The Pathless Path

I remember that I read somewhere that If one makes a straight line into the infinite then it will end and come to the point where it started, does this mean, that then the straight line has become to a circle? That would also mean, that an endless big circle is actually a straight line. Is it possible to explain in simple words, understandable by a person like you and me, how something like this is possible? Probably not and this might be the same difficulty like explaining what the 'pathless path' is. But I will try it any way:

BeiYin: Retsuzen, when reading your words, then I recognize in it the exact description of 'FalconBlanco'except that it is not named as 'Shikata' and not connected with Zen Buddhism. That seems to be a big problem for people, because they can't put us in any box that confirms their self image and belief system. With the result, that we have a lack of visitors and members, what has left us with too much work and a big mess around. When we accept new people, then we have to deal with their frustration and anger reactions, when they not get what they expect, with the result that they produce more work for us than they are doing. This seems to be a dilemma, but not really for me, because this is our reality we need to deal with and I see it as the 'path'. It doesn't really matter what it is and what circumstances and what kind of people, it is the challenge and how we deal with it, how we relate and respond, - that's: 'The path'.

When some body asked you: “What is Shikata?” Then you had answered: “Shikata is a mix of Zen Buddhism and traditional homesteading, or just the way.”
That sounds good, but actually you are just creating a new image, supported by already existing ones. When you say: "Just the way." Then this leaves it up to the person who asks, to fill it with already established images. It seems not possible to avoid this. If one explains it with more details, then this person will not listen or just ignore any information about it, holding on whatever image he/she has. When you want to make an 'ashram' then all people have a concept about it and then they will come to live their image. The same when you say: "Community". Then they come and of course expect a certain structure they can follow, the same or a similar structure they own, giving them their established fake reality. Also they are expecting an authority, that might be a guru, a master, priest or teacher. So then they can follow their advices and teachings. Then it will work and people are content and feel secure. Then they will know what to do, to think and to believe, - every thing has its place and every body can be happy...

If there is a name for this 'place' like 'FalconBlanco' and there is no real image connected with it and if there is no given structure and no claimed authority, then people might be attracted, but when they have been told that living here is just 'the way' and that they need to take self responsibility, getting out of dependencies, then they are highly disturbed and feel insecure. There might be some one who is ready and understands, then it might be possible to go on and with the help of meditation to find ones inner balance and out of this being able to observe ones surrounding and oneself. Otherwise the usual survival techniques will be used to find the reason for ones reactions and that is on the outside and others. With this all kind of complains will be found and so having a justified reason to leave...

What can be done about it? Are you willing to make a compromise and give people what they want? With the thought that people live in a structured place, doing their meditation and chanting or whatever is part of the setup, then they will come to the moment to go beyond their holding structure? That would be then the given structure of a monastery. I don't know if it works to go beyond the establishe structure, I just know that this is not what I want, because I don't see much difference from living a normal life in society, except that one isn't exposed so much to the distractions of consume, entertainment, sex and worries. But the self protecting and conserving attitude is the same and so for me it is the same personality game. I can even see, that the protective space in a monastery might even make it more difficult to drop ones personal straitjacket, because the provoking happenings and encounter in daily life are in good part avoided. The most serious part of ones survival game is, in where ever location one lives, that the same strategy is used with what shows up from ones inside and these then are suppressed or eliminated with particular techniques. So I prefer to keep the contact with the outside world and normal people in this society and deal with whatever shows up. The same conditions and happenings every body has to deal with, just with the difference, that we relate and respond not out of the concept of a belief system and with this being resistant and fighting against conditions, but our intention is to deal with them in a creative way and this with surprising positive results, that then also have an influence on others...

So there is no way to explain to people what 'the path' really is, because they only will include it in their image collection and no explication as much precise it might be, will change this. So, what can I do about it? - What can we do?

PS: About ten years ago I wanted to give up and so I wanted to give the place away gratis to some body who would like to continue with a similar intention. So I announced it at various media, but no response came back, probably all thought that this is a trap or a scam.

Now I'm in a similar situation and want to make a suggestion to you: I don't know how far your building project is realized. But maybe it would be better, before you start to move a lot of material stuff, to try out your project. I can offer the place with all the established practical structure for about fifteen people. Then you can try to live your ideas and see how it works. There is enough food and other resources for all, without need to work very much for it. If you see after a few months that it works, then you can continue creating your own place, if not, then people can go without any problem where they came from. It might be, that one or the other want to stay, then this is an open possibility...

Might this be a step to find out what we can do?

I know several people, who after living a few months at 'FalconBlanco', created their own 'community'. They all gave up after a few years, very disappointed and bitter...

I have passed all this and I can go on or give up, that doesn't make much difference: The 'path' goes with me - wherever I go or whatever I will do, because it is within me and nobody and nothing can take it away or distract me from it...

Comments to the comments: From what Retsuzen writes in his comment tells that what he understands using the image 'path' is extremely different than what it is for me. So I am calling it the 'pathless path'. I have written about it at my Web site and I will write more about it at this hub.- - -

Retsuzen wrote in his comment to my hub: What can I do - What can we do? "The path" is a literal translation of Shikata and this path the family knows as Zen Buddhism and an all natural/herbal lifestyle. So there is no confusion among our people in what is expected or what the belief system is.

It seems to me, that the initiator of the originally 'Shikata Path' tried to initiate the 'pathless path' but then nobody could follow him and then it was just integrated into the already established belief system, but without really 'understanding' and realizing it in ones daily life and attitude. But being satisfied by living their beliefs and lifestyle as far as possible. The same happened with Jesus' message coming out of his experience and were converted into concepts and a satisfying belief system. - - -

When I quotet Albert Einstein: "You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it." Then also as a conclusion one can say: "You cannot create and live something new, with a concept coming from the same old consciousness you are trying to overcome." That seems to be a big dilemma and it looks like that when whatever we are trying, that then we are like a dog chasing our own tail...

So again: What can I do? What can we do?

To continue to find a solution, we need to ask some question. Let's do it together! Come on: Ask!