The Gateless Gated Community The great path has no gates, Thousands of roads enter it. When one passes through this gateless gate He walks freely between heaven and earth. - Mu-mon They are guarding the ports, have built infrastructure to grab the resources and export while the locals, farmers, Aboriginal Peoples go wanting. They are guarding, too, the gates of the entry to this world — micro-managing spirits by branding the new-born with sin, corporate name-tags and false doctrine, false history, make-believe mythologies of hero worship and outright lies propped up by a God devoid of warmth and friendliness. They are guarding the roads, have built tollbooths and checkpoints mired in paperwork, loopholes, and surcharges, the bureaucrats peddling the grabbed and gated resources from cradle to grave. They are guarding, too, the entry back to the spirit world with their fears and greeds and disconnects from the Timeless Now, marking time with punched clocks, force-feeding prisoners, labeling as commodities living-beings — trees and honey and water — while spending big money to un-label their mad-scientist modified foods. They have cut the umbilical chord of song to the spirit and earth energies, the mother’s lullaby, the wind making the leaves talk. They have blared their noises and shone electric lights into the eyes of the questioned. Over their own faces they wave money like a seductive fan thinking they have all the answers but never ask the big questions, these lords of disconnect and of the flies. As human beings we must all be whistle-blowers on our own weaknesses and faults. Yet, some seem deaf! . . . between “yes” and “no” is another answer two dice give one number the real ports permit the free-flow of energy sources, the real earth yields nourishment unsparingly, the real water-ways cannot be full or empty because they are ever-flowing the gateless gated community has no membership yet is open to all who relinquish the notions of separateness and supremacy . . . Note: The inspiration for the title comes from “The Gateless Gate”-- a collection of Zen writings from the 13th century -- by Ekai, called Mu-mon, translated by Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki. You can read it in the book “Zen Flesh, Zen Bones” or online here. Mankh (Walter E. Harris III) is an essayist and resident poet on Axis of Logic. In addition to his work as a writer, he is a small press publisher and Turtle Islander. His new book is “On Behalf of Those Who Speak Different Languages.” He also hosts an audio show "Between the Lines: listening to literature online." You can contact him via his literary website. READ MORE POETRY AND ESSAYS BY MANKH ON AXIS OF LOGIC © Copyright 2014 by AxisofLogic.com This material is available for republication as long as reprints include verbatim copy of the article in its entirety, respecting its integrity. Reprints must cite the author and Axis of Logic as the original source including a "live link" to the article. Thank you! |