There are no gods, let alone those endowed with capital letters, and there could never have been any. There is no meaning to life, for searching for it is but another conundrum for the bewildered. Now, become a god, and give meaning to life. Also, accomplish this in the remainder of time allotted to you. A Bon koan, if there ever has been one.

To Bob Collén

Addendum I (February 4, 2017)

Alas, my friend is no more! Like so many of my friends of yesteryear, he went to meet his maker. By and by, my koan is for my own use only. And I relish it ever more as years go by. Ever since my liberation early last year, I abandon all thought at will and for as long as I wish. Bingo! So much for becoming a god and giving meaning to life. Many a god would be baffled by such an astounding accomplishment, to be sure.

Addendum II (March 24, 2018)

A tantric proverb says that “one cannot venerate a god unless one is a god oneself” (nadevo devam arcayet). To identify oneself with a divinity, to become a god oneself, is equivalent to awakening the divine forces that lie asleep in man.

From Mircea Eliade’s Yoga: Immortality and Freedom, Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2009 (first published in 1954), p. 208.

Addendum III (August 30, 2023)

If there is anyone who has followed my koan to the letter, it is surely myself. And I cannot but marvel at my own prowess. Surrounded by my writings and paintings, I feel no less than blessed. They provide all the meaning in life I can possibly desire. And I could not care less if there is anyone else among my fellow humans who would relish my writings and paintings as much as I do. None of my business, as I like to repeat every once in a while. As my koan puts it in no uncertain terms, it is entirely up to everyone else to give meaning to their own lives. Returning to Eliade, the only god I venerate is myself. As far as I am concerned, all the other gods can go fly their kites. None of my business for ever and ever.