Seeking.

We all are seeking something. Sometimes desperately, (as in a way to seek Susan). I have been seeking spiritual oneness and have at times felt myself near, only to find myself once again...like that song by the musical group War, once again..."Slipping into Darkness".

At times like that I am reminded of the tale of a silly old man who lost his key. Late one night an old man somehow, someway had lost his house key. As he was crawling around on his hands and knees outside under a lamppost desperately seeking the key, a couple of young students passed by..."What is it you are seeking old man", they asked. The old man explained he had lost the key to his house. Immediately the students got down on the ground to help him look, but after a long search - finding nothing, one student asked the old man..."where" had he last seen the key. "In the house" he replied. "Then why are you looking around out here?" The old man looked up and said, "Because the light is better here".

Many students of Buddhism are familiar with this story....and many different meanings have been derived from it's telling. Some say the old man is like many of us - out in the world, searching for something that can only be found within. They say the "key" represents happiness.

Some say that the story is a metaphor, a reminder that the "key" in life is to remain in the light (the lamppost) and to stay out of the darkness (the house).

I say it is a story about discovery. The story tells me that whatever you think you have lost(the key), wherever you find yourself, inside where it is warm (the house)or outside in the cold (the lamppost), whether you are at the beginning of life's journey (the students) or nearing the end (the old man)....keep looking - that is the key. To simply seek....and no doubt you shall find.

Keep looking, keep loving and most of all keep listening!

Enjoy,

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:
Chucho Valdes - "Ponce la Clave" (1999)
David Sanchez - "Capuito de Alheli" (1998)
Lizz Wright - "Walk with me Lord" (2003)
Steve Khan - "Out of this World" (1991)
Dave Holland Quintet - "A Seeking Spirit" (1999)
Roy Hargrove - "Pinocchio" (1992)
Ravi Coltrane - "Coincide" (2005)