doc benway

And to confuse matters further, “knowing” is often cited as the most direct possible translation of rigpa but, as you say, it is a very precise and specific, and I might say “active,” knowing as opposed to a collection of facts. The other point being who it is that knows… I think this is a reason why dzogchen teachings always use illustrative examples while minimizing conceptual elaboration. They generally include three illustrations in making an important point - example, meaning, and sign (not sure of the Tibetan). At least that is very common in Bön. Bön dzogchen teachings are similar. Resting in the Nature of Mind does not mean finding some special state beyond, or outside of, the ordinary mind. It points to the direct experience of allowing the discursive and interpretative mind to fully rest, which is not other than the mind’s own original, unfabricated Nature. As Yongdzin Rinpoche often says, it is ‘nothing very special.’ On the other hand, when we have some experience we can see how very special that nothing special can be. I have found it to be off-putting to the point where I no longer follow his public teachings, they can go in some strange directions. Maybe there is a method to the madness (crazy wisdom) or maybe he is only human and open enough to show that side… It doesn’t always seem so skillful. Perhaps if I followed him more closely I’d have a better sense of it.

I find online communication to be inherently misleading and ambiguous, these icons are no exception. Some take extra care to make their intention clear, others the opposite.

Sorry but that’s above my pay grade. @Trunk may have some insight into the issue.

You’re probably right, although it wouldn’t be the first time I disagreed with Dzongsar Rinpoche, generally regarding his political commentary…

Dzogchen teachings say that from the practitioner’s perspective, mind appears separate from wisdom. From the side of non-dual wisdom there has never been any separation.

Dzogchen teachings do not state that mind and wisdom are separate. That is could cause a misunderstanding.

"One will not understand the bön essence conceptually. When you don't understand, abide in not understanding. There is no cause, no condition. If you do find it, what you will find is like essence. It is not something that you can grasp. If you are looking for something, when you don't find it, abide there. The practice is already there. That is the point. There is an aspect of the bön essence that is changeless. Try to realize that and abide in the changeless." ~ excerpted from teachings on The Four Excellences of Tapihritsa from Living Wisdom: Dzogchen Teachings from the 33rd Menri Trizin, His Holiness Luntok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche

Coming back always coming back Where and when did we leave At the moment of reckoning of now Who noticed That one knows where To look but not to find is to be

@TranquilTurmoil ~ it is yours to do with as you please, I will alphabetize when I get to my laptop

My perspective on karma is not so much that I reap what I sow in a direct and predictable sense but rather my actions and choices have effects and that choosing my actions wisely can have a somewhat predictable impact. The complexity of cause and effect interactions inherent in our interdependent existence makes it such that we cannot always predict or observe the effects of karma but they are always working. I think that any meaning or plan we assign to a given experience or event is our own creation. That does not mean that there is no meaning in the universe. We are the pathways and arbiters of that very meaning. We are the expression, the dance and energetic display, of the universe. We are its eyes and ears, the vessel through which Self-Awareness manifests. The essence of karma is such that we do receive what we need in any given situation to foster our growth. In every instance, we have the opportunity to react as we see fit. The meaning arises from our own personal, familial, cultural, societal, and religious conditioning (and add as many more adjectives as you like - genetic, physiological, anatomical, etc...). Everything that occurs in our lives can have as much or as little significance as we assign. In the final analysis, you create every aspect of every experience through a combination of your unique conditioning and limited sensory apparatus. A big part of my spiritual practice is to embrace challenges in my practice and work with them, which involves a process of hosting and allowing self-liberation to occur. What I've been taught is that it is generally not necessary to invite problems as we each have enough already, they will find us. On the other hand, because of the nature of karma, we do tend to be complicit hence the value in choosing our actions with care.

exposed

For Pete

A perspective on spontaneously arising Bodhicitta…

Remember that the teachings on shunyata were primarily developed as a teaching tool for monastics who were generally required to follow comprehensive course of study, including debate, in a very supportive and familial environment with the alternative likely being an impoverished existence with little chance for education or prosperity. Adapting those teachings to unsupervised and unsupported self-study in the modern, high tech, Western world is challenging. The other aspect is that the teachings essentially drive the mind to confusion, paradox, or exhaustion in order to force it to simply rest, drop away, and open to the direct, non-conceptual experience of reality. Part of that requires some degree of pain and desperation and the presence of a supportive sangha and guru are paramount. In the monastic environment, this was expected to take years, even a decade or more, of daily, guided, immersion in practice and study. If you are interested in healing others... you know where to start! I am in a healing/therapeutic job and went through some serious crises, existential and otherwise, at times. It can be very difficult to face others' suffering which harboring and juggling your own. I was lucky enough to find support and healing in a spiritual discipline which has allowed me to do my job far better with more pleasure and less distress. Wishing you peace and fulfillment on your path.

