The Reality of Eastern Philosophy to the Western Body

[Guest guest]

In the course of my work, I have conducted a number of exercises

where I have asked people to go into their bodies

to find there, beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and emotions ...

 

and to write down the words ...

or draw the symbols that they found in there ...

 

Following something that was once told to me by the Dalai Lama,

 

I was not surprised to find any symbols of Eastern Philosophy or Religion

revealed from over 300 people who completed this exercise ...

 

The ones who were most surprised

 

were several practicing Yoga Teachers who had been trained in India and had been

practicing and teaching various forms of Yoga for 18 years ...

 

several of Tibetan Buddhist Monks ... (who had each spent over 10 years in their

sects)

 

and some long term argent followers of Sai Baba ...

 

The majority of the symbols that came out of the of the bodies of these people

....

were those of Christianity, Judaism ... and beyond that... English and European

Celtic ... With a few ancient Greek, Roman ...

 

The dominant symbolism was of Roman Catholic Origin ... even from people who had

no known history of this faith in their family knowing ...

 

Which begs the question ...

 

Why the intellectual journey into Eastern Mysticism ... when it is not impacting

on the Western Body ...

 

with respect

 

Christopher Wynter

Hobart Tasmania

wynter

 

Copies of similar posts in this theme can be found

in "The Plain Man's Spiritual Notebook"

through http://www.anunda.com/anunda.htm

 

my own discussion list anunda

can be d to through

//anunda

'anunda list' Public Archive:

/viewarchive.cgi?listname=anunda

__________________

[Guest guest]

 

Christopher Wynter [wynter]

Wednesday, August 04, 1999 4:53 AM

The Reality of Eastern Philosophy to the Western

Body

 

"Christopher Wynter" <wynter

 

In the course of my work, I have conducted a number of exercises

where I have asked people to go into their bodies

to find there, beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and emotions ...

 

and to write down the words ...

or draw the symbols that they found in there ...

 

Following something that was once told to me by the Dalai Lama,

 

I was not surprised to find any symbols of Eastern Philosophy or Religion

revealed from over 300 people who completed this exercise ...

 

The ones who were most surprised

 

were several practicing Yoga Teachers who had been trained in India and had

been

practicing and teaching various forms of Yoga for 18 years ...

 

several of Tibetan Buddhist Monks ... (who had each spent over 10 years in

their

sects)

 

and some long term argent followers of Sai Baba ...

 

The majority of the symbols that came out of the of the bodies of these

people

....

were those of Christianity, Judaism ... and beyond that... English and

European

Celtic ... With a few ancient Greek, Roman ...

 

Harsha: Christopher, I find this post of yours rather self-serving. Visiting

Dalai Lama and all is fine, but producing mental visionary symbols through

various kinds of exercises is considered trivial. There are some well known

"tricks" of the "trade" . Can you clearly explain the value of what you are

saying?

[Guest guest]

Dear Harsha,

 

Though I can understand why Christopher's

thoughts would be considered inappropriate

for this forum, I believe I may understand

in some small way what he has been offering

this forum. (I am sure he can speak quite

eloquently for himself, I thought I would only

offer a perspective from one who does not

see his presence here as one trying to dance

for coins.)

 

What I heard him say in this last post was that

even though many westerners seek wisdom and

enlightenment from the Eastern mystics, the

unconscious (expressed thru the body) still

retains the imprints of western spiritual

symbology. For those of us that see value

in releasing unconscious 'blocks' and 'attachments'

perhaps what Christopher is suggesting is that

westerners are more likely 'imprinted' with the

symbolism of 'the Judeo-Christian' mythologies.

 

Though I am not always clear what point

Christopher is trying to make, or what his

intentions are in making them, I do resonate

with a portion of his postings.

 

For example, I have lately felt drawn back

into the Christian mythologies, and to

live thru (metaphorically) the Bible experience.

In doing so, I am finding a quite surprisingly

rich landscape of teachings and initiations.

 

It is my sense that such a metaphoric journey

not only enriches me, but it also gives me

a common 'language' of experience thru which I

can communicate a journey of awakening.

 

I do appreciate, Harsha, how this type of experience

would not be appropriate for this forum, and that

to some wise and learned individuals this may be

considered a trivial effort and not worthy of

a true seeker. Yet it is what I feel called to do.

 

So, I can't help but wonder if Christopher isn't

perhaps answering his own Call, and that his efforts,

while seen by this forum as "tricks of the trade",

in another forum might be received as a sincere

effort to benefit others as they begin to look inward.

 

As I do not imagine myself to be wise and experienced,

I only wonder.

 

respectfully,

Melody

 

 

 

>"Christopher Wynter" <wynter

>

>In the course of my work, I have conducted a number of exercises

>where I have asked people to go into their bodies

>to find there, beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and emotions ...

