So the Tao goes along of itself. And since there is always a basic element of life that cannot be defined---in the same way the Tao cannot be defined---it cannot be controlled. In other words, you cannot get outside yourself to define yourself or control yourself.
--- Alan Watts, "Eastern Wisdom"
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The mind relaxes when it realizes its helplessness. Thanks Tom.
ReplyDeleteHi Colleen, in that same book, Watts describes a cartoon he saw....A small boy is standing and looking at his teacher and saying,"I'm sorry, I didn't hear what you were saying because I was listening so hard."
ReplyDeleteThat's ironic but true. Sometimes it seems the harder I try to understand, the more confused I become. When I stop trying to understand, all is clear.
ReplyDeleteColleen, I know what you mean. Watts said that that cartoon was an example of how we "get in our own way" or "block our own light."
ReplyDeleteHave you heard about the cartoon of Mutt and Jeff that Ramesh Balsekar liked on this subject?
No, I'm not familiar with the Mutt and Jeff cartoon. Could you email it to me or send the link, as I'd be interested to see it? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI've never SEEN it, but have heard Wayne Liquorman describe it.
ReplyDeleteMutt and Jeff are going up a steep hillside street in San Francisco. Mutt is driving, and is having a really hard time getting their old jalopy up the hill.
When at last they make it, Mutt sighs and says to Jeff, "I'm so relieved we made it; I was afraid that if we didn't, we might roll all the way down into the Bay."
Jeff replies,"Mutt, you didn't have to worry. I hand the hand brake on the whole time."
Oops, I HAD the hand brake on, the whole time.
ReplyDeleteGood cartoon- that "hand on the brake" of wanting to control things and define things just creates painful tension. Also, you mentioned the cartoon referred to by Alan Watts earlier, which reminds me I came across a great 2 minute YouTube video by Watts recently. Here is the link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dtixs0UhkI
It's called "The Unsettling Truth About Life."