email from F:

Subject: a day of enlightenment Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 23:37:20 -0400

> Dear F,

> Today the whole day I am enjoying my new experience.

- Indeed, the way to go. :)

> I have tested it with a couple of friends--one interrogated me with a zillion questions, one measured her understandings against mine, and one marveled with my transformation. This is really neat.

- Indeed, isn't it? ;) Enjoy!

And, who knows, perhaps that might incline some of them to follow a similar path, or do something useful with their lives.

> I feel I have all the answers now, too. But of course I know I don't.

- As to that, perhaps you are also contemplating the work of Maya in its meta-form of Meta-Maya. :) Metamaya, (MM for short, which perhaps sometimes camouflages as candy, to better fool us), now, isn't *that* a concept worth harnessing?

Thanks for making it mushroom out of my mind just right now, I have a feeling it could become handy someday.

> The fact that I can see and feel the answers doesn't mean I understand them. Still a lot of work needed, to learn, to appreciate, to celebrate, to become.

- There are no absolute answers.

There is "what is", which comes in four parts for each of us: The Known, the Knowable, the Relative Unknowable, and the Absolute Unknowable.

The boundaries between these four territories are to some extent fluid.

Although, the case could be made that the absolute unknowable is not fluid in any way, but a function of our nature as human beings, of being members of the human specie. For example, what can we "know" about how it "feels" for two clusters of galaxies to pass through each other within a couple billion years? Yet, if we truly merge with "all that is", can we totally exclude that, somehow, that too could be "experienced" somehow?

Of course there is a lot more to say about the issue of the Unknowable. If only to define what is truly in the realm of the Unknowable, and what is simply extreme territory of the Unknown.

A very useful metaphor is to see oneself as a surfer atop the waves of Being. The Knowable is where the vast ocean beneath us and the vast sky above us interface.

Of this interface, some parts are far, far away, but at least in theory, still within the confines of the Knowable.

Some other parts are close to us, within the reaches of our perception, and that is the Knowable.

As for the Known, it is what actually impresses our senses and is processed in our minds or otherwise processed by us, somehow. It is all that we see, hear, touch, perceive, think about or otherwise somehow process after it has passed through the filters that protect us from information overload, and whether we are conscious of it, or not.

And because many of it is processed beyond the "normal" reach of the conscious, we can "summon our knowledge", sometimes and if we know how. Or perhaps it just happens, if we are lucky, and some external input triggers some of the treasures within to rise out of the Mist and shine in the light of Awareness: This is when Mind, and Consciousness, discover that there is more to our selves than we were aware of.

It can be an interesting experience, particularly if you also look at the process from some meta-point of view, as it unravels.

As for the Unknowable, the Relative Unknowable is what is unknowable to a given individual. And when it comes to the Absolute Unknowable, I know nothing about it. But perhaps talking about it could move it to the "relative" territory? Who knows? :)

> I have carefully documented the "topography" and put it in a web blog.

Actually, we could make a specialized website that would document that and document our, your and my interaction on the subject, to which we could redirect inquiries, creating some resource base about the pursuit of Enlightenment.

> I put down a few random thoughts below for you to see (and comment and correct) if you wish.

At a certain level, there is nothing to correct. We just express things as they are in the Universe of which we are the Masters. But I can sure comment. :)

> I have limited vocabulary and therefore my verbal _expression might sound a bit more SoCal than it actually is. Perhaps if I am a better scientist I can make a more convincing case.

I know this is rather too low self-esteem rather than mis-evaluation, but your vocabulary is just fine, believe me. Sure, mine is greater when it comes to Indo-European languages, but remember that in addition, you have all the resources of mandarin and of written Chinese, which I don't have. You will do just fine. :) In addition, think of this: Nothing says that you can't take a Chinese concept and create an English rendition of it.

> I will write you more tomorrow. I still have some more questions for you.

We should turn this into a book. :)

> Peace and love,

May these reflect back on you! :)

---

> Being with the One, I am equipped with all the truth there is, and filled with love. When I look at humanity, I feel less pity and less sorrow and less helplessness, but more love, immense love. The love is the beauty of it all.

