The Third Position: Neither Here, Nor There
It is just a matter of hitting the bell, closing the door, lighting a candle.
In the past IT abides.
In the future IT abides.
But don’t ask, “What do you mean?”
You seek an answer with a hammer.
Pounding on the fog you think you will make a break and see through.
Stay still and turn.
Make the turn and hear the echoes of habits and wishes.
Feel the striving gut that wants something more.
Wait.
Don’t hurry away.
It is the Way.
Endless turning until
The floor of the mind collapses.
Stop the hunt for the other.
Stop the chase.
You stalk a reply.
Respond without worry.
When you smell smoke, yell, “Fire!”
When you see the table holds the cup,
See the cup hold the tea!
Look through.
See, neither here, nor there,
Neither this, nor that.
It is all around you.
When you stand or sit, it is there.
It is buoyant cheers of scorpions and pigeons,
That you kill and stuff with your conclusions.
You cry, “How do I help?”
No hands, no harm.
You cry, “Have I gone too far?”
Neither far, nor near.
You cry, “What is the point?”
The sun, the moon and the stars.
When you give up the wish for something else, something more
You are home.
Then, once and now
There is nothing that escapes the past, the future, the present.
Your plans show the hidden tenants.
“Me. My. Mine.”
Safety boxes and storage houses overflow with false ideas.
You pound your hammer with great desire and fail to hear the wondrous voice.
When you realize the heart drums without a score and the ear hears without direction
You sit near the edge of the flowing river.
When wishes for and against subside
And the nose smells without form
The bees suckle the flowers and gestures of life wave
To awaken the unfulfilled.
Author: Fashi Lao Yue
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