Doppelgänger

The first of philosophers told us that soul is more

important than body, that the things we do

are not as important as the state of our souls.

This is difficult to understand.

Is it not important that I harm others,

that I put myself first and always look away

from the pain of others and do nothing to help?

It matters, of course, but we do this sort of thing

because of the dismal state of our inner lives.

About reality we know nothing at all.

We put ourselves at its center like its king.

This error in placement makes it impossible to

see the truth, to see the way things are.

It's not that you're not at the center and something else

that is not you holds that place of distinction.

It's that you are not at the center, the you you imagine.

The center is held by a wholly different you,

that carries none of the memories, none of the habits

developed since you entered into life.

What is this you? In Zen, the "original face,"

or the Watcher, or the zero-point from which

the Watcher, unbidden, uncaused, makes its appearance.

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"They know not what they do," said Christ on the cross.

For all of us, that is a general rule.