This is entirely my own recollections for my own amusement. But you can comment if you wish - Hathor
What a fun day! I have been abused and sworn at my someone I don't know about something I didn't do. Boy! Did she throw her toys out of the cot. I stayed calm and made no attempt to defend myself and left her to find out her error. So ... she comes back with effusive apologies and tries to justify her mistake. I made no further comment. But she sure has publicly dented her "angelic" reputation. LOL.
I have learned that even Little Bears get tired. Sometimes the world gets too much for us, and the thought of carrying on becomes a mountain too high for Little Bears. But we would rather die on the mountain, than on the plains. We try .... and if it is not good enough, then that is your problem.
Speaking of koans, I find the enlightenment of them can be very fleeting. You know it and then you don't. And you think "I had it", but it's gone.I knew the One Hand Clapping one .. now I have forgotten. But the "If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?". After decades of thought, I would say no. Because to hear requires particpation (however passive) of consciousness. If you are not consciously there (or consciously aware of it) at the time then you cannot KNOW. Someone can report it to you. You can assume it does. All science can say it does. But you were not there. Therefore there is no subjective cognitive experience of the object. And since all perception is subjective, you might as well been on the moon, deaf or dead. So the answer is no.
Any contrary arguments please put in a small brown stamped envelope and post by snail mail. *S*
I have come to the conclusion in a Zen like moment, that my mother did not raise me to wash windows, hence my complete ineptitude at such a menial task. I shall have to redefine success. So it occurs to me, that if I tried to fail and succeeded, what have I done? Sounds like a koan to me .... and I need an aspirin.
Can't believe my Zen journey extends to cockroaches. The cats bring them in, but I don't like harming things. Everything has a purpose in the circle of life, so yet again I open the doors ... and let them walk out. And they do. They know their purpose, which is more than I know mine, except for liberating moles, mice and cockroaches .........sigh!
Yet another mouse in house. Had no intention of catching it at 3am. So I fetched the cat who brought in and lost it. One squeak and I chased cat with mouse out. Next night at about 3am, the other cat tells me there is a mouse in the room. Feeling tired and sore I decide I will not make a fool of myself chasing a small rodent about wih no chance of catching it. Anyway, I don't want to kill it. So I opened the patio doors and just sat very quietly. Mouse didn't want to be there, and I didn't want him there, ergo he'd escape given the chance. Several times he ran around the room while I watched him with a Zen type demeanour. Eventually, he got the idea and headed off. Oh! I felt so good.
The third night, the mouse that was up in the dining room earlier landed in the lounge. Yet again I went totally Zen and at peace with the world, followed the same procedure. Off he trotted outside after his circumnavigation and I felt very pure and righteous. Praise the Lord!
Just as I locked up again and on my way to tuck my freezing feet into a warm bed, boy cat came in through a study window with another mouse (hopefully not the same one - how unlucky could you get?) At this point, I lost all my Zen-like composure and yelled at the cat. Who dropped the mouse in the study and may well still be living here somewhere.
I do so wish I could be Zen everyday. Well worth living with and for.
But I did so enjoy those Zen moments of total peace.
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Today, I have utterly indulged myself and don't feel a shred of guilt. I bought a Alexander McCall Smith book of the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency.
I SO love the stories, that like hand made chocolate, I eke out the pleasure and can make six chocolates last a week - I make 2 pages a diet for one day.
I chuckle and smile, but because I know the country so well, it warms my heart. Now who could live without the DVD or the books? It gives such a different insight into such a gentle culture. I loved every moment I travelled through that country, and I would like to live there. 40 years have have passed since I was last there, but my love has not changed.
Hathor
