We stubbornly hold to our own opinions
concerning the ‘self’, our life path and ultimate reality.
To fall or slip into a subject, a discipline or a school of thought
may be like a curfew, a gate allowing free flow in either direction, family,
a teaching institution, a set of academic doctrines, mediocrity,
monks creating festivals to honour the spirits of our ancestors or ultimate reality.
To comply with, to be like, to be comparable to or maintain such a position
is akin to being what is modelled.
What is the price, burden or direction?
Is it investigation leading to enlightenment,
or is it trifling and tedious interrogation and scolding criticism
of others who are perceived as ‘lesser’?
Knowledge, wisdom and intelligence alone
is astute and clever enough to hear, know and share the message
to be responsible, discerning, mindful, appreciative and friendly –
to speak, guide and lead while living one’s life in an ideal manner …
in accord with walking the path of virtuous principles and reason.
Of killing –
whether it is subjects, disciplines, gangs, clans, family, kin,
institutions, academic doctrines, folk, monks or festivals –
this is true …
the dead are always inanimate.
The answer is rigidly fixed and the investigation impassably closed –
whether a death results from killing,
dying for the sake of a cause
(including a sacrifice),
in the company of others
or alone,
it is fatal.
Life-or-death situations are dangerous and life-threatening
(as they have always been and will always be).
It causes a disappearance so final
that it is dealt with by metaphors
invoking myths and fantasies.
It is, however, as clear and obvious as the bullseye on an archery target
or the white marking on the forehead of a horse –
that one thing is a certainty for us all at the end …
not ‘deafness’ or some other euphemism.
我
們
如
何
知
道
我
們
是
死
旳
Douglas Colston holds a few university degrees and decades ago he garnered some lyric and song
writing credits playing in Australian Ska bands – now, much of his spare time is spent preparing a
PhD project and writing (some of his poetry, fiction and nonfiction has even been published).