The singular question that resolves all paradoxes has been posed to mankind through antiquity and even into the modern day. From the Halls of Amenti of Egypt in the inner temple, to the outer walls of the Temple at Delphi, and even referenced in the movie "The Matrix".
We are a species with amnesia, so I know my answer to that, from the perspective of where I am in my life, but I also know that I do not know the whole answer, or perhaps even the "real answer". Or how often I have done this before (Samsara), or how often we have done this before.
It is possible that we're on a 12,000 year clock (finishing soon!) and every 12,000 years we "reset" (and not in a gentle way).
Hahaha, I have seen that movie and loved it! Stopped watching movies in 2014 when I realized they are tools of our brainwashing and indoctrination!
And yes, we are indeed a species with amnesia. Better said, I would suggest, that we are entirely ASLEEP!!
Did God ever wake Adam up or do we just assume so?
If not, that sure would make for one heckuva GREAT AWAKENING, no?
As to "who you are". Consider this idea; you won't ever find the answer in a thought, in your mind. As mind/thought is "The Matrix" itself (My ATF movie BTW). One must exit the matrix to see reality for what it is.
The question "Who am I" does not have a corollary answer. A conundrum I realize.
The answer to the question is wholly EXPERIENTIAL in nature, spurned by desire, eventually delivered by grace alone. You and I can't "Make it happen". It requires both a great desire to know coupled with a tremendous act of humility (I do not know and cannot know {in my thoughts}). This is the oft-spoken of and tremendously misunderstood act of "Surrender", which is the essential requirement to arrive at the answer to the question itself.
Deep stuff. BIG ideas. Head spinning....hahaha... like a square jab to the nose from Tommy! :)
Ah. So you are saying it is an answer that comes to us.
Like the Moon in the Water.
"No Water, No Moon"
When the nun Chiyono studied Zen under Bukko of Engaku she was unable to attain the fruits of meditation for a long time.
At last one moonlit night she was carrying water in an old pail bound with bamboo. The bamboo broke and the bottom fell out of the pail, and at that moment Chiyono was set free!
In commemoration, she wrote a poem:
In this way and that I tried to save the old pail
Since the bamboo strip was weakening and about to break
I was a "Zen" guy for about 10 years. It was only later that I came to understand the purpose of the koans and the uber-strict practices. The 10-years in it, I was of course TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. And that was my mistake.
Just as the story of your poem points in this direction, I'll share a "channeled" message from Jeshua (Jesus) that I recall daily and consider the most profound I've ever come across.
"The way of mastery is easy and without effort. There is nothing to fix and nothing to achieve".
Wrap your mind around that one, or perhaps, better said, get your "mind" out of the way if you can. This is the HARD PART!!!
Saying the same thing as the instant realization of the Zen nun methinks....
It comes in a flash of recognition and the EXPERIENCE is unmistakable. The hard part is maintaining it, or perhaps better said, not TRYING to maintain it. This is the mistake...TRYING. Not my will but thine.
Such is what we call a GLIMPSE of reality and our true nature, as it fades back into the background while we confusedly ponder our present, astonishing and undeniable EXPERIENCE of reality for a brief period -> Awakening, enlightenment, resurrection....different words pointing to the same idea...
No-thing-ness, Every-thing-ness, Oneness, Emptiness, Wholeness. Words can't describe, but still we try, because it is beyond the matrix (of thought) - outside the box.
Another of my favorite quotes from Nisargadatta Maharaj sums it up best; I know that I am nothing and that is wisdom and I know that I am everything and that is love; and between the two my life moves"......... ahhh.....goosebumps every time!
Deep thoughts today. Always enjoy our interactions my friend. Enjoy the ride!
Excellent Mahvelous Marvin, most excellent!
The singular question that resolves all paradoxes has been posed to mankind through antiquity and even into the modern day. From the Halls of Amenti of Egypt in the inner temple, to the outer walls of the Temple at Delphi, and even referenced in the movie "The Matrix".
