Allowing the Moment

We were joining some friends at a party. The party was held at at another friends house. The house was grand, its architecture was a mix of Spanish colonial with Moorish influences. The ceiling in the main rooms were soaring, up to about thirty feet. In the gathering room the ceiling had been painted with fresco's depicting the seasons which were separated by large beams. The floor was distressed walnut with a very large silk Oriental carpet at its center. The room was furnished with European antiques and leather upholstered sofas and chairs. H, was the owner of the house. He had made his wealth in the aerospace industry and later in politics. I had worked in his house on occasion, building built in cabinets in various rooms. He approached and welcomed me to the party and said how much he enjoyed the work that I had done. He was an unassuming and gentle man who was given toward generosity and kindness. He smiled with a big toothy grin and said, "L, some friends have told me that you are the author of that Buddhist Blog, whats it called?" He paused looking for help. Yes I am the one, but I prefer to remain anonymous. "Why?", he said, "Its good, I mean I don't completely understand all that you are saying, but it seems to have a lot of insightful messages." Its in my nature to be without acknowledgement, to be selfless, which is simply being aware in the moment. He said, "I had no idea that you were a Buddhist and so spiritual." Actually I am not really Buddhist nor am I particularly spiritual. The Buddha was not a "Buddhist". It seems to me that he was very much an iconoclast with regard to the idealism of religion. Hence the title Iconoclasticbuddha. For me the truth lies in the negation of the known. Whatever I think that I know or believe in, is negated. Its allowing the moment, the essence of what is without the projection of my particular mind set. "I'm not quite sure what you mean." "How is it possible to think in a manner in which you are eliminating what you know." Through awareness that is choiceless and timeless. When their is no self that knows, then what is left? Mind takes on a new quality. One in which their is freedom to explore the unknown without trying to capture it and make it part of a system of belief. When you allow the moment, then the unknown envelopes you. Now something original is possible, a realization about the self and its conditioning. It is to see through the illusion of permanency and continuity. The ending of time as what was, as the self that knows. Then one no longer lives in the past tense. "But L, how is it possible that people could live this way?" You mean live without the violence of mine and yours, of systems of belief that only harbor suspicion and rejection. To live a life of peace and freedom that frees one from the bonds of self loathing and prejudice. It is simple, one only needs to be aware of the self and its propensity to justify and reconcile. It starts with acceptance of the truth of the moment, which can only be realized when the self that knows has dissipated. But to break through ones accumulated conditioning is very difficult. It takes passion and vulnerability. To realize that your whole life has been one of repetition, of repeating ones defined image of self illusion. "I don't know that I completely agree with or understand what you are saying, but it certainly makes you think of the possibility of something 'different'." "I will have to think more on what you have said."

Across the room I spotted my friend M, who was signaling me to come over. We greeted each other with hugs. M, was a very attractive female who made no bones about her sexuality and ability to attract men. However M was no push over, she was extremely intelligent and would play with peoples intellectual inadequacy. "L, I am totally bored with this crowd, you are perhaps the only one worth my considerable talent for mischief." We both laughed out loud as if we were the only ones capable of genuine humor. "So how is my Buddha these days?" Very well and you. "How could I be anything but?" "So did you give H an ear full of the 'illusive'?"
We talked a little, but like so many, he tries to understand through his conditioning. "Well perhaps you put a chink in his armor." Yes I think so, it only takes a small amount of light in a totally dark room. M said, "Wow L, I need to remember that one." We walked into the library where one other couple was talking as they sipped champagne. We sat down on a huge sofa that faced an enormous fireplace of carved stone. "L, I have not told you this, because I really dislike being vulnerable to a man (laughter), but you have really opened my eyes." "Thanks for being my friend and for all your wisdom and understanding." Actually I have done very little, it is you who have caused the change, who has realized the truth of the moment. "For the first time in my life I am completely without fear." "Thanks for setting me free." "I am now without the need for anything, things come my way without effort or worry." "Its strange, when I first met you I thought, who is this weirdo, and whats he talking about?" "Well you are still a weirdo, (laughter), an alien, but one who can touch the deepest part of consciousness and make you realize the truth about yourself." "I have seen, its scary for most people, they don't want to look." "But once you look, realize that self illusion, then you are changed forever their is no going back." "Well enough of this esoteric crap...I think you should kiss me, but no tongue!" We laughed, kissed and left the party.