Haven't I Heard That Already?

Being a restless lad since the McCarthy era I have looked hither 'n yon for answers. Answers answers answers. Who what where. And why did I begin in the McCarthy era? Those times have faded for many - since they died. And many don't remember them. They are really more of a timestamp for me.

One could say I became conscious somewhere around that time. I just sort of "noticed" I was. Before the Age of Pinkos, I have no clue. Who's on first? Did the godless Commies bring me to life in their evil laboratories? Perhaps. Maybe I was mysteriously reincarnated here, for the 500,000th lifetime. That used to comfort me in some sort of strangely denial-ridden fashion.

A plethora (well, semi-plethora) of attempts at this 'n that philosophy, religious belief system, American way, and on and on...mixed with a dash of school of knocks has twirled the consciousness this way and that. Buffeted against the rocks of uncertainty, I find myself again at that place, which I write about again. The labyrinth. It's a good place to hit that old Existential Pause button and reflect.

I read an email post by a certain Buddhist Lama yesterday. It really was that post that pushed my dependable old Existential Pause button. Where would I be widdout it? The post was mostly about...well, I kinda fergit. Do you like the West Texas accent, my reader friends? I can drop into it in a second. Jus watch me doit toit.

Anway, I'm really just stalling, because...sometimes, the Existential Pauses linger with me. Don't want set the "machine" back on "play" again. After that Pause, I'm often left in a place of "no-mind" And sometimes that no-mind place doesn't feel like any sort of Buddhist kind of Nibbanic "thing" but really more of a categorically empty place. Doesn't last, and I always pick up and go. Often the pieces seem to have lost total meaning for a while as well.

So, it's time to end the stalling and get on with this. Lama Who's on First is just talking about how it's good to have confidence in Buddha Nature. I'm simplifying here. Makes the journey more joyful, etc.

As soon as I read that post, I immediately "saw" how what the Lama said was really rather similar to what I grew up with in the Methodist church, "Trust in the Lord." I'm not necessarily saying that these two are really the same things, but what I'm saying is that they are really the same things.

Might as well make a sort-of koan about it. Why not? I feel the Pause, the Existential Pause hitting me. I get them from time to time. Had one when I read that email. My interpretation might have been more "unfavorable" than many readers. Some would interpret that as showing the unity beneath.

I however, interpret it more as, more of...the same. I've heard my total science relative say to "trust the laws of Physics" and that didn't quite hit me with such a large EP (existential pause in case you haven't been paying attention! HAHAHA). Still, the "trust in" anything, seems to be a big issue.

Underlying this visible world is a more better flow. It's the Tao. It's Buddha Nature. It's God's Will. It's the laws of Physics. It's Allah's Will. It's the Great Oz.

It all sounds really good. It all sounds really the same. It all must flow from the same source of truth. Don't you think?

"Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Sponge Bob Square Pants!"