At the Cusp of Forever: "The Simplicity of Everything"

"In the sixth century a text named the Shinhinmei refers to the way of Zen as a circle of vast space, lacking nothing and holding nothing in excess. At first glance the ancient ensō symbol appears to be nothing more than a miss-shaped circle but its symbolism refers to the beginning and end of all things, the circle of life and the connectedness of existence. It can symbolize emptiness or fullness, presence or absence. All things might be contained within, or, conversely, excluded by its boundaries. It can symbolize infinity, the “no-thing”, the perfect meditative state, and Satori or enlightenment. It can even symbolize the moon, which is itself a symbol of enlightenment—as in the Zen saying, “Do not mistake the finger pointing at the moon for the moon itself.” In other words, do not mistake doctrines, teachings or explanations, which are intended to guide one toward enlightenment, for enlightenment itself. Ensō can also represent the moon’s reflection on water, thereby symbolizing the futility of searching for enlightenment outside oneself."

-- Modern Zen, "Enso"

So, there I was, once again, meditating on the atomic structure of belly-button lint as I stood, toe to edge, at the Cusp of Forever.  I was also considering the latest group I'd addressed in the local hospital at which I’m the lead chaplain.  The topic for that particular morning was how really simple "everything" is.  I touted the simplicity of life and explained how our poor choices, driven by ignorance, ego, and greed, can often time result in sad consequences for which we feel there is no escape.  This senseless feeling of helplessness can make us feel trapped in a life we define as crap when all we have to do is make a better choice.

Each Wednesday, I spend an hour opening troubled minds to a reality that life really isn't as difficult as we make it.  Everything is really that simple, and it's supposed to be.  God intended it to be just that simple.  We have been given the ability to reason, to make choices, and it is up to us to make the best choices possible or, at the very least, be happy or content with the consequences.  Our freedom of choice is something no one can take from us, and it is why every decision we make is ours and ours alone.  Our attempt to blame others for our misery is misplaced.

“You can get discouraged many times, but you are not a failure until you begin to blame somebody else and stop trying.”

-- John Burroughs (1837-1921), naturalist, essayist

In my other posts in which I discuss my occasional visits to the Cusp of Forever, I talk about what to do when the abyss begins to stare back, which it inevitably will.  If you are intent on getting into a staring contest with the void, don't worry so much about being the first to blink.  As a matter of fact, I recommend that you learn to smile, and then wink.  Hell, wink and then stick out your tongue and maybe even give it a wet raspberry, but smile all the while.

Those who go to the Cusp stare into the abyss for a multitude of reasons.  Most are looking for enlightenment, as though staring into nothingness can unleash some deeply hidden meaning to everything.  But, you know, sometimes staring into nothing and emptying your mind, can do just that.  Nature abhors a vacuum and, given the opportunity, will fill it with the true reality of which we may be in denial.  "True reality" is what it is, after all, and if it isn't then, perhaps, our reality is a construct of our desires or our fears.  Reality is what it is until it isn't, and the answers as to "why" is what we truly seek at the threshold to the abyss, the Cusp of Forever.

Thirty spokes share the wheel's hub;

It is the center hole that makes it useful.

Shape clay into a vessel;

It is the space within that makes it useful.

Cut doors and windows for a room;

It is the holes which make it useful.

Therefore profit comes from what is there;

Usefulness from what is not there.

-- Lao Tzu, "Tao Te Ching"

Ensō, the Zen circle, has always held a fascination for me; the symbolic "futility of searching for enlightenment outside oneself."  If one is to ask why things happen in their lives, and they are absolutely honest with themselves when answering, then the answer to their question of "why" will always be - them!  Their consequences will always be grounded in some decision they made.  We can complicate our search by trying to shift blame, and we complicate our lives by constantly shifting blame for everything we alone made the decisions for, when all we really had to do was make a better decision, a better choice.

Everyone's enlightenment can be found within themselves.  As with our personal path, it is ours and ours alone.  No one can find it for us.  No one can and no one may.  Only we can find the enlightenment within us.  We simply have to stop trying so damned hard, because it simply isn't that difficult.  We can spend billions of dollars on particle accelerators so we can understand "the structure of the subatomic world and the laws of nature governing it," or we can watch an apple fall from a tree and have an "Aha!" moment.  Both of these methods are great at expanding our knowledge of everything, but maybe all we really need to know about everything is... that it is.

And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

-- William Shakespeare, "Hamlet"

If science is all about discovery and proof, perhaps there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophies.  I stand by many of the old adages:  If it's too good to be true, it probably is; too much of a good thing isn't; if it a deal sounds like bullshit, run away; there's no such thing as a free lunch; don't worry over that which you have no control; and so on.  One of our biggest failures would be not seeing the forest for all the trees blocking the view.  We spend way too much time studying all the damned trees and not enough time taking it all in.  I think we get caught up in the minutia of proving instead of simply believing what we see before our eyes. If we stopped thinking so hard and simply grasped the concept of "forest" perhaps trees would fall into place.  It isn't that we can't see the forest; it's that we look so hard we don't understand we're already in it.  The ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, says, “We work with the substantial, but the emptiness is what we use”  Perhaps we need to empty our minds to truly see, and understand, the wonders before us.

I look around at the wonders of my world, and I have no doubt of the existence of a higher power. I no longer care about proof of God because it is enough to have faith in the existence of God. Once you recognize what you see, you're able to see it everywhere, in everything and everybody. So, if we're looking for a theory of everything, answers to our questions will simply open the door to infinitely more questions as we come to the realization that the only universal constant is change.

The simplicity of everything is that it is. We can try to understand everything but, in the end, we'll find it, very simply, is what it is. But, then again, the abyss was also where I became cognizant of the only constant in the universe and, by extension, the following:

Reality is what it is, and what it ain't it ain't.

Sometimes, what it is it ain't, and what it ain't, well... it is.

Other times it is nothing, and then it ain't nothing.

But, if it is nothing, it ain't, and if it ain't nothing, it is.

Acknowledging nothing gives nothing existence; 

Therefore, whether it is or it ain't, it must be,

Because even nothing that ain't, already is.

-- Tony Villari, "What It Ain't It Ain't"

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.