One of the most prevalent and persistent myths swirling around the concept of awakening, is that those who have been obliterated by the irreversible EUREKA are instantly and henceforth rendered exempt from all the trials of the flesh that plague “the unenlightened”.
The mind loves to employ this fantasy to critique even the sagest of sages. (“How could someone like a Krishnamurti or a Ramana become a victim of cancer?”) But more sneakily, it turns its scorn upon one’s own delicate understanding.
It loves to hold up one’s (so-called) unattractive qualities – one’s addictions, physical ailments and emotional irruptions as proof that one hasn’t understood anything of import. Really.
What sport it is to watch and listen to this chattering, taunting, would-be bully. For a while you return the volleys. But it doesn’t take long to realise it’s a game without end and you grow bored – you know the score already.
So you serve your Ace straight up.
You simply ask whether the rock-solid immensity of Awareness is being affected, in any way, by whatever is coming at it.
The answer is always the same.
Game. Set. Match.
In tennis, an ace is a legal serve that is not touched by the receiver, winning the point. – Wikipedia
Image: Shutterstock
echoes from emptiness 
it might be game. set . match each time but i never quit trying, asking, begging. 🙂
Trying, asking, begging – for what, Myles?
ikr (i know right, lol a nw thing) but the opposite is also true. here is a quote from Nisargadatta, “Once you go beyond your self-identification with your past, you are free to create a new world of harmony and beauty. Or you just remain…..beyond being and non-being. well i ask, beg, try for the opportunity to take no ownership/ or witness creating a new world of harmony and beauty. there ain”t nothing wrong with that, lol 🙂
Thank you Myles… I was just curious…
I don’t know about Niz, but the experience here has been that with the obliteration of the notion of ‘wee me’ as a character with volition, “a new world of harmony and beauty” creates itself. Cool!
And I reckon there’s “nothing wrong” with any of it, anyways. How could there be? (Chuckles.)
As you put it – lol!
❤️
Dear Miriam,
Your words remind me of a remark made by the Buddha and cited in the Pali Canon which, unfortunately, I cannot find a reference for and which I must therefore paraphrase:
‘I argue with no one. It is the world that argues against me’
And of course, there is an awful lot of mythology and allegory that has found its way to The West from The East – the awakened have long ears, they never dream, their bones form crystals after death, and so on.
Love all. . . play!
Hariod. ❤
Thank you dear Hariod. Yes – this great and wondrous Game goes on with its infinity of tricks and treats. How could you not love it – especially when you know the score?
Sitting on the sideline isn’t an option anyway, so one might as well enjoy the game… it’s so beautiful the way it magically morphs from a competition into a duet, a mutual celebration of Creation…
Smiles and ❤️ to you.
H ❤
Beautiful!
How lovely to know you’ve visited here Lori Ann – good to hear from you! Thank you for your appreciative comment.
I reblogged it. Thank you! And put a Nocturne by Chopin up with it: nr 4 in F major, opus 15, with Rubinstein
Gladness, dear N. Thanks for sharing the post. I love that you’ve teamed it up with Chopin!
❤️
That is such a beautiful photo. Did you take it? It looks amazing, dear.
Chesca – thanks for your comment about the photo. As noted at the bottom of the post, it is a Shutterstock image.
Thank you thank you
Oh, how I love this one! (Wimbledon final tomorrow, to boot) Your statement: (The mind) loves to hold up one’s (so-called) unattractive qualities – one’s addictions, physical ailments and emotional irruptions as proof that one hasn’t understood anything of import. Really.——— describes the mantra I’ve been suffering under for so many years. What a relief to see and feel this affliction dissolve. Your clarity, this important understanding, and breaks the chain and brings gentle tenderness