September 23rd ~ We carry on like machines with our tiresome daily routine. How eagerly the mind accepts a pattern of existence, and how tenaciously it clings to it! As by a driven nail, the mind is held together by idea, and around the idea it lives and has its being. The mind is never free, pliable, for it is always anchored; it moves within the radius, narrow or wide, of its own center. From its center it dare not wander; and when it does, it is lost in fear. Fear is not of the unknown, but of the loss of the known. The unknown does not incite fear, but dependence on the known does. Fear is always with desire, the desire for the more or for the less. The mind, with its incessant weaving of patterns, is the maker of time; and with time there is fear, hope, and death.
This comment isn’t really related to this particular piece by K but possibly another of his. We say we don’t have the energy f for spiritual or religious work but we do for other activities. Why is that? The other activities require energy. Is it conditioning? I found it difficult to work a cleaning gig since cleaning is not something I do much of, although I am seeing more and more the benefits of it. Looking for gigs on Craigslist. Yeah, I have the energy for it, at least now. Preparing for my WordPress Meetup for Thursday? Not so much. This is discussed somewhat in Zen & Creative Management. Keeping the books up-to-date. This is a lot like keeping the garage clean. Oh, I will get to that later. But it is just as important as any other task.
This idea of center is another interesting piece. Center and periphery. More to come…