Ever since humanity began to tell stories, we have left messages to the future. Solve these Kōans to train your mind. They show us how to heal the world, and where our future lies.
The truth is false. The overlooked is true.
Certainty and fear block The Way. Ignore the ways of power; embrace the humble. Leave the proud; become the meek. The giver of all life is yielding.[1]
In time, all that is safe will be insecure.
Those that know are not taught. Those who only do destroy. Those who know and do are the maligned saviors.
There is no good or evil; there is only life and lifeless.
Only The Mother of soil and sea can give life; only men selfishly take it. We cannot understand soil, but we can become it.[1]
The part of us that knows The Way is in our bones. Our bones hold marrow and our genetics. Our mind holds ego, our heart holds emotions, and our root chakra possess passion. All but what we know in our bones are false paths.
When one’s species has become toxic to itself and all other life, it is time to walk away from the path to ruin.
God is a word for the entire known and unknown Universe, The Great Spirit, The Mother, The Nurturer. The one and only Mother of all life is This Great Earth. The Mother is the life of the world. She is the giver and preserver of all life, and cradle of spirit. Without life, there can be no spirit.
The Way is not taught in schools nor by religion. Those teach us how to navigate the society that is. The way the world is, is false.
Free thinking of men and women today is a shadow of what once was. The Way is hidden, but not lost. The Mother is always speaking to us, but most know not her language.
Only those who have traveled to the center of the 6 concentric circles to enlightenment know The Way.
Our analytic mind is the poison apple; the Mother is the only teacher.
God is the fire of life in the meadow; my god can be killed with a bulldozer. When I die I give my fire onto the next. My life is measured by how many threads I add to the quilt of life.
When the water runs clean, life shall return. Until then, there is only the slow dwindling.
All life shares one spirituality. The one spirituality can never be written. The one is easily destroyed, yet is impossible to create in the lifetimes of all men.
Love of man is hollow. When love expands to all of our relations, life will again begin to breath.
The truth has been forgotten; the forgotten is obvious.
The Way is through all being. The mind and things close the way.
Human wealth only buys death.
Diversity of life in all places is the only security that has even been and will ever be.
Where there is succession, there is future. Where there is purity, there is health. Where we are few enough, there is room for all.
The mind’s eye only sees the pattern of life diverse. The oldest inner-self knows of what I speak.
The greatness of culture is measured by what it leaves; we are indeed poor. The greatest pages from the book of life have been ripped out; our thief steals from its children.
The only way forward lies behind. Fast has no destination. Up is down.
The fountain gives life; but the fountain can be deceived. Fruits of the garden will return when we are true.
Less is more; all new things are burdens.
Intellect, ego, grasping, faith, and fear are leading humanity down a lifeless path. The Way is selfless, fearless, letting go, without thought and open hearted. Intelligence is always in harmony with The Way. The Way is in harmony with all life.
Why? Civilization: Why not? Leaver: Is it in harmony with all life; does it benefit all or just me?.
Success comes from making good decisions. Making good decisions comes from wisdom. Wisdom comes from experience. Experience comes from making bad decisions.
We have but one choice — Find our way back to the garden that sustains life; all paved roads lead to the desert.
Empathy, this is the way.
May life’s blessings guide us to eternally preserve the fecundity of all life.
~ A we n’ de Yauh ho ~
Cherokee translation: I am of the Great Spirit, Ho!
Listen to the Cherokee Morning Song.
Related: Free Your Thinking: 10 Ways to Improve Society for the Better
Share these ideas person-to-person. Don’t just read these essays and close the page. Post links to essays that resonate with you, on your social media. Our speech is not free if dissenting messages are hidden by search engines, and mainstream media. You found these ideas, now share them with others!
Share these ideas person-to-person. Don’t just read these essays, post links on your social media to essays that resonate with you. Our speech is not free if dissenting messages are hidden by search engines, and mainstream media. You found these ideas, now share them with others!
Chuck Burr is author of Culturequake: The Restoration Revolution. Revised Fourth Edition. 10th Anniversary.
Post Editor, Beth Brown — Beth is a lifestyle writer and former assistant news editor of the Easley Progress. She graduated from Columbia College with a focus on Writing and Public Affairs. She is also a singer/songwriter/musician, yogi, activist and Love Warrior for Mother Earth.
[Image] Ravine Rapture by Mark Henson. Support the Mark Henson store.
[Song] Cherokee Morning Song – Music for Native Americans – Robbie Robertson.
Robbie Robertson, The Red Road Ensemble. EMI. 2009-07-02.
[Kōans] Given by The Creator to Chuck Burr on 2020–05-11.
[1] Larry Korn. My co-permaculture teacher. Rest well my friend. I carry the word. PhD Soil Science, UC Berkeley.
Culturequake 