Guest guest Posted February 21, 2001 Report Share Posted February 21, 2001 Hi Dakini! Judi clipped from Nick (Arjuna): You understand that? It's imagination. The entire spiritual path is all imagination. It's all imagining something called ego that has to be got rid of and then working hard to try and get rid of that which is not there. Dakini wrote: Perhaps a clearer and less pejorative, less nihilistic way of saying this is that, that which we are perpetually engaged in as humans is "making (up) meaning", we are meaning-making machines. This IS what it IS to BE human. The nature of mind, being empty and spacious, is that mind expresses itself perpetually as thoughts arising, (... abiding, and ceasing ... did you notice?) Mind and thought (and the subset you are calling imagination) cannot be separated any more than waves and water can be separated. **** It's just another way to say "IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD YOU NINKAMPOOPS!" :-)) And then a person hopefully says to themselves, well, hmmm, I never thought about it like that, you could be RIGHT!! :-)) It is possible to be at choice in the matter -- that is, to ride the horse (of mind, of meaning-making machinery) rather than having the horse ride you. (Judi, did you say you are a ... rancher ....?) ******* Saddle up! :-)) hehe Unconscious beliefs, interpretations, the stories we make up (and the subset you are calling imagination here) are indeed a limitation -- not a support. All belief is untimately a story made up after the fact, so is by definition about The Past, which is dead/over/gone. A (big) limitation, takes up a lot of space, gets pretty crowded in there! So, yes, belief (story) is a limitaton, not a support, to experiencing the direct mind nature (empty/space). I am here to contribute today that there *are* experiential, ontological methods for pulling this seemingly insoluable human dilemma out by the root. One can directly experience the infinite empty effulgent nature of all phenomena, including and especially one's self-perceived heart/mind (which disappears when this occurs!) Then possibility, choice, life, present (empty) and future (empty) profoundly opens up. It is perpetual satori, ever beginner's mind, space/bliss every moment giving birth to nothing/everything. ******* Yes, I hear what you're saying, but I'm not one to push "fluff" experience, or "experience" at all, but rather "recourse". Understanding. In other words, who gives a shit what it is, whether blissful, empty, full, miserable, or whatever, as long as it's the truth. Simple? Yes. Easy? No. Judi, there are indeed subtle and refined ways to work with mind and this sticky "holding to a sense of self" which is the term I prefer in order to avoid the loaded and varied connotations of the word "ego". The baggage-laden and misunderstood term "ego" means so many different things in so many different schools of psychology, thought and various traditions. ******* Yes, I totally agree. The word ego takes on a negative psychological trip, and then you got all these saint wanna bees running around. Nothing worse. Nauseting. These skillful methods to which I refer are based entirely on experiential inquiry on the part of the practitioner, not on beliefs, concepts or imagination. You can use hypotheses if you wish (it's an inquiry, so think: Experiment). Hypotheses have sometimes been known to accelerate the investigatory process, but it isn't necessary. The inquiry is an ongoing work-in-progress, an open question, as long as you are in the body. It's a NeverEnding Story, babe! ******* It doesn't appear to have an ending, but no one can really say. (So get on the horsey, Getty Up and Ride!) ****** You first! :-))) Some accomplished ones have stabilized the experience of this unchanging spacious mind nature while still in the body, but they are rare indeed! Rarer still to find a qualified mentor. ******** I don't refer to it as stabilzing , I see it as more as a shining. So caveat emptor, all you curious and inquiring ones; please develop your discriminative wisdom. As the great 20th century woman photographer Imogene Cunningham taught me, "Trust your own crooked nose!" >Waste of time. All spiritual seeking >waste of time. Complete >waste. Waste of life. It is not my experience at all that practice and study is a waste of time. Au contrare, dear friends! Twenty-eight years of practice and (not!) counting. Perhaps, Judi, you are impatient? Or barking up the wrong tree (on a rope at the end of a ...?) ***** There's a saying in the Bible that says "All things are not good, but all things work together for the good, for those that love God." And that has been my experience and understanding. Would I do it