I wonder if the word obsession is related to the latin word for hostage:- obses. It seems like it should be. Our attachments, vexations, let’s call them obsessions, certainly keep our minds hostage.

Desire, aversion and delusion (they spell dad) rooted in the ultimate ignorance of self are certainly vexing. I don’t know about you, but I certainly feel humbled by them. And the fact that I truly know nothing keeps me pretty humble as well. As humble as anyone can be that is deluded by separation.

I do like the Buddha’s comment that “when you see that all forms are illusive and unreal, then you will begin to perceive your true nature.” My own life demonstrates just how importance that practise is, so I keep coming back it that. There’s a great podcast to this effect on Zencast by Ven. Thubten Dondrub.

So how to blend this with Zen huatou (related to a koan) practise. I’m still figuring this out. Perhaps it is in the choice of the correct huatou. I don’t know. I do like the pointer that the asking of the huatou must be non-dualistic, which I understand as with one’s whole being.

All I know is that paradoxically I must keep working at it. Right here, right now without working at it.