The One With the Funny Story About Diogenes

04/12/2006 7:46 AM – 8:11 AM

And I, Spike, a friend of a friend of a Friendster, send greetings to you who are now Spike. And what are you doing who now dwell in the body that I dwell in now? If somehow this epistle survives all the way into the next few hours when you are standing at your desk at work, “Hi.”

There is a story about Diogenes that I think you should remember. When asked what he did to avoid the temptations of lust, he immediately pulled up his robe and started masturbating. The crowd was, of course, shocked and disgusted. Then Diogenes turned to them and said, “would that my stomach could be satiated by merely stroking it.” Why did I wish you to remember this? Because it’s pretty damn funny. It’s also true. Maybe even Truth. No. Probably not. Has the dog a Buddha spirit? Mu. Has the dog-like? Mu. And, of course, it is contrary to everything you believe to say, “mu” to this. Mu.

And there is that breeze again, blowing in from the river. Full of rain and cool warmth. Who are you now? And can you let go of it to be what you are now? Now? Now? Be better. Be worse. Be what this this is. And the kingdom of heaven is like unto a pearl. And the kingdom of heaven is like unto a pirate’s treasure, hidden in a field. And the kingdom of heaven is like unto a seed. Do you know what this means? Do you understand? Just let it go. Throw your bread upon the water. Was your zazen sloppy and your focus weak? Notice. That is all. Let it go. Forget your forgetting and come back to peace. Where is your ambition? What do you desire? Desire that thing that is sitting in your hand. Notice. That is all. Each moment is perfect. Each moment is shit. Doesn’t matter. Your greatest ambition was to be a man with no great ambition. Does the soul cease to exist while the body decays in anticipation of resurrection? Where were you when he set the universe in motion? Where were you when he rolled back the foundations of the deep? You were always in his hand. His hand has never held you. You are. Right this second. So let it go. There is the breeze again. There it is. Blowing the dust from the room. Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Don’t worry. You’re just yourself. Let it go and get back to being.