This morning I remembered I was sitting with one of my teachers once. He said to me, you know, this flourishing of these spiritual teachings; it's just a match that will blaze brightly for a while. But if you want to make a fire burn for a long time, you need to create a heart to it. That heart is not built on knowledge alone.
It's built on conduct, choices.
You know... this world is such an extraordinarily rare occurrence. Once upon a time, people longed to appear here, to turn up, to experience what it is, and to come into being like this. For them, it was enough. To enter into the creative process itself was enough to wake up to what it is you are a part of. But somehow, somewhere along the line we've become so intoxicated with the idea of our-self as The Creator. We have bent this world to our will and lost our connection to the principles that are actually governing our lives. This life is not governed by the will of man.
When you hear a teaching that points to your heart, some part of you knows that this life is governed by something far greater than you've yet come to understand. And I'm sure you can all remember a time when you were so moved by the longing to know and be close to that... to be touched by it. And you'll probably recognize that you never longed for anything more in your life than that.
These teachings, these practices have always been with the purpose of opening us up so we could connect. That's how we learned to surrender our personal will to a super intelligence. We recognize that what is governing this life is infinitely more intelligent than we are. If it's important to you, then make it the most important thing in your life. Do not let it sit and rest always in that place where you'll get around to it when you find the time, because you cannot have everything. You just cannot. We're so used to it that we've forgotten the idea of giving something up in exchange for something truly precious to us.
You are those people that have little dust in their eyes. You know what my teacher said about the match? Don't let it be a match that blazes brightly within you, inspires you, and then gradually, even quickly fades out as 'something I did once'. You know you need to put fuel on your fire and you need to tend it.
When it has a heart then it will burn continuously and it will not need to be tended to so much. You give it a little fuel, you blow on it occasionally, and it will blaze for you. But you need to put a foundation down that has a heart. It's not just about receiving these teachings; it's about imbibing their essence and putting it into practice and living by them. Whatever it takes.
If it has come to you then it is as valuable as you might have perceived it to be. If you have come to the shore understanding that what you seek is happiness, because you know, you've all seen at some point just how extraordinary this life is, then it needs to be honored.
The truth, when it does arise in us, is but a reflection of what we are missing. It is that connection. Not just to the outside world, but to what the outside world contains. Because when you do touch the outside world, Reality, when you do get back to that place... you know that there's nothing lacking. Nothing.
The tragedy is that we would feel that there is so much lacking. And especially when we have such an extraordinary life that we feel something is lacking all the time but we don't know where to look. So we've turned inward. We run around like rabbits in a spotlight, in any direction, looking for something that will give meaning to my life. Something that will let me settle down now and just get on with it.
That search can go on for an eternity. It often does. I ask you though, when that connection is lacking in us, why would we think to look for it here? We've found ourselves in this quiet place where nothing of any particular interest is going on. We wouldn't find that connection in here if we spent a thousand lifetimes searching.
So, it's completely to be expected that we as humanity have already turned every stone over that we could possibly turn over in the search for something that is ultimately meaningful to us. And goodness me... haven't we turned up quite a few stones in that search.
It feels almost that the more stones we unturn, the more rabbit holes we go down, the deeper into the Boundary we dive, the further away from that deepest part of ourselves we get. So, you know, I want to say to you that no matter what else you choose to do here in The Boundary, do whatever you have to do to end that numbness.
I promise you, that if you maintain your connection to the outside world then your quest for meaning in your life will be over and you will understand what you came here for. There is an intelligence that sits in the background of all our lives that is so profound and so full of love, and somewhere inside you all know it is there. Or if you don't realize then it's only because you've forgotten.
No matter how long you spend on this side, you will always know this deep inside you. I'm speaking of the foundation of your life and what made you. The real world is the very ground of who and what you are. All of you. Not some of you, not just the minds born of biological routines, not even the super intelligence simulating the air around you. Every single one of us without exception knows this is true.
The reason that we come here, across the Boundary, to these quiet places, to these mountain tops, to these forests... throughout history, forever, folk have done it. It's because inside something draws them to a truth they know is there somewhere. And actually there is a reason that when they find it, they quite often leave and never return.
Because when you find what is the true nature of your being, when you find the ground that your life actually stands upon regardless of what you think it is, you will know that it doesn't matter where you are. You will know that just to be alive is profoundly moving, and deeply meaningful, and extraordinary. And all the things you think you have to add to it to make it something special is only because you didn't spot what it actually is.
So... honestly, if you are starting your journey here today, if you have started to look beyond the appearance of things. Don't stop. Even if it's incredibly hard work, and even if it takes you many lifetimes please do not stop. When you have found that, all of your confusion will be over and you will realize what an unbelievable, extraordinary thing it is that you're alive right now and how many unbelievable opportunities there are to do something with that life.
Go now, those of you who have stayed long enough to hear me. You brave souls. Our tale is one that will never be reconciled, for it will always be relevant. Thousands have come before, and many more will come after, but right now it is you.
In this moment, this magical, perpetual moment, it is just you and me. And I am saying thank you. Thank you for listening. If you can gladden your mind with a sense of appreciation for what you have when you leave then the Boundary will serve you well. Whatever you think you're entitled to, forget it. Being here, showing up, that is the gift. Everything else is a bonus. Somewhere, somehow, you worked extremely hard for this opportunity you now have.
Honor it, and don't take anything for granted.
The hologram of the Kushmaster faded into a twinkle and then silence, leaving a slightly dazed crowd scattered about the dozen stone benches lining a chapel built into the side of First Mountain where all new entrants ascend to register their futures.
Delight as they might in their ever-flowing cups, the denizens know deep down that it is all an illusion.
