doc benway

Being raised in Judaism, I always had trouble connecting with it for a variety of reasons. I was once driving with an ultra-orthodox rabbi, who coincidentally drove like a maniac... I asked him about his understanding of God and his way of describing it led me to a rudimentary (conceptual) understanding of non-duality. Many years later I was attending a Bar-Mitzvah, a ritualistic Jewish coming of age ceremony, and the brother of a friend gave some brief comments. Somehow his comments opened me up to a different and much deeper understanding of the most important and fundamental prayer in the liturgy, the Shema - Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. What opened up for me was that in describing the Lord as One (or, taking a liberty with the translation - One-ness) we are stating a doctrine of non-duality. Whether that is correct or incorrect, accurate or inaccurate, it was immediately true for me, and will always remain so based on my own spiritual path and experiences, and has helped me connect more deeply with the prayers and liturgy and my own heritage in a sense.

Alan Watts once said that Buddhism is essentially Hinduism stripped of cultural baggage and optimized for export. I think this is an overly simplistic view and "devil is in the details" but there is some truth there. In my experience, duality and non-duality show up in many ways in Buddhist (and Bön) theory and practice. The concepts of duality and non-duality are implicit in the doctrine of dependent origination, Bodhicitta, and the view of shunyata. This becomes more and more clear through experiential practice, while not always clear intellectually. On the other hand, duality and non-duality are explicitly stated in the doctrine of the Two Truths.

I knew you were kidding! 😁 Dude pushed my buttons to the breaking point, in the middle of a tense situation no less…

Sooo beautiful a poem, I feel I am there right now! I've spent quite a bit of time on the trail, mostly in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia,.

I've met a rare evil nurse. Nearly physically assaulted one once. The vast majority, however, have been caring and strong human beings with very big hearts, and a little ego. Can't think of another group of people I'd rather hang out with.

the cat stays in bed allergic phenomena are tolerable

I think that what you are describing is precisely a connection with the Dao. We are always much closer to it than we realize. When the mind and body are clear, calm, and open we connect to our source. When we learn to trust this openness and what arises from that we are practicing wu wei which I like to define as “non-interference.”

If intrusive thoughts are an issue it helps to focus on an object of meditation. Many use the breath for that purpose. In the Bön traditon we focus on the Tibetan letter A but anything can work. Start with short sessions and gradually increase time. Stay focused on the object. Notice when you disconnect and return, over and over and over. Quality is far more important than quantity. Frequent short practices are better than long practices in the beginning. The keys are consistency and familiarity. With patience and persistence the thoughts will become less frequent and less intrusive.

That’s not quite accurate. There is no extinguishing or separating of a self involved. My perspective is that Buddhist meditations are primarily directed at seeing the truth of the self. The first step is to slow the mind down a bit, get a little control over it so that we can really look at it more deeply. This is the first stage of meditation - samatha. Once we are able to rest the mind, we begin to have a chance to really look at it. Look at your own sense of self directly. What is it, where is it, how does it work? This is called vipassana. When you look deeply enough for long enough you may discover something really amazing, namely that your self is not at all what it always seemed to be but something far more powerful, creative, resourceful, flexible, …. It completely changes your perspective and your life. The next step is to integrate that “knowledge” and potential into all aspects of life.

no ‘lightenment here say the frustrated teachers DaoBums rest… … in peace

I have a somewhat different perspective,. Buddhist meditation in Asia was an integral part of warrior culture and training in certain societies. The approach is not so much to leave the world behind but rather to overcome attachment to the world. This can make it quite a bit easier to face fear, injury, even death.

Boots

Don’t go to Florida!

Thank you

Or that they are intentionally making the path obscure in order to control and manipulate others. True awakening brings with it a love and sense of caring for others that is at odds with grandiose self-absorption and manipulative behavior.

On karma: "Every motivation is 'photographed' by the seventh consciousness (of afflictive emotion), stored on the film of the eighth (Kunzhi Namshe), and developed in the dark room of the bardo for you to see. This process also happens in dreams." A. Holecek

Personal impressions (do not reflect on management): I feel alarms going off in me when I visit these webpages. So aggressive, so comprehensive, so overstated for my taste. Yes, the practice is basic and solid but the mandala feels like the mandala of one, a very grandiose one. I urge caution with any Westerner who calls themselves Rinpoche along with other self-appointed honorifics, who have mastered it all and studied with all the greats but cannot show one credible lineage connection. I urge great caution practicing tantra with a self-appointed master with no direct lineage connection. But take my words always with a grain of salt, after all I thought Lama Dorje was a grifter too… still do

When someone responds to a reasonable question stated in perfect English by questioning the other’s language proficiency, my interpretation is that they are invalidating both the question and the one who is asking. I also find it to be rude. Now that could be completely my own projection and your intention may have been pure. Nevertheless, that is why I reassured wandelaar that his English is fine and his question fair.

Your English is far better than Ok and your asking Giles to clarify his point was fair.

I was referring to body pain.

There is no clear separation between fear and pain. Both are experienced in the mind. Each is profoundly affected by the other.

Hi Tom, Warning - I entered meditation practice through the door of martial arts and left martial arts practice through the door of meditation. The meditation I currently practice has been a great support for me to release fear and pain. It also led me to release my interest in violence, including martial arts training, as an unanticipated consequence. It is three-fold practice that includes meditation related to the 3 doors of body, speech, and mind. The body meditation can be very effective with physical pain. The doors of speech and mind are wonderful in working with fear, which in turn is an amplifier for physical pain and injury. It is a little much to simply describe in a few words. I will find and message you a link to my teacher leading the practice. Another way of working with fear in the Tibetan tradition is known as Chöd. It is a very complex practice which involves visualization of sacrificing one's own body in a very ritualistic and explicit way in order to satisfy the hunger of the demons of fear and related emotions. If you don't hear from me in a day or two, please send me a reminder by PM. Warm regards, Steve

It's so close to us it is easily and consistently overlooked. So subtle and yet so unimaginably powerful.... and never noticed. Most people never get it unless it is pointed out. Even then it's very easy to miss or under-appreciate. From a Bön teaching called the Seven Mirrors of Dzogchen: It's positive qualities are inconceivable, Like the revelation of a king's treasure. The one who rests in its true meaning Enjoys the inexhaustible wealth of its fruition.

Please take note - homophobic and transphobic rhetoric are not welcome here. Referring to either as a disease violates our community standards.

I think a lot of us feel that way.