04
This isn't a competition. No one is keeping score. We are not being graded. Our work is not to do or be better than anyone else at anything. Our work is simply being as good as we can be at being who we are. At being ourselves. Our work is developing our relationship with ourselves. Knowing who we are. Living in accord with our Original Nature. Being us. Doing our life the way we would do it if no one were watching. What do we care who is watching? What is our natural way of doing things that we don't do because it won't fit where we are? What is so important about where we are that ourself wouldn't be comfortable if we brought him/her to meet our friends? Whose side are we on?
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03
The fundamental duality, dichotomy, koan, conundrum, continuum, polarity, contradiction at the heart of humanity throughout time is contrivance/sincerity. Even when we are sincere, we think we ought to get something out of it. Sincerity should be good for us in some way. And we are always shocked and chagrined to discover that sincerity means being good for nothing. Because that is who we are. Yet, how many of us are that way? Good for nothing? Everything is a ploy with us. A device. A means of getting something, or somewhere, or avoiding something, of coming out ahead, of getting what we want-- and what we want is never, ever, being good for nothing, for no reason, "just because." Just because that is who we are. From as long ago as the Bhagavad Gita (200 years BCE) has come the call: "Get in there and do your thing-- with no idea in mind of getting anything from it!" You know, like a child playing in a sandbox. Like a dog wagging its tail. Like a walk in the woods.
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02
The six point star, with its two inverted triangles, one pointing upward to the heavens, light and enlightenment, and the other pointing downward to the earth, darkness and abject cluelessness, reflects the eternal plight of human beings throughout time, living out our lives between the best and worst we can do, be, become, in each situation as it arises, moment-by-moment-by-moment. "We have met the enemy, and they are us!" (Walt Kelly)
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01
Joseph Campbell said the Bhagavad Gita could be summarized with: "Get in there and do your thing, and don't worry about the outcome!" The outcome is always messing with us. We live from one outcome to another. We are always trying to achieve some outcome. Always invested in some outcome. Always enamored by some outcome. Always attached to some outcome. We do "this" so "that" will happen-- or to keep "that" from happening. Doing "this" so "this" will happen is the whole point of playing. Living is a serious matter and can only be engaged in by those who do "this" so "that" will happen, or not happen. Doing our thing "without hope, without witness, without reward, (Steven Moffat) is, for us, the greatest absurdity. But. Doing our thing for the sole purpose, entire point, and complete joy of doing our thing is the very essence of being alive. Alan Stacell said, “I paint like a dog wags its tail.” What do you do like a dog wags its tail? How often do you do it? How long do you do it when you do it? Why not do it more often? For longer periods of time? Without ever having an eye on the outcome?
