To actually find the moon we need to stop looking at the finger, we need to jump off into the dark. We need courage and we need to walk it, not someone else. We have to do it, it cannot be done for us, nor can we simply follow a how-to manual. We need to not use our brain or even our consciousness. The only way to find the moon is to not look for it.
Everything is at best an approximation, a sign post, pointing in a potentially useful direction (for the pointer) at some location in space-time, to the best of their recollection, though the filter of their consciousness and ability to communicate, brought in to you by your ability to receive it, process it, and act on it and not sabotage yourself, unless that is what you actually want whether you realize it or not. This all assumes of course that they are telling the truth or at least intend and believe that they are, and that you want to or at least believe you want to and would be able to hear the truth. I swear, the moon is just over there. Now where did it go?
Zen or wisdom or peace or confidence or presence or honesty or purpose or community is feeling and knowing not understanding and definitely not deriving. It is the pure cool water that we hold momentarily in our dirty hands and drink. It is the yummy green flash we get in that little space and time when our brain just stops and we know where the moon is or at least know that we can know. Thank God for Zen Koans! Just knowing that it is going to be alright and that there is a moon is good enough somedays. Really it is more than good enough everyday we just don’t always know it. Sometimes there are clouds between us and the moon. We are still there and the moon is still there. Be the wave not the water. But also be the water.
Do you think the moon is ever trying to find us? From whom does the moon get counsel or advice? Does the moon need us or want us? Does the moon look towards other moons? Is the moon aware of its awesome moon-ness? Has the moon ever had a finger or an eye; has it ever wanted these? Why did I resist assigning a gender to Mr. Moon in his flowery dress?
Do you ever wish there were more than one moon? Have there been? Are there currently? Could we make a new one if this one decides to leave? Is this the same moon that Galileo looked up to, or Jesus, or the first peoples in the first caves in the first lands? Was the moon lonely before there were wolves to howl to it and lonely lovers to lament it longingly?
You are the moon today.
Tomorrow I may be. I hope so.
Illuminate me.
p.s. I read the title of this piece in some book recently, I do not remember which one, but it is most defininitely not my creation!
