a choice between fear and love

laurie lipton

 

The world is

like a ride at an amusement park,

and when you choose to go on it, you think it’s real,

because that’s how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up

and down and round and round and it has thrills and chills

and it’s very brightly colored and it’s very loud.

And it’s fun, for a

while.

 

Some people

have been on the ride

for a long time, and they begin to

question: ‘Is this real? Or is this just a ride?’

And other people have remembered, and they come

back to us and they say ‘Hey! Don’t worry, don’t

be afraid — ever — because this is just a

ride.’ And we kill those

people.

 

…We always kill

those good guys who try and

tell us that — ever notice that? — and we

let the demons run amok. But it doesn’t matter,

because it’s just a ride, and we can change it any time we want.

It’s only a choice. No effort. No worry. No job. No savings

and money. Just a choice, right now, between fear and

love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks

on your door, buy bigger guns, close yourself

off. The eyes of love, instead, see all

of us as one.

 

Here’s

what we can do

to change the world, right

now, into a better ride. Take all that money

we spend on weapons and defense each year and, instead,

spend it feeding, clothing and educating the poor of the world,

which it would do many times over — not one human being

excluded — and we can explore space together,

both inner and outer, forever.

In peace.

 

Bill Hicks

 

cultivate yourself in this life

the very good wife of the very good fellow

 

Goodness is important

on the way. Once you turn to the tao,

why fear old age? The spiritual immortals have

left methods of grafting life energy, which aspirants

should practice with a true heart. Going back to the root

produces life-prolonging tea; turning the attention

inward is a restorative balm. If you do not

cultivate yourself in this life, how will

you know what road to return on

in the coming life?

 

Harmony is important

on the way — what is the purpose

of quietistic escapism? One of the ancient

adepts used commerce to complete the great Way,

another nurtured the spiritual tree while serving as an

official. To be in the world yet beyond the world is the road

transcending the ordinary; detached from society while

in society, one enters the lair of immortals.

So many realized people since

ancient times have refined

themselves in cities

and towns.

 

Liu I-Ming

awakening to the tao

hard copy