Emptyness

Mescalito · 07-24-2006, 09:42 AM

Ones mind must be empty of all thoughts before new thoughts can enter. Do you agree? Is this the basic premise of creativity or what!? Spoken by many wise people through the ages. Its the basis of meditation also... empty your mind.. then the thoughts that are most important to you will return into awareness.. empty mind again and again and you will discover which thoughst need a closer look. Also when im making music.. or writing.. i stop and wait.. im waiting for that moment or clairty.. of emptyness.

Matt

Waves · 07-24-2006, 09:54 AM

no way....

all thoughts are linked. you cant "not think" because then you would be thinking about not thinking, which is in itself thinking. we are "thinking" every second of the day, even when we are paying attention to a physical object we are formulating thoughts and comparisons and connections to that object.

i am at a complete loss as to how the whole "empty your mind" thing came about. It seems sort of like the eastern religous-bullshit equivelent of prayer. You can never empty your mind. in fact, you can never empty anything because its only a change in the configuration of energy that seems to us to be inside of something else, which is in itself a belief construct, nothing is truly "inside" anything else. But im losing myself here.

You can, like the beatles said, relax your mind and allow a time-period of self reflection, but its only a matter of time until you start automatically drifting back to the important ones... therefore it becomes a process of figuring out the most efficient ways to gain different insights and perspectives into the issues you think about all day long anyway...and learning to manage your time most efficiently to avoid stress and conflict.

Now...in your example of music...you are not waiting for emptyness at all, in fact you would be using patience to allow the energy of the song to work its way to yourself, as opposed to pushing yourself and MAKING yourself come up with something...

those are my half-coherent "get-me-out-of-here" at work thoughts

Ego Tripping · 07-24-2006, 12:40 PM

I kind of agree with Waves (even though he's pretentious and ahead of himself)...how can you empty such fullness? For the mind to become 'empty' it at the same time, is supposedly filled with clairvoyant and clear thoughts that are referred to "Enlightenment"...wh ich are really the most 'full' thoughts you will ever have as they encompass all and everything. So really, the minute the mind is 'emptied', it is filled up continuously again, just with a different kind of Thought.

Yet, maybe that is the point. All day, your cup is constantly full of daily water, dirty and passed around. To "empty your mind" is to turn the cup upside down and back up again, ready to receive the Purified water, perfect and balanced.

So really, the only reason to 'empty the mind' is to esentially just empty the cup of Deceptions so the Truth may be given to you.

SweetSativa · 07-24-2006, 03:40 PM

Wherever I go, there I am
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Beyonder · 07-24-2006, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Anyone can talk about reflection, but he cannot master it if he does not know what the word means. What has to be changed by reflection is the self-conscious heart, which has to direct itself toward that point where the formative spirit is not yet manifest. Within our 6 ft. body, we must strive for the form which existed before the laying down of Heaven and earth. If today people sit and meditate only one or two hours, looking only at their own egos, and call it contemplation, how can anything come of it?

The two founders of Buddhism and Taoism have taught that one should look at the end of one's nose. But they did not mean that one should fasten one's thoughts to the end of the nose. Neither did they mean that, while the eyes were looking at the end of the nose, the thoughts should be concentrated on the yellow middle. Wherever the eye looks, the heart is directed also. How can the glance be directed at the same time upward (yellow middle), and downward (end of the nose), or alternating, so that it is now up, now down? All that means confusing the finger with which one points to the moon with the moon itself.

What is really meant by this? The expression, "end of the nose," is very cleverly chosen. The nose must serve the eyes as a guiding line. If one is not guided by the nose, either one opens wide the eyes and looks into the distance, so that the nose is not seen, or the lids shut too much, so that the eyes close, and again the nose is not seen. But when the eyes are opened too wide, one makes the mistake of directing them outward, whereby one is easily distracted. If they are closed too much then one makes the mistake of letting them turn inward, whereby one easily sinks into a dreamy reverie. Only when the eyelids are sunk properly halfway, is the end of the nose seen in just the right way. Therefore it is taken as a guiding line. The main thing is to lower the eyelids in the right way, and then allow the Light to stream in of itself, without trying to force the Light to stream in by a concentrated effort. Looking at the nose serves only as the beginning of the inner concentration, so that the eyes are brought into the right direction for looking, and then are held to the guiding line; after that, one can let it be. That is the way a mason hangs up a plumb line. As soon as he has hung it up, he guides his work by it without continually bothering himself to look at the plumb line. Fixating contemplation is a Buddhist method which by no means has been handed down as a secret.

