On the eve of the chronic sinusitis for which I am now being treated, I had a dream in which I received an ultimatum from my psyche/soul: Leave the perishable behind and take refuge in the imperishable.
The imperishable has no name, not even God. Zen calls this “no-mind.” It has no birth and therefore no death. It has no beginning or end. It is completely non-conceptual. Stop thinking about it, I was told. Just match it with what you call in your wonderful essay
“nothing.”
But remember the concept of “nothing” is not a substitute for it. I was told to learn to disappear; to go, as Lew Welch said, “out of my mind.” And, dau-dau, that ain’t easy. But neither you nor I have any choice in the matter. As long as we think we do, we’re like parachutes opened but caught uselessly in a tree.
You're so right—it ain't easy. Also, I'm sure I inherited my vivid dreaming from you. You're the only other person I know who wakes up with crystal clear memories of their dreams with the same frequency as I do. (Max almost never remembers his.)
On the eve of the chronic sinusitis for which I am now being treated, I had a dream in which I received an ultimatum from my psyche/soul: Leave the perishable behind and take refuge in the imperishable.
The imperishable has no name, not even God. Zen calls this “no-mind.” It has no birth and therefore no death. It has no beginning or end. It is completely non-conceptual. Stop thinking about it, I was told. Just match it with what you call in your wonderful essay
“nothing.”
But remember the concept of “nothing” is not a substitute for it. I was told to learn to disappear; to go, as Lew Welch said, “out of my mind.” And, dau-dau, that ain’t easy. But neither you nor I have any choice in the matter. As long as we think we do, we’re like parachutes opened but caught uselessly in a tree.
You're so right—it ain't easy. Also, I'm sure I inherited my vivid dreaming from you. You're the only other person I know who wakes up with crystal clear memories of their dreams with the same frequency as I do. (Max almost never remembers his.)
This is so so so beautiful, yes! To the fertile void, Shana Tova!
Thank you so much, Salihah! Means so much coming from you ❤️ Shana tova!