Temet Nosce? -> Who/What am I?
We are a species with amnesia, so I know my answer to that, from the perspective of where I am in my life, but I also know that I do not know the whole answer, or perhaps even the "real answer". Or how often I have done this before (Samsara), or how often we have done this before.
It is possible that we're on a 12,000 year clock (finishing soon!) and every 12,000 years we "reset" (and not in a gentle way).
"It's Groundhog Day.... again."
Hahaha, I have seen that movie and loved it! Stopped watching movies in 2014 when I realized they are tools of our brainwashing and indoctrination!
And yes, we are indeed a species with amnesia. Better said, I would suggest, that we are entirely ASLEEP!!
Did God ever wake Adam up or do we just assume so?
If not, that sure would make for one heckuva GREAT AWAKENING, no?
As to "who you are". Consider this idea; you won't ever find the answer in a thought, in your mind. As mind/thought is "The Matrix" itself (My ATF movie BTW). One must exit the matrix to see reality for what it is.
The question "Who am I" does not have a corollary answer. A conundrum I realize.
The answer to the question is wholly EXPERIENTIAL in nature, spurned by desire, eventually delivered by grace alone. You and I can't "Make it happen". It requires both a great desire to know coupled with a tremendous act of humility (I do not know and cannot know {in my thoughts}). This is the oft-spoken of and tremendously misunderstood act of "Surrender", which is the essential requirement to arrive at the answer to the question itself.
Deep stuff. BIG ideas. Head spinning....hahaha... like a square jab to the nose from Tommy! :)
P.S. If you like The Matrix, you should perhaps make an exception and watch its predecessor. Dark City. It has many of the same themes.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118929/
Supposedly The Matrix even used Dark City sets, in its production.
Interesting, will consider. Thanks!
Ah. So you are saying it is an answer that comes to us.
Like the Moon in the Water.
"No Water, No Moon"
When the nun Chiyono studied Zen under Bukko of Engaku she was unable to attain the fruits of meditation for a long time.
At last one moonlit night she was carrying water in an old pail bound with bamboo. The bamboo broke and the bottom fell out of the pail, and at that moment Chiyono was set free!
In commemoration, she wrote a poem:
In this way and that I tried to save the old pail
Since the bamboo strip was weakening and about to break
Until at last the bottom fell out.
No more water in the pail!
No more moon in the water!
I was a "Zen" guy for about 10 years. It was only later that I came to understand the purpose of the koans and the uber-strict practices. The 10-years in it, I was of course TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. And that was my mistake.
Just as the story of your poem points in this direction, I'll share a "channeled" message from Jeshua (Jesus) that I recall daily and consider the most profound I've ever come across.
"The way of mastery is easy and without effort. There is nothing to fix and nothing to achieve".
Wrap your mind around that one, or perhaps, better said, get your "mind" out of the way if you can. This is the HARD PART!!!
Saying the same thing as the instant realization of the Zen nun methinks....
It comes in a flash of recognition and the EXPERIENCE is unmistakable. The hard part is maintaining it, or perhaps better said, not TRYING to maintain it. This is the mistake...TRYING. Not my will but thine.
Such is what we call a GLIMPSE of reality and our true nature, as it fades back into the background while we confusedly ponder our present, astonishing and undeniable EXPERIENCE of reality for a brief period -> Awakening, enlightenment, resurrection....different words pointing to the same idea...
No-thing-ness, Every-thing-ness, Oneness, Emptiness, Wholeness. Words can't describe, but still we try, because it is beyond the matrix (of thought) - outside the box.
Another of my favorite quotes from Nisargadatta Maharaj sums it up best; I know that I am nothing and that is wisdom and I know that I am everything and that is love; and between the two my life moves"......... ahhh.....goosebumps every time!
Deep thoughts today. Always enjoy our interactions my friend. Enjoy the ride!