Paint the Window Blue to See the Sky

Allan Watts once commented that "It is not possible to see the sky just by painting your window blue". It is a quote that has stuck with me ever since I read it many years ago.

And it occurs to me that the blue paint masquerading as the sky is every single philosophy out there. Every doctrine, every religion, every single explanation that tries to satisfy that deep longing we have to understand the Mystery.

The blue paint is belief. The blue paint is faith. The blue paint, as pretty as it may be, is not the sky itself. And no matter how convincing or even intoxicating that picture on the glass of the window in your room may be - it's not the real thing.

To apply the blue paint is conditioning. To remove the blue paint is inquiry. To gaze out at the sky directly is enlightenment.