Conversations For Transformation: Essays Inspired By The Ideas Of Werner Erhard

Conversations For Transformation

Essays By Laurence Platt

Inspired By The Ideas Of Werner Erhard

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The Last Place You Look:

Koans Of Conduct

St Helena, California, USA

December 22, 2006



This collection of verses, The Last Place You Look: Koans Of Conduct, is the companion piece to Not Writing: Koans In The Key Of B-Major.

It is also the second in a sextology titled Koans And So On:

THIS WEBPAGE WORKS BEST ON A LAPTOP OR TABLET IN LANDSCAPE NOT PORTRAIT ORIENTATION


Monk On The Way
by
Zen master and calligrapher Yamada Mumon Roshi


You always find what you're looking for in the last place you look.

"What comes prior  to you finding who you are?" is a good question. Why? Because when you're looking for who you are, the last place you look is in what comes prior to you finding who you are.

You're not found in what you look at. Nor are you found in your looking. You're found prior to that. You're found in the context  in which the looker shows up. It's the last place you look.

These verses elicit notes and flavors of haiku and aphorism. Stand in the last place you look. Savor them from there.

Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Go where you're going.

God wants you to.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi To move on
choose being stuck.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi It's my opinion
I've an opinion.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Don't wait for life to turn out.

It already has.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Blah blah blah yada yada yada.

So profound.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi If you meet the Buddha on the road
you meet the Buddha on the road.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi The future lives
in my mouth.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Go oh go oh go.

Still pondrous still.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Stop looking for you.

You're who's looking.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi To restore aliveness
distribute it.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi From an elevator's perspective
the hotel goes up and down.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Get everything.

Give all you got.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi You give me space.

I give you life.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi When you're on the path to enlightenment
get off it.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi To find the answer
question more.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi I love you and I get you love me.

End of story.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi It's perfect.

Don't pretend otherwise.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi If the queen had balls
the king would dance.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi A river runs through me
carrying the truth to work.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Come with nothing go with nothing.

Have a good laugh on the way.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Drenched by the storm.

Home and dry.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Love is what's left
when you stop doubting.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi If your work is done
it's not your work.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Take my heart.

Give it away.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi I speak therefore I am.

You listen therefore I am.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Not cutting corners
the stream flows where it flows.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Any tree is a tomorrow
for a fallow field.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Transform life.

Be who you are and create nothing.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Have more do better be different.

Nag nag nag.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi A rose by any other name
has another name.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Falls from my lips
the word is ripe.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Love like a mist.

Stand like a rock.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi I love you when I love you.

I love you more when I don't.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi Stains allowed
blend in.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi The low road leads
to the low down.
Monk On The Way by Yamada Mumon Roshi It's complete.

Walk on.


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