August 22-B, 2022

Whenever I think I need
more noise and complexity in my life,
I read some Buddhist texts 
on monastic methods and procedures
for doing Buddhism right.

Talk about nit-picking,
legalistic, no slacking off allowed
rules to live by!

You dare not even think about
emptying yourself of the lengthy list
of do's and don't's regarding 
how to be empty in the right way.

If you ever have a yin for Buddhism,
or think you would like to become a Buddhist,
I suggest that you read "Indestructible Truth:
The Living Spirituality of Tibetan Buddhism"
by Reginald A. Ray.

It is a wonderful source of noise and complexity
without end.

There is more to Buddhism than chanting
"Om Mani Padme Hum"
or "inviting a singing bowl to sing"
when it doesn't have any choice in the matter.

Anytime someone else has the authority
to pronounce you "Enlightened"
(Or, "Saved," for that matter),
you are in a situation of having to be pleasing,
and that disconnects you entirely
from the state of being pleased yourself
over the quality of your experience,
and having to "measure up" 
to another's expectations and agenda for you.

And this within a context proclaiming 
the importance of "No Expectations!
No Plans!
No Agendas!
No Opinions!"

Buddhism, as much as Christianity,
is not what it purports to be.

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