Look at the Face on That One!

 

 

We've all encountered people sporting what I would call . . . "A Puss". A face that seems to communicate some attitude.

The highest teaching I can share is what our old Buddha friend asserted so long ago . . . "FORM IS EMPTY". In other words, as I understand it, if you react to the perceived attitude someone else may be sporting on their face, you are really only projecting. Think of it as if they are actually wearing a paper mask. In fact the word "persona" does mean "mask". But that's too deep for me.

Yet, if you do like to project your inner attitude on your face, then just know it's a choice. Certainly an option. Until, of course, it's not.

Just to say that we should take some care and be mindful about the kind of face we are wearing. Also, mindful and at choice about the kind of face we want to share socially. In time — take for example, a frowny face — if kept on too long it begins to grow on you so that you don't notice it at all, and it becomes a permanent feature of your presentation. Friends make this excuse for you: "Oh, he's not angry, that's just him. That's just the way he looks." Really? Like he don't have no choice? Well, I guess he don't if he's not self-aware enough to notice that there is a choice operating there. Even if it's a choice to keep that face going.

Bad faces are a form of social pollution. Once at a food market I passed a women who had the most grotesque facial expression. She was giving "Bad Face". Her head, I'm sure, was just fine; just, that face.  Or, maybe her face matched her head? (Unknowable.) I was moved to take some action. Loud enough for her to hear I said to my partner, "Look at the face on that one." Suffice it to say our facially impaired shopper came out of herself.
 


Our Woundedness

 

There's no shortage of wisdom and spiritual advice around. It is too easy to give it quick assent. Of course, it makes sense. But acknowledgement is only on the intellectual level, and doesn't generate the healing response unless it stimulates one to practice. Practice is the key. And, patience. And, persistence. And, earnestness.

 

Here is a some good advice to put into practice . . .

 

"You carry your wound. With the ego, your whole being is a wound. And you carry it around. Nobody is interested in hurting you, nobody is positively waiting to hurt you; everybody is engaged in safeguarding his own wound. Who has got the energy? But still it happens, because you are so ready to be wounded, so ready, just waiting on the brink for anything.

You cannot touch a man of Tao. Why? - because there is no one to be touched. There is no wound. He is healthy, healed, whole. This word whole is beautiful. The word heal comes from the whole, and the word holy also comes from the whole. He is whole, healed, holy.

Be aware of your wound. Don't help it to grow, let it be healed; and it will be healed only when you move to the roots. The less the head, the more the wound will heal; with no head there is no wound. Live a headless life. Move as a total being, and accept things.

Just for twenty-four hours, try it - total acceptance, whatsoever happens. Someone insults you, accept it; don't react, and see what happens. Suddenly you will feel an energy flowing in you that you have not felt before."

  ~ Osho