Seamless Monument

Primer: Book Of Serenity #85

For the student, the seamless monument appears as myth. Something hinted at in the texts, scoffed at by the monks, and held inviolate by the silent masters though they may speak their leakage is little if at all. Mastery of zen resolves with seeing one's true nature. The masters tell you there is no attainment, which is more than a little telling. As far away as the next solar system, as close as your shadow! The mile wide cliff face stands 100 miles high with not a hand or foothold in sight. You cannot seduce it or destroy it or ignore it. How do I know? Experience.

Tacit understanding.

One's solitary truth from a dream.

The pearl.

The seamless monument held us when we were born and holds us for every moment of our lives. Because it is the very water of our existence, like fish, we do not perceive this seamless monument. Like a line drawn upon an Etch-O-Sketch we do not perceive of the template that holds us.

Some say perception is reality. Our scientists have shown us that most of reality cannot be directly perceived and must be interacted with first and then by the results we are directly enlightened about the possibilities of this existence by indirect observation.

Zen masters do not teach indirect observation. For them the truth of one's existence is available to the sensory abilities each of us have been given. The truth, once understood by this pedestrian mind, works with existence at all levels both micro and macro.

And the zen masters teach with the doting kindness of a grandmother. They give us problems, once solved, work on exactly all these wondrous levels at once. For example, the zen masters teach us to eat when hungry and sleep when tired. Think of it! Imagine how irked you are when hungry beyond all caring. The universe is misery of desire that only a meal can solve. All the gold in the verse nothing. So eat! And by satisfying one's hunger one moves in the way of the buddhas and the patriarchs.

Many will try to teach you special knowledge.

Many will try to teach you special attainment.

Imagine someone trying to teach you the joy of eating an apple by taking your apple and eating it in front you. That's the kind of charlatanism going on where anyone goes before others and professes special teachings of which they are willing to impart to you.

Beware! Beware! Beware!

And if you find yourself with a small piece of the old family's pattern for the seamless monument. . .guard it well. Don't bleed yourself out in the streets trying to share your insight with others. Casting pearls before swine you will have only yourself to blame. If you cannot help yourself then at least make sure you use the pattern well in your blathering. You can judge for yourself if I have done so here.

Submitted December 17, 2018 at 08:20PM by -johnjones- https://ift.tt/2QXeOlI