Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, asks how someone like Hitler could come to power. He was loud, and brash, and gave a secure feeling of strength to those who were insecure. Lola recounts the tale of the Turkish teacher who travels to foreign lands and gathers quite a following. Until some Turks happen onto him and hear the nonsense he speaks. This, she says, is often how we talk to ourselves. We can deceive ourselves for years. She also presents portions of an Ikkyu poem: “The crescent moon Becomes full, and wanes, And nothing is left; But still, there in the dawn, The crescent moon!” Lola discusses Jesus’ line from John 1:9, about the Light that cometh into the world… is the true Light that lighteth every man. It is the light within us. Mankind has, in a sense, fallen asleep to this inner light. We’ve forgotten who we are, as we continue to be mesmerized by the ten thousand things of the world. When you fall in love, you feel good. It strengthens your identity. Same goes when you are popular, or successful. It feels good because it strengthens your identity. But that identity is not you. That’s just how you identify yourself objectively. You are identified with all kinds of things. Patters of thinking, feeling, from your childhood and on—all of which have authority over you. Yet none of these things you identify with say anything about the real you. Who are you really? Your name is not you. Your photo is not you. Who are you? Lola discusses similar ideas from numerous thinkers, including Sri Aurobindo about how we have grown a riddle to ourselves. Also the last words of German theologian, Bonhoeffer, shortly before his execution. Lola tells the humorous story of the forgetful philosopher who, one morning, decided to label absolutely everything so he won’t forget. In the morning he awakens and it’s a grand success. He can find everything in its place… but suddenly panicked when he can’t find himself. Everyone will need to answer the question: Who am I? Until that question becomes so magnificent—but terrifying—you haven’t really asked it yet. Oct 28, 1984
