2012.07.14 _ 95

The way 'I' see it, just my perspective at the moment, realization of non duality won't necessarily make us any happier, though it might end the futile disappointing search for some permanent state of bliss and happiness. ( I wonder if we could endure that anyway?) It's the 'mountains and rivers, then no mountains and rivers, then back to the mountains and rivers again' metaphor of Zen. And a realization that we are not truly separate from apparent others could remove some of the separateness of ego that makes barriers to compassion. But again, I think that also depends on lots of other factors in our genetics, upbringing etc.

Storm wrote, a few days ago:

Question: You have become like Chiyono. Your attachment is gone. You no longer suffer because of it. And you meet people on your way who are also carrying old buckets slopping with water, each bucket bound with bamboo. What do you do?

One "playing as Chiyono" scene plays out for me in such a way that is almost a still shot at some levels...

Many Chiyonos at various stages of time and buckets/no bucket are in the same scene. Some are looking around, some are not. The ones looking around meet other eyes at times. Some of those looking and meeting other eyes flash and look away, some linger and smile. Some of those lingering and smiling, stay, and spark conversation. Some of these staying conversations are sparked with bucket-less Chiyonos.

Not an answer, just a kind of buddha network scene-ario, because what came to mind was whether the bucket carrying encounters asked or implored in some way, which may not be verbal. I suppose there are parallels to "sower went out to sow" except in this case the sower isn't really "out to" sow. edited 00:31, 15 Jul 2012

Thank you Eliza. There is no single 'right' answer to my question. But it's not a pointless riddle either. The Lotus Eye sees those struggling and is moved by compassion to bring about relief from that suffering. But how? Is there an automatic duty to help bring relief from suffering? Or even an automatic right? But wait... is there a presumption of suffering in the first place, where none is actually currently experienced?

Ah, questions! :)

Tonight, karuna-metta before a chat with Eos in the PaB pavilion.