On looks with both eyes at the end of the nose, sits upright and in a comfortable position, and holds the heart to the center in the midst of conditions (on the fixed pole in the flight of phenomena). In Taoism it is called the yellow middle, in Buddhism the center in the midst of conditions. The two are the same. It does not necessarily mean the middle of the head. It is only a matter of fixing one's thinking on the point that lies exactly between the two eyes. Then all is well. The Light is something extremely mobile. When one fixes the thought on the midpoint between the two eyes, the Light streams in of its own accord. It is not necessary to direct the attention especially to the central castle. In these few words the most important thing is contained.

"The center in the midst of conditions," is a very fine expression. The center is omnipresent; everything is contained in it; it is connected with the release of the release of the whole process of creation. The condition is the portal. The condition, that is the fulfillment of this condition, makes the beginning, but it does not bring about the rest with inevitable necessity. The meaning of these two words is very fluid and subtle.

Fixating contemplation is indispensable, it ensures the strengthening of illumination. Only one must not stay sitting rigidly if worldly thoughts come up, but one must examine where the thought is, where it began, and where it fades out. Nothing is gained by pushing reflection further, One must be content to see where the thought arose, and not seek beyond the point of origin; for to find the heart (consciousness), to get behind consciousness with consciousness - that cannot be done. We want to bring the status of the heart together in rest – that is true contemplation. What contradicts it is false contemplation. This leads to no goal. When the flight of thoughts keeps extending farther, one should stop and begin contemplating. Let one contemplate and then start concentrating again. That is the double method of strengthening the illumination. It means the circular course of the light. The circular course is fixation. The Light is contemplation. Fixation without contemplation is circulation without Light. Contemplation without fixation is Light without circulation.

from

http://www.alchemylab.com/golden_flower.htm

Waves · 07-24-2006, 04:44 PM

yet another attempt of religion to push away the desires and wants of the individual.

my suggestion is to think about these thoughts, why they are popping up, and spend some time dealing with them. dont push them away like religion tells you. if you plan on spending time doing nothing but thinking, why not think about yourself a bit and where you want to go and what you want to do and what you want from life? and whats bugging you and stressing you and what makes you happy etc etc etc?

i mean, whats the benefit of ignoring your thoughts and feelings? all i got from that was a bunch of mumbo jumbo about the circular course and light and fixation and some crap that i dont think anyone can really pretend to understand. its like reading jim morrisons poetry kinda

ps- im not trying to say that the whole "clear your mind" thing is bullshit- but like most everything else in major religions and major beliefs it clearly is a case of pile upon pile of bullcrap being tossed ontop of the original belief. you cant trust people to keep things straight for 100 years, let alone thousands and thousands.

snapshot · 07-24-2006, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waves

yet another attempt of religion to push away the desires and wants of the individual.

my suggestion is to think about these thoughts, why they are popping up, and spend some time dealing with them. dont push them away like religion tells you. if you plan on spending time doing nothing but thinking, why not think about yourself a bit and where you want to go and what you want to do and what you want from life? and whats bugging you and stressing you and what makes you happy etc etc etc?

i mean, whats the benefit of ignoring your thoughts and feelings? all i got from that was a bunch of mumbo jumbo about the circular course and light and fixation and some crap that i dont think anyone can really pretend to understand. its like reading jim morrisons poetry kinda

ps- im not trying to say that the whole "clear your mind" thing is bullshit- but like most everything else in major religions and major beliefs it clearly is a case of pile upon pile of bullcrap being tossed ontop of the original belief. you cant trust people to keep things straight for 100 years, let alone thousands and thousands.

if you depress thoughts you think are negative it gives more time, not room, for thoughts which are positive.

also, things that are positive one day might not be positive the next. such as killing might be good when in self-defense, but to continue killing afterward is self-destructive.