>

>and to write down the words ...

>or draw the symbols that they found in there ...

>

>Following something that was once told to me by the Dalai Lama,

>

>I was not surprised to find any symbols of Eastern Philosophy or Religion

>revealed from over 300 people who completed this exercise ...

>

>The ones who were most surprised

>

>were several practicing Yoga Teachers who had been trained in India and had

>been

>practicing and teaching various forms of Yoga for 18 years ...

>

>several of Tibetan Buddhist Monks ... (who had each spent over 10 years in

>their

>sects)

>

>and some long term argent followers of Sai Baba ...

>

>The majority of the symbols that came out of the of the bodies of these

>people

>...

>were those of Christianity, Judaism ... and beyond that... English and

>European

>Celtic ... With a few ancient Greek, Roman ...

>

>Harsha: Christopher, I find this post of yours rather self-serving. Visiting

>Dalai Lama and all is fine, but producing mental visionary symbols through

>various kinds of exercises is considered trivial. There are some well known

>"tricks" of the "trade" . Can you clearly explain the value of what you are

>saying?

[Guest guest]

 

Melody [melody]

Wednesday, August 04, 1999 3:11 PM

RE: The Reality of Eastern Philosophy to the

Western Body

 

Melody <melody

 

Dear Harsha,

 

Though I can understand why Christopher's

thoughts would be considered inappropriate

for this forum, I believe I may understand

in some small way what he has been offering

this forum. (I am sure he can speak quite

eloquently for himself, I thought I would only

offer a perspective from one who does not

see his presence here as one trying to dance

for coins.)

 

What I heard him say in this last post was that

even though many westerners seek wisdom and

enlightenment from the Eastern mystics, the

unconscious (expressed thru the body) still

retains the imprints of western spiritual

symbology. For those of us that see value

in releasing unconscious 'blocks' and 'attachments'

perhaps what Christopher is suggesting is that

westerners are more likely 'imprinted' with the

symbolism of 'the Judeo-Christian' mythologies.

 

Though I am not always clear what point

Christopher is trying to make, or what his

intentions are in making them, I do resonate

with a portion of his postings.

 

For example, I have lately felt drawn back

into the Christian mythologies, and to

live thru (metaphorically) the Bible experience.

In doing so, I am finding a quite surprisingly

rich landscape of teachings and initiations.

 

It is my sense that such a metaphoric journey

not only enriches me, but it also gives me

a common 'language' of experience thru which I

can communicate a journey of awakening.

 

I do appreciate, Harsha, how this type of experience

would not be appropriate for this forum, and that

to some wise and learned individuals this may be

considered a trivial effort and not worthy of

a true seeker. Yet it is what I feel called to do.

 

So, I can't help but wonder if Christopher isn't

perhaps answering his own Call, and that his efforts,

while seen by this forum as "tricks of the trade",

in another forum might be received as a sincere

effort to benefit others as they begin to look inward.

 

As I do not imagine myself to be wise and experienced,

I only wonder.

 

respectfully,

Melody

 

Thanks Melody for your thoughtful post. You speak your feelings and it is

appreciated. I agree that we are all approaching the Truth in our own unique

way as the Truth fascinates us and we have a deep knowing within that we are

not separate from the Truth. In my view, Techniques and methods of practice

might be useful, but are ultimately false, because they do presume to

separate us from the Truth. The Truth of Our Own Nature. So, yes, we do

emphasize direct Insight here, but not exclusively. That is just part of the

culture here. I think every list has its own environment. This is a

Satsangha, a fellowship, where we come to become aware that the only real

tool is that of awareness. All visions and symbols and mystical and

psychological mumbo jumbo exists only in awareness. This environment of

fellowship, as I see it, is that of loose interaction, mutual respect,

humor, poetry, a little give and take, quotes, etc. Fellowship is warmth.

Hopefully, we all feel it from time to time.

 

Harsha

[Guest guest]

>Thanks Melody for your thoughtful post. You speak your feelings and it is

>appreciated. I agree that we are all approaching the Truth in our own unique

>way as the Truth fascinates us and we have a deep knowing within that we are

>not separate from the Truth. In my view, Techniques and methods of practice

>might be useful, but are ultimately false, because they do presume to

>separate us from the Truth.

 

 

Yes, Harsha. Your point is well made. :-)

 

You're spending time preparing to teach

ethics in business to a group of MBA prospects.

 

I'm spending time letting the Bible stories

dance thru me.

 

Ultimately it's all just a game of experiences.

 

It's not like any of us are actually *accomplishing* anything with any of

this, is it?

 

Because, as you say, ultimately it's all false.

 

Still....what a remarkable dance of life, no matter

who's drum beat we're dancing to.

 

with love,

Melody