again, fuck no! :-)) Surely, it's often a long and winding road with sharp turns and plummeting chasms. However, the View is great and hardly a boring trip! ******* Oh, no, I got bored, I got veeery bored. :-)) The kids have to skin their own knees. I certainly have survived many scrapes and a few close calls, and am a humble, card-carrying member of The Scar Clan. ******* Yeah, tell me about it. :-)) My sole motivation for making a fleeting appearance here today -- mostly I prefer my non-status as invisible sky-lurking witness -- is that if someone can grasp the possibility of their own enlightenment in my awkward words, Please! Grasp it! Steal it! At least may you be inspired to keep taking a wide-open look into the nature of your very own heart/mind. Is it small, or wide as the world? Does it have a location, where is it? Does it have size, shape, qualities? And who/what is it that is aware? And who or what is it that is aware of the awareness? Not a waste of time, not at all! In fact, what else IS there to do?!? Or shall I say, one who finds the courage to embark on this investigation of one's very own heart/mind will NOT be disappointed. It will rock your world! ******* Very good, I agree and yes, hold on to your hats folks. :-)) Joe Cocker - "You can leave your hat on." :-) You may also like to read my much shorter practical post directed to Jan on 02/18/01 at Nonduality Salon). There are indeed refined and skillful methods for directly experiencing the empty spacious mind nature, and the nature of all phenomena as empty. Usually the ground needs to be ploughed a bit first. Some loosening up of one's "ego's" velcro and an experiential Getting It that the strategies and rackets that one's been running for the first 40-50 years aren't going to cut it, that the Authentic (non-existent!) Self wants to be born, to shine, to express itself and just BE. And the methods are subtle -- rather like getting the eye to see itself, or experiencing the mirror directly minus the pictures in the mirror. (If there's too much glare or you're concrete, start with a blank white canvas.) In case there's any doubt at all, you have my assurance and promise that this is written from my personal experience, not some high-falutin' theory. I can't imagine (sic!) what evil is. The closest I've seen to that is resignation and cynicism. These will undermine all other qualities, virtue, wisdom and richness. Wishing All of You love, clarity, wisdom and spaciousness, American Dakini PS - Judi, James Bean posted one of my all time favorite poems, ****** Yes, thank you Dakini, I will go take a look. I will say that Kabir is not one of my favs, some of his stuff is alright, but he tends to be a bit on the whiney side for me. And I can only take so much of that shit, ya know? :-)) Judi PS - Where abouts you live Dakini? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2001 Report Share Posted February 21, 2001 judirhodes@p... wrote: > > **** It's just another way to say > "IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD YOU NINKAMPOOPS!" :-)) And then a person > hopefully says to themselves, well, hmmm, I never thought about > it like that, you could be RIGHT!! :-)) Yeah! brahma sure likes to play dumb sometimes :-0 > > ******* Yes, I totally agree. The word ego takes on a > negative psychological trip, and then you got all these saint > wanna bees running around. Nothing worse. Nauseting. Stinky! > > ******* It doesn't appear to have an ending, but no one can really > say. I'll say! > > ****** You first! :-))) My turn! > > > ***** There's a saying in the Bible that says "All things are not > good, but all things work together for the good, for those that love > God." And that has been my experience and understanding. Would I do it again, fuck no! :-)) > Oh gawd! Laughing til my guts hurt!!! yup once is enough... HAHAHAH and HOHOHO! Peace - love eternal - Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2001 Report Share Posted February 21, 2001 judirhodes [judirhodes] Wednesday, February 21, 2001 1:37 AM Dakini Wishing All of You love, clarity, wisdom and spaciousness, American Dakini PS - Judi, James Bean posted one of my all time favorite poems, ****** Yes, thank you Dakini, I will go take a look. I will say that Kabir is not one of my favs, some of his stuff is alright, but he tends to be a bit on the whiney side for me. And I can only take so much of that shit, ya know? :-)) Judi __ Wayne (Ram Tzu) is whiney Kabir is very Shiny. Repeat that 10 times and then gargle with Listerine before your next post. OK Judi :-). Thanks American Dakini for hovering over us. Love Harsha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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