No Direction Home

I never once thought of this old song, "Like a Rolling Stone," as a zen koan. When I was young, I just knew that it galvanized all the anger and frustration that flew out of my body like sparks. I directed this song at parents, teachers, bosses, the government, at no one even in particular. For someone perpetually pissed off and confused, the song screamed like a siren to the center of the brain. "How does it feel? To be without a home? Like a complete unknown. With no direction home. Like a rolling stone..." Take that, you bastards.

But somehow, I don't know when or why, I came to the realization that Dylan is not singing to war mongering politicians or soulless and corrupt corporate executives. No, he's screaming the question at me. He's singing to me and nobody but me. How does it feel to be alone in this world? How does it feel to know I will leave this world without a trace, with no essential proof that I was even here? No fixed abode, no permanent existence, just wonderfully lost, floating and free. Like a rolling stone...

Why are we here? Who are we? Where are we going? Zazen is all about personal liberation, and so is Mr. Dylan. I still wonder at how I came to finally realize that there is no one to be angry at.