Wisdom & Ignorance, A Vast Difference

To make a distinction between ignorance and wisdom is liken to compare between wearing glasses with a clear lens with one that has its index distorted. There is an obvious difference, and hence one can be sure whence wisdom is around due to its high contrast in comparison to ignorance.

And for one who has never realized with wisdom a particular situation will never understand how the point of view can differ so greatly, more so when emotion is displayed obviously between one who is wise and another who is not. And it is never possible to explain, save to show, another who has yet to realize the truth of the situation. Truth of the situation is not about trying to proof another right or wrong, but as a matter of fact – a fact that is unchanged, irrelevant of time, space or storyline – it is about the essence of the situation rather than the storyline itself.

Two ignorants conversing can be painful if both are trying to convince each other as wrong, each thinking themselves as wise. One ignorant with another wise can too be a pain if the ignorant who never understood where the wise is coming from, tries to convince if not argue his point of view, while the wise looking at the other in compassion, realizing the impossibility to explain, except to keep silent.

What makes such a distinction, one may ask? Both ignorant and the wise are coming from a different level of understanding, like a scientist trying to make a person see water as H20 without any prior information whatsoever. Both can be seeing the same thing, but seeing it differently. One obvious distinction is that an ignorant looks at a situation from the past even though he may not be aware of it, whereas the wise looks at the situation in the now, from the level of essence, of what is in actuality a fact occurring in the mind. One may say the ignorant looks at the effect of a situation, whereas the wise is able to see the entire causal relationship, as in cause and effect, of how the situation comes about.

Having the entire picture makes a complete truth of what has actually occurred rather than the danger of half a truth as that may become an assumption, which most of the time, makes an ass out of the situation. For instance, the act of generosity can be seen as a wholesome act as a result of outward appearance – arising from a perceived observation of what occurred… But if one was to watch the mind carefully, the meaning of generosity may not be present, though giving is being done physically, as behind that act itself is its own ulterior motive that taints the true meaning of generosity. The ability to see both its cause and its effect is wisdom at work. To explain this to an ignorant can at times lead to argument of why one needs to be so meticulous. But the matter of fact is not in the experience but realization; how if not understood, will only lead to the proliferation of defilements, or taints, in the mind of the giver, not giving at all, but in actuality, seeking.

In short, a mind of wisdom sees reality, with realization, whereas one with ignorant sees only delusion, not realizing it.

What Love Is

Not that I don’t love you
or I don’t want to love you
but I just can’t love you
but that again does not mean
I don’t love you
or I don’t want to love you.

Arggghh….
all I can only say is that
it is impossible to love you
not to mention loving myself
for there is, in reality
no such a thing
except an idea
of the mind
a
distorted
perception
that there
is a you and me.

What occurs in truth
is the mind, simply nature,
doing its function
consciousness, knows
feeling, feels
perception, perceives
mental formation, forms
without you or me
having a role in it.

Like glasses causing crisp vision
and not me having crisp vision
or ear aids causing clear hearing
and not me having clear hearing
similarly seeing already occurring
without me needing to see
or hearing already occurring
without me needing to hear
I am not at all there
for all to happen.

And thus
how can I say
“I” love you
when love already exists
without me
in the very first place
not to mention
love “you”
but
simply
love alone.

Love is just a phenomenon
just a state
without you or me
except an experience
and not even that
for if there is experience
surely there is an experiencer
oops!
there it goes again the arising of “you” and “me”.

Probably the closest word
is contact
or relate
and the whole meaning of
“experience” appear
hence arising the feeling of love
instead, in actuality, love.

So what I can only say
except to let you know
that love is already here
as and when nothing abstruse it
from arising
without having you or me in it
and hence simply love
instead of I love you
or you love me
which sounds
rather funny
and strange
not to mention an error.

Surely then love
be unconditional
for it is not you or me
or anyone else for that matter
loving
but love itself
Love!

What a beauty!
what a joy!

A Lone Journey

If I were to say
the path is pretty simple
you would not have believed me.

If I were to say
the path is indeed difficult
you would not have understood me too.

For who knows what is your level
of understanding
except my sheer ignorance in
thinking that I know you better
than you know yourself.

Who am I to say what is good for you
save you know for yourself
even if you are not yet in the position
of knowing for yourself
there is no absolute certainty
that I can tell you what is appropriate for you.

Hence it is indeed a mission impossible
to come to a right teaching
for an appropriate mind
that can bring one directly to freedom

as a pin in the haystack
searching but not finding
indeed sorrowful the path of deliverance it can be

and yet nothing is loss
as where there is willingness
and deep conviction
the master will come
when the student is ready

thus be open to receiving
what is already in hand
as anything can be a learning tool
so long as you are ready to look at it
from a beginner’s mind
freed from judgments and reservations.