Waves · 07-24-2006, 04:53 PM

yes, but they arent talking about depressing negative thoughts for positive ones. I would agree with that, although it can harm you in the long run to ignore something you know you shouldnt be ignoring. the most efficient route, if you are going to sit down and think for a period of time, is self-examination, the good and the bad, the intent and the wants, etc etc. simply because it allows the most time for reflection of self and new perspectives on self.

but its a choice. im not saying its better. i just wouldnt sit down and think about nothing for any period of time.

SweetSativa · 07-24-2006, 05:14 PM

I am always the observer. It is nice to occassionally step out of the drivers seat.

The Rev · 07-24-2006, 05:35 PM

In meditation, you do not stop thinking, you simply become aware of being. If you have a thought, you are aware of it as a thought. You don't get lost in it.

As for emptiness, I have never heard of emptying the mind in the sense of not thinking. Even giving your full attention to something happening in front of you requires mental digestion, even if you aren't judging or evaluating the experience. My understanding of emptiness, from the Buddhist perspective, is that all things are empty of the meanings and values we impress upon them. Things simply are. The rest of what we experience is just illusion, something we create in our imagination that distorts reality.

The Rev

snapshot · 07-24-2006, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waves

yes, but they arent talking about depressing negative thoughts for positive ones. I would agree with that, although it can harm you in the long run to ignore something you know you shouldnt be ignoring. the most efficient route, if you are going to sit down and think for a period of time, is self-examination, the good and the bad, the intent and the wants, etc etc. simply because it allows the most time for reflection of self and new perspectives on self.

but its a choice. im not saying its better. i just wouldnt sit down and think about nothing for any period of time.

I think what's better than deep contemplation is deciding on a plan of action based on the thought, and doing every action you can in order to breed new ideas of consequences surrounding that thought.

Like if you think there's a God, don't just sit and think about it, find out what could help prove there's a God and go look for it. Then if you start to get proof there is a God, start looking for reasons that there isn't a God. It only works both ways but the best way to find out if an idea is rational is to perform the scientific method.

Beyonder · 07-24-2006, 05:42 PM

The whole of chinese philosophy is about psychological operations, to get at one state or the other. They aren't talking esoterically, they have learned to hack the fundaments of the mind. This is what they call enlightenment; a positive hack of the mind.

In some shamanic traditions, they use drugs to induce other mental states while in some monastic traditions they use meditation to induce other states

07-24-2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matchu

Ones mind must be empty of all thoughts before new thoughts can enter. Do you agree? Is this the basic premise of creativity or what!? Spoken by many wise people through the ages. Its the basis of meditation also... empty your mind.. then the thoughts that are most important to you will return into awareness.. empty mind again and again and you will discover which thoughst need a closer look. Also when im making music.. or writing.. i stop and wait.. im waiting for that moment or clairty.. of emptyness.

Matt

I agreee, whenever I draw a "good" picture, my mind is blank except for the thought that is spewing out at that exact moment.

I draw best with no plans at all.

SweetSativa · 07-24-2006, 06:45 PM

But the thing is, Snapshot that in order to objectively evaluate your findings, you have to lose desire or attachment to an outcome.... preconceived notions, etc.

I know that I've heard many musicians say that their best works were those that came out very fast and all at once... like their hands can hardly keep up with the stream... to write it down.

Mescalito · 07-25-2006, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SweetSativa

But the thing is, Snapshot that in order to objectively evaluate your findings, you have to lose desire or attachment to an outcome.... preconceived notions, etc.

I know that I've heard many musicians say that their best works were those that came out very fast and all at once... like their hands can hardly keep up with the stream... to write it down.

Yeah ive felt that SS.. sometimes when im playing my guitar.. its going great.. a little too great for my 'normal' ability.. and i look at my hands and they dont even feel like my own.. and im thinking at the same time as playing.. 'im not playing this at all'. Its a very strange but liberating feeling. It doesnt happen as often as i would like it too though.

As for the thread.. good replies everyone! When i meditate i guess i dont empty my mind so to speak.. i just place my awrarness upon my breath (pranayama).. and i guess its this concentration of awareness on one thing.. which is constant which brings about the introduction of other thoughts trying to 'get in'.. so to speak.

Matt

Waves · 07-25-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snapshot

I think what's better than deep contemplation is deciding on a plan of action based on the thought, and doing every action you can in order to breed new ideas of consequences surrounding that thought.

right, but that happens after the meditation. you just described deep contemplation basically. which is basically meditation.

