beginning and end

genkaku

Intellectually or as a matter of belief, it is pretty easy to suggest that every ending of one thing is just the beginning of another. It is as seamless in reality as it is separated by mind or faith. The "end" of building a house is the "beginning" of living in it. A newcomer to Buddhism is sometimes called a "beginner" as if, perhaps, there might be some ending -- some new beginning. Intellectually and by faith, the examples roll off the tongue and out of the observant mind like water from a duck's back -- beginning implies or contains end; end implies or contains beginning.

But what is easy to do by intellect or faith seems to require some practice in anyone's actual-factual life. The distinctions are so ingrained, the assumptions so strong, that all the intellect in the world, all the faith in the world, seems unable to shake off distinctions and bring an accord with what is clearly the fact -- the seamlessness of what is distinguished. The savvy mind may say, "Oh yes. It's true. Distinctions are tentative, so we don't put too much emphasis on them." But what is easy to say may not be so easy to do -- to actualize the seamlessness we may intellectually or by faith lay claim to.

Just doing some noodling here. Any thoughts?

person

I've been struggling to make a change in my life and this analysis hits home with some of the trouble I've been having, thanks.