doc benway
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Everything posted by doc benway
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Wheel of Time ~ Full documentary by W. Herzog
doc benway replied to C T's topic in Buddhist Discussion
Thanks for posting this CT. I'm a fan of Herzog but have not yet seen this film. I look forward to watching it soon. -
Hardcore Zen was a good read.
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I can only speak based on some experience with the US system. Training and safeguards are well-intentioned but only as effective as the individuals implementing them. Burnout is very high and there is a lot of bitterness and dissatisfaction among the staff and physicians. Many facilities are over-populated and understaffed. Many chronic treatment facilities have been shut down, overwhelming the acute care facilities. Documentation requirements have led to over-burdening the staff with computer work at the expense of patient care and contact. Nurses spend most of their time documenting bullshit and hands on care is mostly delegated to inexperienced, underpaid, and under-trained aides and extenders. The emphasis on pharmaceutical manipulation is very high and there is little attention paid to alternative therapies. All of this has an impact on the patients and how they are managed. Things could be much better and also much worse. While there is clearly a need for inpatient, acute and chronic care, there is also a need for reformation of the system. Unfortunately, the current drive for change in the system is a a misguided and misleading attempt by government forces to create a system that permits large scale data mining at the expense of quality, personalized care. … rant off
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Another issue in the mental health care system is that the staff, while perhaps not deliberately cruel, are often unintentionally harmful due to their own ignorance and dysfunction.
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Extra points for style and fashion as well. Oh, and a little something under the table never hurts.
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Book study leading to mastery
doc benway replied to Harmonious Emptiness's topic in General Discussion
"One may think that one lives; actually, one is only 'being lived'." "Only"(?!) being lived? I question the master's choice of word here. I think I understand his point ---> we are too wrapped up in "our" lives, ignorantly believing ourselves to be independent agents of volitional activity. The "only" may be an attempt to help us let go of our self-importance and allowing life. On the other hand, once the apperception of truth is directly experienced, there is no "only" about it. There is nothing more liberating, fresh, and wonderful than that gnowledge. The realization of our nature goes beyond "being lived" because that which is being lived and that which is doing the living are one and the same. -
They certainly don't always help and can be misused. On the other hand, sometimes they can help prevent murder and suicide… and the trauma that can come from living with someone who is out of control and a danger to themselves or others. My heart goes out to you, Captain - I pray for you to experience peace and healing.
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Excellent question- If my heart is beating me, who is the me that is other than the heart? Can that me exist absent a heart? I don't mean to ask for an answer to the "who am I?" question, rather call attention to the duality inherent in both of our replies. Nice post and I thought I'd offer the following random ramblings it evoked in me as I sit as work on my lunch break: The "limited perceptions" we all exist with are all we ever have. We tend to make the assumption that there is "something" common, whatever you call it or however you attempt to describe it. And I'm not saying that there is not. On the other hand, on what does our certainty rest that there is? I will only ever know what is known through the unique and constantly changing set of aggregates that define "me." Each and every one of us will have that experience, or maybe just me, I can only guess. And when it ends, we can then grasp onto any of the various gratuitous assertions that governs what comes after. But the after is a conceptualization, a projection. And the "thing" is, itself, a conceptualization and is not as solid as one might like. Empty, one might say, or ineffable, un-nameable, etc... I think this is why the DDJ starts with the caution - from here on out, everything that is written is not "it" because you can't ever capture "it" in words and concepts. No credible tradition defines the undefinable, only beginners, institutions, and fundamentalists do that because they don't (want to) know better. So maybe there is a big "it" and maybe not. Maybe there is something that is aware at a different level than us little ants, and maybe not. Maybe Dao encompasses everything, and then again, maybe it is absolutely nothing, or both, or neither... One thing I do think is important is that, whether or not there is a big it, or right and wrong, and whether or not everything is part of Dao and manifests as the Great Perfection, we have choices to make in our lives and our lives, and the lives of others, are much more pleasant if we are kind to each other and to ourselves.
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If I beat my heart, I also shine the sun… - paraphrased from Allan Watts
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"The empty aspect (stong cha) of the Natural State is called the Mother (ma), while its clarity aspect (gsal cha) is called the Son (bu) or the Wisdom of Awareness (rig pa'i ye shes). These two are inseparable. There is no separation involved here and their unity shining in all its vividness is called the nature of mind (sems kyi gnas lugs). All this must be very clear as it is the very base of Dzogchen and if this does not arise as something very clear for the individual, then the rest of the teachings will be of no use at all. In order to clearly experience this state devoid of all thoughts, it is necessary to practice and recognize the space between thoughts. Then you have to practice for weeks, months, and years to be familiar with the empty clarity of mind." Lopön Tenzin Namdak RInpoche - commentary from The Three Precepts: From the Oral Transmission of the Great Perfection in Zhangzhung transl. Jean-Luc Achard
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I really like the fact that the thread now contains multiple quotes from masters both using the OP as a pith and a caution. This helps me quite a bit more than just accepting or non-accepting the premise.