Quote:

Like if you think there's a God, don't just sit and think about it, find out what could help prove there's a God and go look for it. Then if you start to get proof there is a God, start looking for reasons that there isn't a God. It only works both ways but the best way to find out if an idea is rational is to perform the scientific method.

In the olden days meditation was the direct path to "god." they didnt have the scientific method, they didnt have instruments and computers and scanners and all this shit. all they could really do was think about shit. you would be amazed at what your mind can come up with if you meditate daily.

how the hell do you go about performing the scientific method on data you are percieving in your mind through meditation?

snapshot · 07-25-2006, 07:10 PM

oh i wasn't talking about meditation. I was talking about another way to get to what meditation might bring.

and i still have reservations about meditation. i know it's probably the most enlightened act the unenlightened person could do, but it's like, there's so much more i want to do before i attempt that path. my mind isn't cloudy enough or something for me to appreciate it, or something.

ziplock · 07-25-2006, 07:14 PM

EMPTINESS

Consider the difference
in our actions and God's actions.

We often ask, "Why did you do that?"
or "Why did I act like that?"

We do act, and yet everything we do
is God's creative action.

We look back and analyze the events
of our lives, but there is another way
of seeing, a backward-and-forward-at-once
vision, that is not rationally understandable.

Only God can understand it.
Satan made the excuse, YOU caused me to fall,
whereas Adam said to God, We did this
to ourselves. After this repentance,
God asked Adam, Since all is within
my foreknowledge, why didn't you
defend yourself with that reason?

Adam answered, I was afraid,
and I wanted to be reverent.

Whoever acts with respect will get respect.
Whoever brings sweetness will be served almond cake.
Good women are drawn to be with good men.

Honor your friend,
Or treat him rudely,
and see what happens!

Love, tell an incident now
that will clarify this mystery
of how we act freely, and are yet
compelled. One hand shakes with palsy.
Another shakes because you slapped it away.

Both tremblings come from God,
but you feel guilty for the one,
and what about the other?

These are intellectual questions.
The spirit approaches the matter
differently. Omar once had a friend, a scientist,
Bu'l-Hakam, who was flawless at solving
empirical questions, but he could not follow Omar
into the area of illumination and wonder.

Now I return to the text, "And He is with you,
wherever you are," but when have I ever left it!

Ignorance is God's prison.
Knowing is God's palace.

We sleep in God's unconsciousness.
We wake in God's open hand.

We weep God's rain.
We laugh God's lightning.

Fighting and peacefulness
both take place within God.

Who are we then
in this complicated world-tangle,
that is really just the single, straight
line down at the beginning of ALLAH?

Nothing.
We are
emptiness.

07-24-2006, 09:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mescalito Oneironaut Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 6,295 Thanks: 867 Thanked 907 Times in 444 Posts	Emptyness Ones mind must be empty of all thoughts before new thoughts can enter. Do you agree? Is this the basic premise of creativity or what!? Spoken by many wise people through the ages. Its the basis of meditation also... empty your mind.. then the thoughts that are most important to you will return into awareness.. empty mind again and again and you will discover which thoughst need a closer look. Also when im making music.. or writing.. i stop and wait.. im waiting for that moment or clairty.. of emptyness. Matt

07-24-2006, 09:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
Waves Duderino Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: chiburbs Posts: 15,405 Thanks: 991 Thanked 4,036 Times in 2,224 Posts	no way.... all thoughts are linked. you cant "not think" because then you would be thinking about not thinking, which is in itself thinking. we are "thinking" every second of the day, even when we are paying attention to a physical object we are formulating thoughts and comparisons and connections to that object. i am at a complete loss as to how the whole "empty your mind" thing came about. It seems sort of like the eastern religous-bullshit equivelent of prayer. You can never empty your mind. in fact, you can never empty anything because its only a change in the configuration of energy that seems to us to be inside of something else, which is in itself a belief construct, nothing is truly "inside" anything else. But im losing myself here. You can, like the beatles said, relax your mind and allow a time-period of self reflection, but its only a matter of time until you start automatically drifting back to the important ones... therefore it becomes a process of figuring out the most efficient ways to gain different insights and perspectives into the issues you think about all day long anyway...and learning to manage your time most efficiently to avoid stress and conflict. Now...in your example of music...you are not waiting for emptyness at all, in fact you would be using patience to allow the energy of the song to work its way to yourself, as opposed to pushing yourself and MAKING yourself come up with something... those are my half-coherent "get-me-out-of-here" at work thoughts __________________ On this life that we call home The years go fast and the days go so slow Last edited by Waves; 07-24-2006 at 10:03 AM.

