Digest Number 44

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I have been lurking for sometime with only a note or two to an

individual on here. I find the discussion often thought provoking and

enlightening.

 

I am coming full circle back to meditation after being 'away' for

several years. I began my spiritual exploration some 32 yrs ago with

self taught yoga and meditation but find myself as green as any beginner

even to the point of falling asleep when trying to meditate.

 

I was very interested in this message of my digest. The idea as to

which path is the one to take. For me, it seems that the reason there

are so many different paths is there are so many individualizations of

Spirit. I am not a one to follow any particular path but take each as

if it were a piece of lovely clothing. I try it on for size and if it

does not fit then it is not meant to be mine.

 

I am on the path that goes for the slow growth and internalizing each

step as a savoring process. The fast ways seem to have been just

fireworks and an intellectualization in my case. I agree that

meditation is a way to step up the process of remembering who we are.

I tend toward the Tantra thinking in that we have learned behaviors in

each life that slow us down from our realization.

 

I do want some input as to what each one thinks about perfectionism. I

see that we are human and thereby not fully realized (in most cases). I

experience that there is tension always between being and becoming. My

point here is that it seem in our quest to remember who we are, we can

fall prey to perfectionism(meaning for me the complete lack of human

mistakes). What are your thoughts on this? I hope I am being clear.

 

Thanks for having this list. It is helping me on my path.

Sincerely,

Kris/watersister

 

>Message: 1

> Thu, 18 Mar 1999 07:22:56 -0800

> "Madhya Nandi" <madhya

>Enlightenment: Sudden, Gradual, or both at Once?

>

> Sadhaks;

>

>

>There has been considerable discussion in various lists regarding the

>question of enlightenment, or the state of being 'awake.' Jerry Katz

>presented a fascinating series of posts regarding Suzanne Segal, based

on

>her book, Collision With The Infinite.

>

>Fascinating stuff. Many schools or spiritual traditions possess

approaches

>to spiritual awakening that advocate steering the aspirant toward a

'sudden'

>enlightenment, an event where the 'veil' is rent, so to speak, and the

>aspirant is engulfed in an awareness that we sometimes describe as

>'ego-less' or headless, or, 'nondual'.

>

>Many, if not most traditions, advocate a more gradual approach toward

"the

>same" eventuality, the dissolution of the sense of the existence of a

>separate self, and/or the realization of a sense of a universal Self,

or

>doer--or, by contrast, for some traditions, a 'doerless' doer.

>

>Many themes and variations exist. Some advocates of 'sudden'

approaches

>claim that the use of technologies like mantra, visualization and

meditation

>can actually be counter-productive to being receptive to the 'moment'

of

>realization, or, to the 'process' of simply 'letting-go' and

experiencing

>the universal Present.

>

>Meditation-based spiritual traditions believe that meditation,

correctly

>applied, will lead to the same dissolution of ego-boundaries and

recognition

>that one's consciousness is bathed in light; that she has 'forgotten'

the

>dual and found that only One Self, or Limitless Activity remains.

>

>Tantra often points its activities toward the psychological development

of

>the aspirant. Meditating in graveyards, participating in ceremonies,

>rituals and such activities are often meant to assist the aspirant in

>releasing the kinds of fears that stand in the way of experiencing

>Awakening.

>

>Approaches are indeed many and varied.

>

>Do readers have comments about these approaches toward Awakening? In

>soliciting this topic for discussion, let me say that I personally

believe

>that many if not all of these approaches are right and proper for any

given

>individual. My own view is that growth often occurs as a combination

of

>sudden leaps and gradual 'ascents'. I am, of course, an advocate of

>technologies. I believe that 'enlightenment' is both an event and a

>process.

>

>The topic is very large. Any thoughts? Questions? Concerns?

>

>

>Madhya

>

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