The Circle of the Way: Reading the Gospel of Thomas as a ChristZen Text

Cross Currents, Wntr, 2002 by Kenneth Arnold

It is not an easy thing, to be transparent--wholly present and yet on the way to someplace else. The trick is to be attached neither to the next place nor this one. That is why resurrection came so easily for Jesus. He did not think about it, nor even want it, but when the time was ripe he rose. No seed thinks about its future, nor even about its present. Jesus is the seed that comes and blooms and goes without a moment's hesitation. He knows the rhythm of the universe.

Walking on the water toward the disciples who are struggling against the wind, he intends to pass them by, the scripture says. He is not unconcerned for their welfare, but until they cry out he has no reason to stop for them. The way is what matters, not because it is more important than others but because his way is also the way for others. He brings them along if they want to come. He will even ride with them -- and so when he is walking on the water and they cry out, he gets into the boat.

Passing by is a state of being, not an action. If I am walking along the street and see someone lying by the wall who is cold and hungry and I pass him by, I am not a passerby. If you call out to me and I stop, then I am a passerby.

Living in the world is not important, and it is the only way.

Verse:

Being on the way is no guarantee that we have a place to go

nor have come from someplace else. We are where we are.

The one who lies beside the road is passing by the ones

who cannot stop but think that down the road is destination.

Kenneth Arnold is a contributing editor to CrossCurrents.

This paper was originally presented in a slightly different form at the annual meeting of the Buddhist-Christian Studies Association in Tacoma, Washington, August 2000.

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