09 May 2011

Peeling the onion?

I've lost track of the times I have heard people refer to their spiritual journey as peeling away the layers of an onion to reveal the next one. For all I know I might have said it myself some time in the past.


But what if we peel away the layers  to get to the essence of an onion ... only to discover that the layers were what the onion was all about.


Borrowed shamelessly from a Wittgenstein quote. And neatly parallel to the John Lennon quote
Life is what happens to you  while you're busy making other plans
The lesson for me is that I don't need to analyse my life and look for meaning in it or have plans and schemes to map out a future for me that suits my needs. I just live the life I have ... as it happens, moment by moment, breath by breath.

2 comments:

  1. I prefer the analogy of scaffolding rather than an onion. The scaffolding cant just be dismantled without thought, cant take a bit from the bottom as it will all collapse, have to take it down systematically. As each bit of scaffolding is removed more of the underlying building (analogous to person) is revealed.

    Life is the journey of removing the scaffolding.

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  2. I like the scaffolding idea. I never liked the onion one and was glad to find something that knocked the idea.

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