07-24-2006, 12:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ego Tripping Are you in? Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 13,468 Thanks: 229 Thanked 665 Times in 443 Posts	I kind of agree with Waves (even though he's pretentious and ahead of himself)...how can you empty such fullness? For the mind to become 'empty' it at the same time, is supposedly filled with clairvoyant and clear thoughts that are referred to "Enlightenment"...wh ich are really the most 'full' thoughts you will ever have as they encompass all and everything. So really, the minute the mind is 'emptied', it is filled up continuously again, just with a different kind of Thought. Yet, maybe that is the point. All day, your cup is constantly full of daily water, dirty and passed around. To "empty your mind" is to turn the cup upside down and back up again, ready to receive the Purified water, perfect and balanced. So really, the only reason to 'empty the mind' is to esentially just empty the cup of Deceptions so the Truth may be given to you. __________________ God appears, and God is light, To those poor souls who dwell in night; But does a human form display To those who dwell in realms of day.

07-24-2006, 03:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
SweetSativa Lucid Daydreamer Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,930 Thanks: 26 Thanked 51 Times in 47 Posts	Wherever I go, there I am ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ __________________ "Why is it that when people talk to God, we call it praying but when God talks to people, we call it crazy?"- Touched by an Angel http://www.youtube.com/user/immelody.../0/DDRj93dQ0O0

07-24-2006, 04:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Waves Duderino Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: chiburbs Posts: 15,405 Thanks: 991 Thanked 4,036 Times in 2,224 Posts	yet another attempt of religion to push away the desires and wants of the individual. my suggestion is to think about these thoughts, why they are popping up, and spend some time dealing with them. dont push them away like religion tells you. if you plan on spending time doing nothing but thinking, why not think about yourself a bit and where you want to go and what you want to do and what you want from life? and whats bugging you and stressing you and what makes you happy etc etc etc? i mean, whats the benefit of ignoring your thoughts and feelings? all i got from that was a bunch of mumbo jumbo about the circular course and light and fixation and some crap that i dont think anyone can really pretend to understand. its like reading jim morrisons poetry kinda ps- im not trying to say that the whole "clear your mind" thing is bullshit- but like most everything else in major religions and major beliefs it clearly is a case of pile upon pile of bullcrap being tossed ontop of the original belief. you cant trust people to keep things straight for 100 years, let alone thousands and thousands. __________________ On this life that we call home The years go fast and the days go so slow Last edited by Waves; 07-24-2006 at 04:47 PM.

07-24-2006, 04:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Waves Duderino Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: chiburbs Posts: 15,405 Thanks: 991 Thanked 4,036 Times in 2,224 Posts	yes, but they arent talking about depressing negative thoughts for positive ones. I would agree with that, although it can harm you in the long run to ignore something you know you shouldnt be ignoring. the most efficient route, if you are going to sit down and think for a period of time, is self-examination, the good and the bad, the intent and the wants, etc etc. simply because it allows the most time for reflection of self and new perspectives on self. but its a choice. im not saying its better. i just wouldnt sit down and think about nothing for any period of time. __________________ On this life that we call home The years go fast and the days go so slow Last edited by Waves; 07-24-2006 at 04:56 PM.

07-24-2006, 05:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
SweetSativa Lucid Daydreamer Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,930 Thanks: 26 Thanked 51 Times in 47 Posts	I am always the observer. It is nice to occassionally step out of the drivers seat. __________________ "Why is it that when people talk to God, we call it praying but when God talks to people, we call it crazy?"- Touched by an Angel http://www.youtube.com/user/immelody.../0/DDRj93dQ0O0

