshu’a an Nasira Ihidaya (Aramaic for ‘Jesus of Nazareth the Awakened One’),

"The Kingdom is Here and Now!",

begins to take on a much deeper meaning.

The ‘kingdom’ he spoke about is not just the ‘realm' or the ‘rule' of a celestial archon or king,

but refers to the very Foundational Ground of Reality itself —

the

Fundamental

Essence

of

Life.

And hence ‘the kingdom of God’ proclaimed by Yeshu’a Ihidaya

orients us to That Which is the Very Ground, Source or Fundamental Nature of Reality.

Many ancient Christian writings from lesser known streams (schools or sects) of Christianity outside of the the literalist stream of Christianity rooted in the so-called "orthodoxy" of the Western-Roman lineage

*(which includes most common forms of Christianity popular in the West today) —*

actually refer to That which we call ‘God' in this way —

in such words as:

*'Source,'*

*'Ground of Be-ing,'*

*'Fundamental Reality', etc. —*

so really, this is not much of a radical idea at all.

In fact, this very same concept is woven into, and found throughout, the perennial wisdom of all spiritual paths, in all ancient cultures.

**PERFECT PEACE**

From that little historical and etymological ramble, perhaps we might translate the word Sraddhā as:

‘A deep, unshakeable inner stability (trust or peace) rooted in and arising from the very Fundamental Ground of our Be-ing —

our Innate (True) Nature —

realized in direct experience of a profound, experiential, intuitive Heart Knowing

of The Way of Nature (i.e. ‘Reality’ or ‘Truth’) —

the Nature of the Way.'

It is a deep inner stability —

a deep inner realization —

a deep re-membering —

a deep inner peace —

a deep inner knowing that we are fundamentally safe, secure, supported, protected, upheld and uplifted by That Which Is The Foundational Ground of All Life —

that all is well

and always has been —

that there is

nothing

missing

nothing

broken.

Not two.

This is the inner state of *"perfect peace that transcends all (intellectual) knowledge"* that the first century Hellenist Jewish teacher, theologian, and scholar, Saul of Tarsus (more popularly known as Paul the Apostle or Saint Paul), tried to communicate to his disciples living in the ancient Greek city of Philippi

**INNER FREEDOM**

The 20th century CE yogi, teacher and author, Paramahansa Yogananda also taught this very concept when he said,

*"The Sanskrit word for ‘trust’ means: 'to relax, breathe easy and be free from all fear.’"*

Our inner state is clearly reflected in the state of our breath.

Certainty that is based in an inner stability (confidence or trust) of the Pure Heart-Mind

realized in direct experience of Reality —

a certainty of trust —

that arises from the Pure Heart-Mind

firmly rooted and established in it’s True Nature —

an in-spiration and ex-piration

of

Pure

Love —

the undisturbed unity, balance and harmony

that animates and innervates this universe

is the very Ground —

the very Source —

from which we experience our most pure, natural, harmonious state of Be-ing —

our Pure Potentiality —

our most Noble, Virtuous Nature —

abiding in inner freedom, equanimity and peace

liberated —

emancipated —

free —

from

fear.

Free from the need to convince, control, coerce, condemn, compare, or criticize —

free from the need to shame, blame, defend or scapegoat —

free to increasingly experience the openness and expansiveness of our True Nature, and the fruit which arises from that abiding, abundant experience of Life —

clarity, wisdom, insight, openness, joy, equanimity, peace, lovingkindness, compassion, acceptance, empathy, gratitude, reverence, creativity, and childlike curiosity and wonder —

*(all facets of the Immortal Diamond that is Pure Love)*

in unity, balance and harmony —

in perfect peace...

with

all

manifestations

of

Life —

all our brothers and sisters —

all

our

relations.

Not two.

May your every breath be peace, light and love.

/|\

One day, Yē Sū (Aramaic: Yeshu’a, English: Jesus)

and his disciple, Bǐ Dé (Aramaic: Ke’fa; English: Peter)

were walking along a footpath

which ran alongside a large swath of fertile field,

where farmers were planting their spring crops,

when Bǐ Dé posed a question,

“Teacher, why do you allow women to follow you?

Should not only men be disciples?”

Yē Sū stopped and looked out over the fields contemplatively,

remaining silent for a time,

then in a low voice,

spoke,

“Brother, how is it that though apparently seeing,

still

you

do

not

see.

Open your (Inner) Eye —

cultivate your (Inner) Vision —

and you will see clearly

the seeds of the Kingdom

planted every where —

in every manifestation of Self —

whether appearing

in masculine

or feminine

form.

The rapturous

dynamic

interplay —

the mutual reciprocity —

the creative pure potentiality —

of the Divine Feminine

and the Divine Masculine

gives birth to all manifestations of Life

in the Cosmos —

differing only in physical expression.

Within the male is the seed of the feminine.

Within the female is the seed of the masculine.

This is a fundamental universal truth.

True integrity —

true wholeness —

true

union —

—

is the harmonious communion —

the blissful consummation —

the wondrous re-alization (re-actualization) —

of the Divine masculine

and the Divine feminine

—

of

Pure

Love

—

within

you.

Awaken and remember.

Not two.

/|\

/|\

flight... /|\