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Book study leading to mastery
doc benway replied to Harmonious Emptiness's topic in General Discussion
I have a different interpretation. The practice does not exist in a vacuum. The context is important, as is the motivation to persevere in the practice. The context develops as a result of one's environment, life experience, relationships, teachings, study, etc... The motivation develops as a result of true renunciation and devotion. How many folks sit around contemplating "I am" for a while and fail to achieve Nisargadatta's insight? There is much more to it than any particular method, IMO. -
Book study leading to mastery
doc benway replied to Harmonious Emptiness's topic in General Discussion
Nisargadatta shares with us the importance of devotion and trust in the guru. This is the fuel. The view is the foundation. And the practice is mindfulness and connectedness.- 83 replies
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I lives forever and birth and death go round and round...
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Journey to Certainty - Anyen Rinpoche
doc benway replied to Tibetan_Ice's topic in Buddhist Discussion
As stated, while it is a brilliant work (both the Beacon and Anyen's interpretation) it is no substitute for direct introduction and instruction from a living master. It presumes one has had direct introduction and is intended to stabilize and induce confidence in view and practice. -
Journey to Certainty - Anyen Rinpoche
doc benway replied to Tibetan_Ice's topic in Buddhist Discussion
For me, it's a great book. I'm currently reading it for the second time. To be clear, it is not and does not include a translation of Mipham's masterpiece. It is Anyen Rinpoche guiding the reader through Mipham's Beacon in his own words, section by section, which is indispensable. Anyen makes the challenging material much more accessible and helps everyone but the most experienced reader to understand many obscure and subtle references in the original that would otherwise be elusive. This is a work that will reward thoughtful and repeated study, IMO. It's one of the few books that have actually had a direct and immediate effect on the quality of my practice. As always, YMMV. -
I like the Ameridote salute... Ooss!!!
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Book study leading to mastery
doc benway replied to Harmonious Emptiness's topic in General Discussion
My experience and study say YES - if the goal is spiritual development on the Buddhist path, one needs to incorporate both study and practice. The study is critical for developing the proper view and context. It is what informs and guides the practice. The practice is essential to gain certainty through direct contact and confidence through results. It breathes life into theory. View without experience is unstable and subject to degradation. Direct experience without context leads to confusion and difficulty with integration. Same thing applies to Daoist cultivation. I've had a change of perspective on this due to direct personal experience. Martial arts are an entirely different matter - theory is of limited value - practice is king.- 83 replies
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What would your "perfect" retreat look like?
doc benway replied to Spotless's topic in General Discussion
With some Buddhist cooks, that's not a bad thing… -
What would your "perfect" retreat look like?
doc benway replied to Spotless's topic in General Discussion
I. Silence except for asking questions during teachings and mandatory functional speech - for meditation retreats at least, not as big a deal for martial arts and qigong retreats II. Cellphones and laptops must remain in room or car and used for emergencies only III. Daily schedule: Teaching is with master, practice led by senior instructor 7-8 - practice 8-9 - breakfast 9-10:30 - teaching 10:30-11 - break 11-12 - practice 12-1 - work hour (voluntary) 1-3 - lunch 3-4:30 - teaching 4:30-5 - break 5-6 - practice 6-7 - dinner Specifics, of course, would depend on the focus and content of the retreat. Not sure if you're asking about specific content vs logistics and layout. -
Really?
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How can you tell if you are getting the real deal / indoor teachings?
doc benway replied to BaguaKicksAss's topic in Daoist Discussion
If my intention is to cause you to change your life to suit my preferences, I would not consider that a good intention. That's rather selfish and presumptuous, IMO. -
I've done a very small amount of journeying. I have a close friend who is a shaman and has helped me with it a bit. One valuable aspect of this sort of work is that it helps to develop intuitive powers. It helps to develop trust in one's intuition as well as openness and sensitivity and can lead to looking at the world in a very different way. Since the experience is so unique with each individual, I don't want to say much more than that as I find it can easily be too leading.
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Lots of examples out there of people who clearly have some deep insight and yet express human weaknesses. I think it's very important for us to not forget that our teachers are human and subject to mistakes. I suspect this is why we are always taught to do guru yoga with a figure that represents all of our teachers and never specifically with our teacher him or herself. The vulnerability of the teacher does not necessarily weaken or negate their message. We can learn from anyone and any situation if we are engaged and open. Trungpa is a good example of that, along with Watts, Osho, Gurdjieff, Krishnamurti, Milarepa, etc... On the other hand, the teacher's behavior does have a strong impact on who I would choose to actively study with. In my own experience, I had a superb teacher for a long time and saw them act in ways that ultimately led me to look elsewhere for deeper instruction. If we don't see our teacher living their teachings, it is very hard to generate and maintain genuine devotion and trust [edited to add] in the teacher OR the teachings. Without that devotion and trust in our teacher and the teachings, progress is difficult.
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How can you tell if you are getting the real deal / indoor teachings?
doc benway replied to BaguaKicksAss's topic in Daoist Discussion
Manipulation is just that, regardless of the tools we use... What is important is the intention behind the action.