However our Zen forefathers basically said that to discover ones own true nature one must stop seeking, even seeking after enlightenment. If you correlate that with the idea that we find what we look for, then seeking and seeing are inextricably linked. And that leads to the idea in the Voice of the Silence that we must be deaf and blind to all external phenomena.

In The Labors of Hercules the story of Scorpio concludes when Hercules lifts the Hydra into the light of die and consequently all of its heads to die, but one. A. A. Bailey suggested that the immortal head was sexuality, if I remember rightly. Maybe I don’t. But perhaps this immortal head was seeking. There is no doubt though that sexuality drives a whole lot of seeking of its own. And the sociobiologists would argue that sexual competition drives the need for status, for wealth, etc. I tend to agree.

Yet seeking is very much in the mind. And I think being mindful of this is a very useful tool to aid ones practice. I would suggest that letting go of seeking enables one to be receptive to one’s true nature.

But then there’s the idea of knock, knock it’s the indwelling awareness here. The Rules of Magic thought that “when the shadow hath responded in meditation deep” to the communication of the soul. There’s a suggestion of passivity of the personality there. Like an active waiting without expectation. Listening. You never know when it’s going to happen, so just pay attention to the presence. Meditation without expectation.

Realising that all things are impermanent. Letting go lasting forever. I just let go. Now thoughts are back so I let go again without seeking an object to the letting go, just letting go all of itself. The mind realises the futility of thinking, where did thinking get me anyway? Around and around the wheel of karma. Jump off by letting go. Abandon thoughts like the cage they are. Who caged me anyway? “Where is the fault?” “Wherever you look for it.” Joshu.

Words are out now.

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