Pity and sorrow are just a function of our Mind.

As for helplessness, all we can do is bring the horse to the water. And do it again, and again, and again, with no end in sight. And strive to do it impeccably and hopefully selflessly. Whether the horse will ever drink, or not, is another issue, and one on which our influence is rather limited.

> Enlightenment is not the goal. There is no goal. There are only ways.

Indeed.

> The Universe is not to be reached or solved or understood, but it is to be marveled, studied, felt, experienced, loved, .... The Universe is like an individual, and the individual is like the Universe. It is all the same thing. Enlightenment is just one way to experience the Universe. Like the Universe and everything in it, enlightenment is not to be sought but to be experienced.

Enlightened words. :)

> There's so much truth, so much beauty, so much love in the Universe.

> Peace to all.

The only thing we can do is be available if someone asks us how to accede to that perception.

---

> My life is what I'm given to, to experience the universe. It is a vessel to live, to love, and to experience. Only when we love, we are open to the universe, and can become one. We should cherish every life, yet do not attach ourselves to each one.

Love being a charged word, I tend to use "commune" (as in the Catholic "communion"), "unite", "become one with". But this of course is just an expression of the prejudices of a "rational mind" on the French model. So it's not an objection, just the expression of a predilection. If "love" is being one with, then Love is all there is, in the end.

> Everything, perception, understanding, concepts, words, science, religion, physical world, etc., are only projections (or illusions) of the universe.

That is a profound and fundamental truth. And, we can access these only through the use of memory, which opens another can of worms...

> The universe is infinite.

This concept is easy to enounce, yet very difficult to truly grasp. If true, as I believe it is, an incredible array of consequences comes with the fact.

Anyone who'd wish to explore this must read a book that was very hard to find (although by now someone has certainly put it on the Net :), and is not exactly easy reading: "The Infinite, the Universe and the Worlds", by Giordano Bruno (Yes, *that* Giordano Bruno, and fact is, he got burned at the stake *precisely* for writing this book - may his memory be blessed in all times and places!)

> We each have to pick a dimension or a direction, and immerse ourselves in it.

Indeed.

If there were any doubt about the fact that you encountered "enlightenment", a statement like that would prove that the claim was not taken in vain. :)

> Everyone has a right to choose his own way to celebrate life. Life is a personal experience. There is not better ways or more correct ways; there are only different ways.

Indeed.

And if only we could get the thumpers of all religions and belief systems to agree with that, the world indeed would be a much nicer place to be.

> The differences of enlightenment are only in the accumulated experience about life. With more experience, one gains more insights and understanding.

Well, yes and no. "True" enlightenment transcends all experiences and the need for any. While "functional enlightenment" connects us at some deep level with "what-is" (the Tao, the "Ten Thousand Things"). At that level, of course, it intertwines with accumulated experience.

However, experience is always and can only be experience of Maya, because what is behind (the "Great Ocean of Light") is beyond "experience". Merging with it, one of the possible definitions of Enlightenment, could be defined as the "ultimate non-experience".

> One might have all the answers, but one might not understand it. Need a lifetime to learn, to understand, to marvel, to cherish, to love, and be grateful to have this life.

The answers, indeed, are all there. There is a mysterious process, though; one each of us practices in their dreams, like Mr Jourdain was unknowingly writing prose, which is "summoning one's knowledge". When we "summon our knowledge", we often find out that we actually "know" a lot more than what was so far allowed by our limiting beliefs, that one prison imprinted in us by society at large, to keep us remaining the obedient robots our masters seek us to be.

In 1919, what is today Croatia used a set of stamps showing a man breaking his chains, the same design in plenty of colors, one for each different value. These stamps often come to mind when thinking about the process of enlightenment: One design, many colors, and many values.

> Let life come and go through me. Let me become an instrument for life. Let me use the best of my life to make a song for it. Do it with love. And in love, I shall become one with the universe.

Who could comment on that? I would just add and share it as a living example.