07-24-2006, 05:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
The Rev Clear Light Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In my head, somewhere. Posts: 17,863 Thanks: 5,015 Thanked 5,419 Times in 2,864 Posts	In meditation, you do not stop thinking, you simply become aware of being. If you have a thought, you are aware of it as a thought. You don't get lost in it. As for emptiness, I have never heard of emptying the mind in the sense of not thinking. Even giving your full attention to something happening in front of you requires mental digestion, even if you aren't judging or evaluating the experience. My understanding of emptiness, from the Buddhist perspective, is that all things are empty of the meanings and values we impress upon them. Things simply are. The rest of what we experience is just illusion, something we create in our imagination that distorts reality. The Rev __________________ Budforce - My Friend August 29, 1973- May 25, 2012

07-24-2006, 05:42 PM	#12 (permalink)
Beyonder That Man Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 1,051 Thanks: 3 Thanked 11 Times in 6 Posts	The whole of chinese philosophy is about psychological operations, to get at one state or the other. They aren't talking esoterically, they have learned to hack the fundaments of the mind. This is what they call enlightenment; a positive hack of the mind. In some shamanic traditions, they use drugs to induce other mental states while in some monastic traditions they use meditation to induce other states __________________ He who lets the world, or his own portion of it, choose his plan of life for him, has no need of any other faculty than the ape-like one of imitation. He who chooses his plan for himself, employs all his faculties. -John Stuart Mill, On Liberty I must create a system or be enslaved by another mans; I will not reason and compare: my business is to create. -William Blake

07-24-2006, 06:45 PM	#14 (permalink)
SweetSativa Lucid Daydreamer Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,930 Thanks: 26 Thanked 51 Times in 47 Posts	But the thing is, Snapshot that in order to objectively evaluate your findings, you have to lose desire or attachment to an outcome.... preconceived notions, etc. I know that I've heard many musicians say that their best works were those that came out very fast and all at once... like their hands can hardly keep up with the stream... to write it down. __________________ "Why is it that when people talk to God, we call it praying but when God talks to people, we call it crazy?"- Touched by an Angel http://www.youtube.com/user/immelody.../0/DDRj93dQ0O0

07-25-2006, 07:10 PM	#17 (permalink)
snapshot no custom. customize Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: The unOriginal Rorschach. Posts: 19,302 Thanks: 15 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	oh i wasn't talking about meditation. I was talking about another way to get to what meditation might bring. and i still have reservations about meditation. i know it's probably the most enlightened act the unenlightened person could do, but it's like, there's so much more i want to do before i attempt that path. my mind isn't cloudy enough or something for me to appreciate it, or something. __________________ We are all atheists about most of the gods that society has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further. -Richard Dawkins

07-25-2006, 07:14 PM	#18 (permalink)
ziplock Dreamer of the dreams Join Date: May 2004 Location: British Columbia Posts: 2,110 Thanks: 15 Thanked 91 Times in 71 Posts	EMPTINESS Consider the difference in our actions and God's actions. We often ask, "Why did you do that?" or "Why did I act like that?" We do act, and yet everything we do is God's creative action. We look back and analyze the events of our lives, but there is another way of seeing, a backward-and-forward-at-once vision, that is not rationally understandable. Only God can understand it. Satan made the excuse, YOU caused me to fall, whereas Adam said to God, We did this to ourselves. After this repentance, God asked Adam, Since all is within my foreknowledge, why didn't you defend yourself with that reason? Adam answered, I was afraid, and I wanted to be reverent. Whoever acts with respect will get respect. Whoever brings sweetness will be served almond cake. Good women are drawn to be with good men. Honor your friend, Or treat him rudely, and see what happens! Love, tell an incident now that will clarify this mystery of how we act freely, and are yet compelled. One hand shakes with palsy. Another shakes because you slapped it away. Both tremblings come from God, but you feel guilty for the one, and what about the other? These are intellectual questions. The spirit approaches the matter differently. Omar once had a friend, a scientist, Bu'l-Hakam, who was flawless at solving empirical questions, but he could not follow Omar into the area of illumination and wonder. Now I return to the text, "And He is with you, wherever you are," but when have I ever left it! Ignorance is God's prison. Knowing is God's palace. We sleep in God's unconsciousness. We wake in God's open hand. We weep God's rain. We laugh God's lightning. Fighting and peacefulness both take place within God. Who are we then in this complicated world-tangle, that is really just the single, straight line down at the beginning of ALLAH? Nothing. We are emptiness. __________________ Insanity is the only sane reaction to an insane society.

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