empty and awake

We were never really born, we will never really die. 

It has nothing to do with the imaginary idea of a personal self, 

other selves, many selves everywhere: Self is only an idea, 

a mortal idea. That which passes into everything is one thing.

 It’s a dream already ended. There’s nothing to be afraid of 

and nothing to be glad about. I know this from staring at mountains

 months on end. They never show any expression, they are

 like empty space. Do you think the emptiness of space will ever crumble away?

Mountains will crumble, but the emptiness of space, which is the one

 universal essence of mind, the vast awakenerhood, empty and awake, 

will never crumble away because it was never born.

The world you see is just a movie in your mind.
Rocks don't see it.
Bless and sit down.
Forgive and forget.
Practice kindness all day to everybody
and you will realize you're already
in heaven now.
That's the story.
That's the message.
Nobody understands it,
nobody listens, they're
all running around like chickens with heads cut
off. I will try to teach it but it will
be in vain, s'why I'll
end up in a shack
praying and being
cool and singing
by my woodstove
making pancakes.

 

 

 

  ~ Jack Kerouac

from  The Portable Jack Kerouac

with thanks to whiskey river