Dr John on Meditation

We have received many questions for Dr. John on the subject of meditation. Many of them were too simple for Dr. John to answer. Like “how to do non-doing”, “where is the pathless path”, and so on.. He has chosen only to anwer the really difficult questions, the ones seekers seek for in life after life. Now finally Dr. John destroys your questions with the final and definitive answer to everything you always wanted to know about meditation, but were too afraid to ask, because you didn’t want to look stupid.

Q : What is meditation?
Dr. John : If I can’t explain it, then nobody can. As Bob Dylan once said, “The answer is blowing in the wind...” (koan) and the Rolling Stones also commented, “I can’t get no satisfaction” (endless desire), to which the Beatles added “It’s been a hard day’s night” (dark night of the soul), but Elvis cautioned “don’t step on my blue suede shoes” (awareness). All of which proves that baby-boomers rule the world, and that they don’t make gurus like they used to.

Q :What is no-mind?
Confucious say: “Man wise, mind own business, no mind mine.”

Q :How can I go deeper into myself?
Dr. John : But you already are in yourself!! Where do think you are you? In somebody else? If you go deep enough into the earth, you will end up in Australia, getting jumped on by a kangaroo. Try jumping over your own head, it is easier. Go really deep into yourself, and you could just end up stuck in your big toe. Be careful what you ask for, as you might get it.

Q :A fly landed on my nose while I was doing Vipassana meditation. What is the meaning?
Dr. John : The fly is a messenger. Your nose can not smell its own smell, just like your eye can not see itself without a mirror. In other words, we do not smell ourselves as others smell us. (In case you still don’t get it : wash your face, you smell!)

Q : What is laughter?
Dr. John : Dogs go bow-wow. Cats go meow-meow. Humans go ha-ha.