(This Way or That Way and You) and 'your' Self
Where can I meet you?
"Do you know how to get here?"
Let's start from the beginning.
*****
Before time, when there was no who to decide, no 'what if', nowhere to go, no when to begin, nor why which way, there was simply this way or that way. Not a question just a fact, aimless and certain except for this way or that but trapped in meaninglessness.
This primordial 'dilemma' ensued. It grew and grew like a vibration that couldn't matter until the 'vibration' could be attained by this way or that way as an instance of time. Now a way became a possibility. Imagine that, this way or that way finally mattered.
This way or that way, not just a fact but the genesis of truth, a reality, the truth of relevance that can influence change through action or leave it to chance. This truth named "¡!" took shelter in a cosmic cadence known as sacros . Since the advent of meaning, sacros has been the wellspring of what humans describe and practice as goodness.
To begin with ¡! was without purpose. Time's children of change and chance were restless. This way or that way finally could proceed but which way? Soon tension between this way or that way and ¡! developed over a lack of direction. This ambiguity beckoned sacros whose principle of purpose caused ¡! to divide into many truths in order to fulfil the promise of future. A tug upon the present would open the way to here or there. Within time came truths of all kinds and through these sacros could inform the momentum of this way or that way such that someday there might manifest good actions. But could information be enough?
Among these many truths, the results of divisions that have an attraction to re-unite are the most probabilistic inclined progeny of ¡! Countless fusions and fissions marauded in the playground of serendipity in the midst of which this way or that way could realise many forms and precipitate Life. Great progress was made despite chaos.
At last goodness was afoot. Good actions fulfil sacros. Sacros affirms goodness. Goodness relies on sacros in much the same way as Life makes its home in nature.
Now it was time for Life to emulate ¡!'s division and perform in such a way that someday some of its forms would have to make meaningful choices. One half of this divide shall be called ¿ and the other half called ?. Evolution ensued built upon manifold layers of this way or that way compiled through the truths of ¡! But the progress of interactions between ¿ and ? scarcely could sustain sacros on earth since through the ages its basis in evolution had offered little benefit.
Time was running out. Life's divide and struggle within the forces of evolution could empower sacros through goodness produced by right choices but how? Progress needed more action. The truth of goodness needed a means that could discover the way. Unfortunately, most of the time neither ¿ nor ? could grasp this truth as they often sought to deceive and exploit one another, subdue the weaker, cherish their embodiment or wallow in their senses to the exclusion of all else. Evolution could provide just part of the answer, a most important part, but more was needed for goodness to prosper. Higher beings were needed. Evolution carried on with renewed vigour.
As the attraction between ¿ and ? grew, their struggle, their union, their mutualistic journey throughout evolution eventually would lead to the birth of humankind. Could a solution to unfulfilled sacros be found? As humans, ¿ and ? had much to learn. At first the course of goodness was slowed, set back, and even discarded at times by ¿ and ? through their purposeful actions of harm, those wasteful and worthless, of no manner of sustenance, of emptiness that became the embrace of badness that is a falsehood of no domain.
At the onset of humankind instinct had become passé. Nonetheless, humanity had inherited all that Life had devised for survival. Humans could use or abuse this inheritance by choice. Now a new kind of power reigned on earth. Rejoice. Life was challenged by free will in search of meaning, and thus a cycle of great promise had been consummated though it was bursting with juvenile tumult. Merit, the substance of goodness, was in short supply. Next, humans would learn the art of culture and education that across many generations would help their conscience evolve. However, this proved to be a slow and painful process.
Finally, one day, ¿ and ? woke up as very thoughtful humans. They realised that truth and goodness had become the inspiration for many faiths around the world while hope subdued the badness that oscillated wherever goodness did not resonate. But they wanted more than objects or concepts that were shrouded in beliefs of worship. They wanted to know what rules and rituals were based in truth and where to find the bedrock of faith. Intrigued, they went on a pilgrimage in search of ¡! They asked many questions about meaning along the way. While travelling in a jungle they met a sage, an aberrant, known as " / " who agreed with much of what they had come to question. / taught ¿ and ? that being responsible and accepting responsibility for their choices and actions belonged to a long tradition of cultivating lasting goodness. Above all, understanding how to unite caring, compassion and love with making responsible, right choices is the answer to all other answers. To do this easily, as a matter of habit, they must live within - be within - the community of Life and not merely observe or exploit it. They need to experience a kind of love found after journeying with resolute emotion, steeped in empathy, to a place wherein beauty and intellect are indistinguishable and love teaches truths. The most reliable and genuine entry into this community is through the gateway of your self. Thereafter, may the relationships among ¡!, ¿ and ? be those of tranquillity and caring forged of mutual respect. Soar. May ¿ and ? intuit every plea for compassion as the rewards of grace overthrow badness such that mercy may not ring hollow.
/ explained that today :
There is so much more to observe, and yet we have lost sight.
There is so much more to feel, and yet we have lost touch.
There is so much more to hear, and yet we fail to listen.
There is so much more to savour, and yet we experience a modicum of taste.
There is so much more to smell, and yet we camouflage Life's perfume.
There is so much more to know, and yet we know not ourselves.
