Any gathering of persons, if each present would allow to drop any traits, all held in mind and provide means of description, ideas of a self and based on likeness and unlikeness both, then, what would be left? How many persons would be left? How many presences remain there?
This is important, partly, for the less one attaches to his or her distinctiveness, while not dishonoring it, one is more attuned to acting spontaneously, freely, even in Love. Why? One is more removed from having a sense of distinction to defend, to prove, or to protect against from the competing other selves, or distinctions, vying for a place in the collective space: survival, promotion, adulation, money, sex, attention, ... Life, then, shifts toward celebration, with its wonderment and gratitude.
* * *
Basically, the world of egos among egos, selves among selves, is an illusion, though a creation of Presence. This means the appearance of selves is a valid appearance, part of creation happening; yet, still, only an appearance. Wisdom is seeing the relativity of this self and acting accordingly, not trying to do away with the illusion itself. But to live as though the ego, or self, as inherent substance, is absolute, this is delusional, and we all, likely, live in delusion at least part of the time, some of us likely all the time.
* * *
Seeing the world as only egos among egos, how is effortlessness possible? Aggression is the law of the jungle? Love undoes the ego jungle, Presence is Love. Presence offers a way, the Way, of natural sanity. Here, one can relax, and can express his or her unique, particular essence as expressive of Life.
When you look around, you see many people who are nervous. Even if they have money and high social status, they are unhappy because they are violets who are trying to bloom as roses. If you ask yourself, "Which will I be, a violet or a rose?" then you are making comparisons. But before you compare yourself with somebody else, you are already you. So just be you. Stand up straight, right in the vastness of your original existence, and let the flower of your life force bloom as you really are.
*Dainin Katagira. The Light That Shines through Infinity: Zen and the Energy of Life.
Continued...
