Suddenly It's Midnight
KOAN:
You come and go by daylight,
but suddenly it’s midnight, and there’s no sun, moon, or lamplight.
If it’s a place you’ve been to, then it might be possible.
But if it’s a place you’ve never been, how will you get a hold of something?
—Yunmen
Some Treasures of the Lost Cities
A quest, a treasure hunt, through cities overtaken by sands and ghosts and overwhelmed by the sea. We search for hidden teachings in scrolls, clay tablets, or dreams. Being lost is primary. In the koan lands we side with being lost when we turn toward uncertainty and wait, and whether we can bear it or not, a path opens. There is no end to this opening.
A Map for Getting Lost
It helps to be on the side of lostness when the world goes to hell in a handbasket (Ukraine). All we have to do is be here and be lost—no usual schemes or regrets. Let the universe teach you. Accomplishing is not the deepest thing. Being lost is a promising beginning. Getting lost is good for finding personal practices.