"Some doors open only from the inside."
"How does one open such a door?"
"Leave a void outside the door and it will open. Be present outside the door and it cannot."
"How might one walk through such a door, that will close when I approach?"
"Nothing can pass through these doors."
Inspired by a wonderful quote at the Bamboo Shade blog. Also brought to you by my tendency to think literally, the number ninety-two, and the letter A.
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9 comments:
"The Great Way has no gate,
A thousand roads enter it.
When one passes through this gateless gate,
He freely walks between heaven and earth."
Our teaching makes our mind the principle and the gateless gate its very gate. Since it is the gateless gate, how can one pass through it?
Are you not aware of the insight that purports,"Those who have entered the gate are no family treasures. What is gained as a result of cause and effect has beginning and end, and thus will become nothing." Such remarks are like raising up waves in the windless ocean, or gouging a wound into healthy skin.Those who cling onto words are fools who believe that they can catch the moon with a stick or can scratch their itchy foot through a leather shoe. How can they "see" reality as it actually is?
Mumon
Almost Zen as well, but then Sufis and Zen point to the same thing. ;-) Walk through the doorway that isn't. :-) Excellent, Julie!
John
Yes, you must open the door from the inside to receive the reality outside. The reality outside becomes the reality inside; enjoy it while you can. Don't retreat into yourself; this is separation, isolation, and loneliness. How you see the world outside depends on what you think and feel about it. Your neighbor's face is God's face. What is without is within; there is no difference. What is within is without; there is no separation. This is reality and meditation.
This is oneness, wholeness, integration, and integrity.
To enclose yourself within is to die a spiritual death. Appreciate the world and the world will appreciate you. You are the world.
We are the world. We are one.
The Beloved
One went to the door of the Beloved and knocked.
A voice asked: 'Who is there?' He answered: 'It is I.'
The voice said: 'There is no room here for me and thee.'
The door was shut.
After a year of solitude and deprivation
this man returned to the door of the Beloved.
He knocked.
A voice from within asked: 'Who is there?'
The man said: 'It is Thou.'
The door was opened for him.
Rumi (Shah 207)
"What door?"....to be able to see so clearly!
I am humbled by all your wonderful comments.
"there is no difference... there is no separation... we are one."
Amen.
Which side of the door are we on here? If this is a Buddhist door, I'm assuming neither and both?
(I'm not a Buddhist, but, kidding aside, have been strongly influenced by Buddhism. It's a great religion, providing some real insight into how to set about getting on track with your life.)
an opening door closes another as surely as a butterfly flaps its wings
oh lovely my enlightened friend.
when my hinges are loose,
the door won't open until
I find which screw to tighten.
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