I am going to begin this comment by saying something that will sound like it is about myself, but in truth is about my relationship with the world and with people. At the age of 22, I was a naïve young man from Nebraska who was very confused about God and religion. I had never tried pot, let alone psychedelics, and had only heard the wor…
I am going to begin this comment by saying something that will sound like it is about myself, but in truth is about my relationship with the world and with people. At the age of 22, I was a naïve young man from Nebraska who was very confused about God and religion. I had never tried pot, let alone psychedelics, and had only heard the word Zen once. I had no idea what it was. Then after a long walk in the John Muir Redwood National Monument, I had hiked into the surrounding hills with my wife. Suddenly, an overwhelming need arose: If there is a God, I need to know. Without warning, everything disappeared from around me, and I was in an abyss that was everything and nothing at the same time. I knew it was what we came from and that to which we return. All else about the experience was beyond mind or language, and so completely unrelatable to others. As I came back, which was slow but brought with it a sense of time, I discovered I was on the ground, laughing as tears spouted from my eyes. I was never the same.
I am now, and have been for some time, a spiritual counselor with healing abilities. I do not advertise, but accept those who find me, and I accept them without prejudice, which means I have a number of Republican clients. Inevitably, they will try to convert me, or make fun of my naturally liberal inclination. I always reply with the truth - I cannot do otherwise. It disturbs all of them. Some retaliate with rage, and I hold up my hand to say stop and warn them that it's best not continue or it will hurt even more. Amazingly, these people eventually look to me as their teacher, at least spiritually, and yet persist in their Republican conditioning. And yet, I consider that they not only tolerate me, but actively seek regular sessions and are upset if I fall ill or go on vacation, so I do feel that something is taking place in them that is good. Others become frightened because of the damage to their belief system and I do not pursue, yet they too continue to solicit my company with friendly offerings and little mention of their beliefs. So here, too, it seems that something is going on inside that may yet take root and grow.
In short, I find that the best thing I can do to turn aside the threat that lies before us is to simply be myself and teach by example, and to do it not by reaching out, but working only with those who brush up against me.
I hope everyone can forgive me for repeating myself in this comment. I was trying to set the stage by relating an event in my life when I had written that event, one I hardly ever mention normally, less than a month ago. Chalk it up to a senior moment. Upon reflecting on the comment itself, I realized I could have simply started with the second paragraph. Duh.
I am going to begin this comment by saying something that will sound like it is about myself, but in truth is about my relationship with the world and with people. At the age of 22, I was a naïve young man from Nebraska who was very confused about God and religion. I had never tried pot, let alone psychedelics, and had only heard the word Zen once. I had no idea what it was. Then after a long walk in the John Muir Redwood National Monument, I had hiked into the surrounding hills with my wife. Suddenly, an overwhelming need arose: If there is a God, I need to know. Without warning, everything disappeared from around me, and I was in an abyss that was everything and nothing at the same time. I knew it was what we came from and that to which we return. All else about the experience was beyond mind or language, and so completely unrelatable to others. As I came back, which was slow but brought with it a sense of time, I discovered I was on the ground, laughing as tears spouted from my eyes. I was never the same.
I am now, and have been for some time, a spiritual counselor with healing abilities. I do not advertise, but accept those who find me, and I accept them without prejudice, which means I have a number of Republican clients. Inevitably, they will try to convert me, or make fun of my naturally liberal inclination. I always reply with the truth - I cannot do otherwise. It disturbs all of them. Some retaliate with rage, and I hold up my hand to say stop and warn them that it's best not continue or it will hurt even more. Amazingly, these people eventually look to me as their teacher, at least spiritually, and yet persist in their Republican conditioning. And yet, I consider that they not only tolerate me, but actively seek regular sessions and are upset if I fall ill or go on vacation, so I do feel that something is taking place in them that is good. Others become frightened because of the damage to their belief system and I do not pursue, yet they too continue to solicit my company with friendly offerings and little mention of their beliefs. So here, too, it seems that something is going on inside that may yet take root and grow.
In short, I find that the best thing I can do to turn aside the threat that lies before us is to simply be myself and teach by example, and to do it not by reaching out, but working only with those who brush up against me.
I hope everyone can forgive me for repeating myself in this comment. I was trying to set the stage by relating an event in my life when I had written that event, one I hardly ever mention normally, less than a month ago. Chalk it up to a senior moment. Upon reflecting on the comment itself, I realized I could have simply started with the second paragraph. Duh.