“Only the necessary is good,” said the coal-eyed sage and seller of sundries. The mind salutes this statement with a split list of essentials and non-essentials. But that’s not what Nisargadatta was pointing to. His reference was to the necessity of a quiet mind.
A close friend has lost a lot of weight during his second go-round with chemotherapy. We had a good visit yesterday. In a voice made thick by his treatments, he said, “The now is all there is.”
Gratitude is not gratitude for this or that. Gratitude is gratitude for everything.
The man is a mountain who cannot be provoked.
Perfectionist. Needs to be right, avoids own anger. Impatient. Hyper clean. Grim-faced. Can’t relax. Mr. Helpful. Helps others, avoids own needs. Martyrs self. Needs to be thanked. Quid pro quo mindset. Winner. Needs to succeed, avoids failure. Dresses sharp. Works out. Deeper you go, shallower it gets. Purple prince. Needs to be special, avoids the ordinary. Sad eyes. Looks depressed. Artistic. Hates Walmart. Owl. Needs to take in, avoids giving out. Awkward. Incapable of small talk. Frozen-faced. Thinks he’s smart. Trooper. Needs to be clear. Avoids uncertainty. Yells at TV on game night. Conforms, obeys, pension-obsessed. Joker. Needs to laugh, avoids pain. Grins, jokes, chews gum. Lives in the future. Boss. Needs to fight, avoids own weakness. Good vs. evil, black and white, you’re in his frame or out of it. Big Easy. Needs to be comfortable. Avoids conflict. Jack of all trades. Buries his feelings. Not sure he exists.
Men's Work 