¿ and ? asked how, when the senses are so distracted, can you know yourself let alone what is beyond you? / replied at length, "One can go on living as you do, and happily so, yet never fully mature before death. This is the way most choose and though it is admirable to find happiness where so many others can’t, is this enough, is this right for you? Seek. In order to recognise yourself, first lie naked before your senses such that their only feedback is about you and not about what is around you. Next, learn how to manage the gift of emotion that is so important to your life.
While in good health and fully rested, lie down in a room and for one or more hours lie still though comfortably.
close your eyes - what do you see?
limit sensations - what do you feel?
plug your ears - what do you hear?
consume nothing - what do you taste?
avoid odours - what do you smell?
Now your thoughts are louder than ever before and your senses may crave familiarity. Summon the discipline to quiet or dismiss these distractions by contemplating being and existing in your body. There are many meditative practices that teach how to do this correctly. You must glimpse the self that was before you became selfish or selfless, greedy or foolhardy, the self before your collaboration with your senses coloured its transparency. In this way know your self for this is the beginning."
/ went onto explain that those who utilise their five senses to inform themselves about their selves, as Life intended of humans, can discover a sixth sense within their maturing minds, a sense born to all but which few cultivate from its embryonic stage at birth. This sixth sense is the key to understanding a reality that the other five senses can't sense. Receptive, balanced emotion is the sensor and intellect is the interpreter. / told ¿ and ?, "Bathe in Life. Do this in the stillness of you as though you have stepped aside. At this moment may empathy transcend to all of Life around you whether the grass beneath you, the shrubs or trees close by or the insects and birds moving about. Don't contemplate their condition but rather the truth of life that underlies them all - and you - for this is where you can find the knowledge that will make you whole.
You may ask, 'What happens to me?' You are but a combination of energy and elements, nurtured through Life, into the form I see. To find energy, you have only to bask in the sun. The elements lie in the soil at your feet. But from where is your self? For that you must look within Life. Like your body of energy and elements, you are as impermanent and your self is as indistinguishable and transient. However, as part of your body, you can learn truths that effect sacros wherein lies meaning and the reunion of your self with all. The more relevant you are to meaning the greater the depth of your contentedness and, perhaps, the longer you may enjoy life and contribute a life well lived."
¿ and ? learned that personal revelation, brought through a developed mind, can manifest this sense of communion with what of Life is unseen, unfelt, unheard, tasteless, and smellless but how could they know they were on the right path?
/ went onto say, "Lie amongst an abundance of life in the temple of nature and open your self. Find the reality of Life that at its essence is meant to be known and is ready to teach those attuned. 'Sense' the transparency of this relationship and enjoy its honesty as a heartfelt pleasure that exceeds all others. Once so known, beliefs in afterlife, rebirth, various heavens or hells vanish along with the fear of death for they become irrelevant and discarded artefacts of your instinct for preservation, a very necessary instinct, of course, but a hindrance whenever threatened by non-individuality. There is no thought of getting things right for a next life, there is every focus on getting right this life, otherwise you may never know your meaning to the fullest extent since you will have lived only as fully as an eagle, an ass or a human who lived to die and never lived in Life. No form of life can be thought of as a thing and one becomes estranged from the notion of owning any living being whatsoever whether plant or animal or their habitats. You belong to no group nor land because your place is everywhere and you are at home anywhere. Humility and forgiveness are uncomplicated and at the ready. A sense of responsibility and caring predominates. Beauty becomes intrinsic as an appreciation of relationship that is an ecology of good actions underpinning hope and sustaining faith. Nature becomes your shelter to be enjoyed inside and outside your home. Life is both the provider of your sustenance as well as the alter at which you worship. The meaning of your life is reflected in how well you decide to live it. The clarity of that reflection shines in the light of goodness that reveals all falsehoods.
Tomorrow, may you :
open your eyes such that what you see is out of sight,
caress what you can't touch with empathy that transcends form,
hear truths sung in the verse of evolution in step with the pulse of Life,
taste the elements that shelter you as they nourish your reality,
smell not the decay of death but the vibrancy of Life,
know that this is the domain of the sixth sense wherein truths guide right choices that you may enjoy or deny."
¿ and ? asked, "What if we are content with our lives? Why is it important to have this other kind of knowledge before death?" Confounded, / replied, "Because you have to be alive to find it, to know it, and the sooner the better for you and all around you. Right, you can travel this way and be content with yourself, but you also can travel that way and be in the content of Life. Why not travel both ways?
A much admired poet once wrote :
‘'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.'
This sentiment has to do with experiencing the fullness of being human. What of knowing the fullness of being in Life to the same extent as being in love? This way requires your individuality and that way requires your dissolution - either way is full of love although different kinds of love. Practice this before you die that you may know only the inconsequence of death.’
After much contemplation, ¿ and ? found meaning while travelling this way and that way. Remarkably, upon self-realisation, they straightened out and from then onward ¡/! has come to symbolise the promise and conviction of their actions for goodness. And to this day all who affirm goodness as their mission in life remind themselves of their quest with the symbol Goodness Symbol known as the symbol of goodness that reverberates as a note in the cosmic cadence of sacros.
******
Where can I meet you?
"Where we can recognise each other in our selves as kin of Life's embodiment of goodness."
How long can I stay?
"Child, you have come home."
inspired by Meaning
 Please do not alter these texts or post elsewhere on the internet.   Meaningism.org 2013