For eons did humanity, each day upon awakening from the dark sleep, declare: “We are not just an animal! We are not just an animal!” And once this matter finally seemed settled, many years later an individual man began to announce to himself: “I am not just a mind! I am not just a mind!”
In one land was a tidal wave,
one of such gigantic proportions and duration
that no one ever noticed it.
One way to determine that you are still ordinary is if every day you rediscover, and are disturbed by, the obviousness of life – all over again.
An email from a reader:
“When I first found your web page writings I thought I was going to enjoy them ‘cause I thought you were going to tear into religion and politics, rap music, fancy gurus, rich people and international conspiracies and stuff like that, and expose ‘em up for the frauds they are. But that’s not what seems to be happening here…and most of the time I don’t think I understand what you’re talking about. So I guess I ain’t as interested as I thought I was.” Here there was a long pause…then he continued: “Looking back over what I have just written makes me suddenly wonder if I am actually writing this to you or if it is all just taking place in my mind? But I suspect that you would say, it doesn’t matter anyway ’cause whichever way it is, you can either find it meaningless or else learn something from it. I think I’ll close for now.
Yours,” etc.
The stranger rode into town, metaphors strapped to his left leg, and symbols to his right, only to be faced with the sheriff who came un-armed A sight the mighty gunslinger had never seen before. Those too clever for too long shoot themselves in the foot.
J.