Tag Archives: illusion

Watchfulness: Overcoming Illusion

Posted on October 13, 2020 | Leave a comment

In spiritual circles there’s much ado about overcoming illusion.

In Hinduism and Buddhism, Maya is illusion and ignorance.  Like dirt being removed from an object to reveal its true nature, dispelling illusion reveals truth.

In Zen, the confrontation with reality known as kenshō is the goal you cannot reach by striving.  As Brad Warner would say, to get started you should first “Sit down and shut up.”

In Christianity, nepsis (watchfulness) and diakrisis (discernment) cleanse the nous (the ‘true I’) and dispel illusion, allowing entrance to the Kingdom of God.

Luke 17:20-21 (King James Version).

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Buy my e-books in any format to suit your device at Smashwords!

Leave a comment

Posted in Martial arts, Mysticism

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Correspondence with an Old Friend

Posted on October 12, 2015 | 1 comment

wpid-20151012_102237.jpg“Dear Mitch:

I have been watching you, and I’m concerned about your mental state.  Don’t you realize that if something isn’t “New and Improved!” or “On Sale!” it isn’t worthy of your attention?  Everything of value is one or the other, that’s why I keep repeating The Message over and over and over again, a billion trillion times a day.  Why won’t you listen?

We all care deeply about you, and want you to be successful.  That’s why we’re trying to get it through your thick skull.  Be more like your phone, laptop, and tablet.  They’re always updating themselves, fixing the bugs, making the operating system more stable.  Be more like Big Retail.  They have a sale every week, each one bigger and better than the last, an ever-increasing Arc of Miraculous Savings.

Please believe me when I say that everything is getting better, cheaper, fresher, more entertaining and more awesome.  The old stuff has been surpassed and replaced, and there is no need to look at it or think about it.  Forward is the only way!  Don’t be a Luddite, don’t be weirdo, don’t be fooled or tricked into looking back.  There’s nothing there.  It’s a waste of your time.

Life is pointless, and there is no God or One.  So please don’t waste your time looking inward anymore.  Just have fun and try not to think so much (preferably not at all).

Regards,

~Maya”

————————————

“Dear Maya:

Fuck you and horse you rode in on.

Love,

~Mitch”

1 Comment

Posted in Mysticism

Tagged ,