From the relative perspective, it is distressing. It is a bit like dreaming. Things seem and feel very real in the dream and there is nothing wrong with that for the dreamer, other than it can be nightmarish and eventually it ends and is seen to be a dream, nothing to get too worked up about. When we wake up, it is relatively easy to let go of the dream and while there may be a bit of regret or relief, it soon passes. Very similar to the perspective that our life's activities and relationships are illusory and ephemeral. While alive it is natural and useful to grasp at these things strongly but a side effect is that it is ultimately unsatisfactory because they are impermanent. The perspective of the grave, or non-dual awakening, is like the dreamer awakened. Those things just don't seem quite so important anymore. They are no less significant or beautiful but they are no more significant, or beautiful, than the direct experience of non-duality. All life, all relationships, suddenly take on the significance and worth of any one to the awakened. It is a powerful, sometimes overwhelmingly meaningful experience. But it cannot be forced. When it is seen directly and genuinely, it is effortless and transformative. If you try to force it, there is risk. One danger of non-dual and impermanence teachings is that they can cause crises and dysphoria in the vulnerable. While living in samsara, live it to the hilt. Grasp and revel in it, and deal with the consequences as best you can. If, and only if, that truly becomes unsatisfactory and loses its significance to the seeker, then it is worth embarking on the path of renunciation. Trying to tread that path when you are not ready, committed, and adequately supported will be painful and traumatic. It is not an intellectual exercise, it is a lifestyle. The answer to your question is unequivocally YES but that answer is wholly unsatisfactory to the intellect. It is like trying to eat a menu, rather than dinner. The only way to satisfactorily answer these questions for yourself is to experience it but it is a tricky path and there are no guaranteed formulas for success. When you truly discover that there is nothing to hold on to, you have also discovered that there is no one grasping. What fills the void is the unbounded nature of reality and the infinite potential of all it has to offer. It is only tragic to the control freak that lives behind your thoughts and feelings and has developed a very important sense of self worth. Beautiful poem from the perspective of the absolute to the sincere renunciate, showing the "mono no aware" of life and the promise of liberation. I hope you are feeling some connection here? Have you ever considered volunteering some time at a hospital, hospice, food bank, or animal shelter? If you feel emotionally and psychologically strong enough, there are many wonderful opportunities to serve. You could also plant trees or clean streams if the other opportunities seem too stressful, or simply serve yourself and continue your nature walks, you deserve it!

My work schedule is very demanding and has been for most of my life. Outside that I try to prioritize an hour each morning for meditation and time for physical exercise ~ 3 times per week. I really should make some standing time with my spouse which I’be done inconsistently. I do allow family matters to take 1st priority whenever necessary. Everything else is making out with the muses…

In the tradition I follow, we often “host” the challenging things in our lives in meditative practice. Enthusiasm will lead people to open doors to deep, dark places long before they are ready. One teaching is to work with whatever is active in us in any given moment. We don’t need to go looking for things or creating things, there is always going to be something that finds us. And if there is nothing to work with, no better opportunity to just rest and remain present and connected. PS - nothing better IMO than nature walks

I noticed something in myself this morning that might be of value... or not... I'll often catch myself indulging in or clarifying a story in my mind, any story, more often than not a problem with no solution - political, emotional, economic, previous things I could have done differently, future plans that seem out of reach... whatever There is a sense at the very beginning of this process, and recurring intermittently during the inner discussion, whether verbalized or not - "I think the problems is..." So this morning it occurred to me to turn that little catch phrase around - "The problem is I think..." Full stop... return to here and now where everything is possible I don't mean to say thinking is bad or something to be eliminated. It is arguably our most powerful tool and largely what defines us as human. Indulging in endless loops and over-identifying with whatever part of me is reacting strongly, that is the problem. That identification locks us into such a restricted illusion of our full potential. Pain can't fix itself, at least not for long, but disrupting those loops and reconnecting with the freshness of the present moment is an unmatched source of healing and possibility.

The tradition of the Bauls is fascinating https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ricky-kej-who-is-baul-documentary/article34359867.ece/amp/

Anyone speak Bangla?

Maybe not the ideal place for this discussion but I don’t quite see it that way, other than in theory. Until complete and permanent liberation, extraordinarily rare among the living, each of us brings our unique human characteristics to the table, as have all the great masters. Each of our canvases are a unique expression of that ultimate, non-dual source. I feel each of us has the experience of a unique canvas, even in the moment and experience of awakening and throughout the awakened lifetime. As I’ve posted elsewhere, the experiences we have in awakening are determined primarily by the bounded nature we were feeling before, this is why people describe different experiences, albeit with a common thread. One may feel completely open, another may feel omnipotent, another immortal, or a combination but these are still all human experience. It may be a subtle point but I think it is important in order to not be carried away by the absolute perspective in a way that causes us to lose the ability to communicate with and empathize with others. The relative and the absolute abide side by side in life, both equally “real” and valid, depending on our individual and unique perspective. When we propose otherwise, I suspect we may be projecting conceptual models onto our living experience. At least that is my experience. I acknowledge it may be different for others.

His book Awareness is brilliant, as is The Way to Love. If you like to listen there is an 8 CD set called Wake Up to Life that is also wonderful. Not every one resonates with him or his delivery. I find he cuts through to the core in a cloak of humor and practicality. 🕺🏻

"Is fulfillment a worthwhile goal?" As far as goals goes I would say yes. Much better than most. Rather than negating the ego, my approach is to see it clearly for what it is . To put it and its endless activities, plans, regrets, efforts in perspective and to allow it to simply rest when possible. The ego does not need to be negated and doing so can result in a nihilistic torpor or crisis. It does need to be seen for what it is, a secretive control freak on autopilot and an unreliable boss. Nourishing the spirit does not require ego, in fact ego is more often the obstacle. Absolutely! The relevant question is going where and by what means? Taking over/charge is what the obstacle is already doing and passive waiting is its nemesis. Good question and I think we each need to find that for ourselves, and it can change. The most important inspiration for me are the concrete benefits and positive changes I've experienced as a direct, and indirect, result of my practice. Another is the example set by my own teacher(s). Yet another is the effects I've seen on others that are a result of the integration of my practice. Don't underestimate the value of family, an internet sangha, a best friend who doesn't want to be romantic, and a lovely handful of hippies. There is treasure there! (Maybe the ennui is largely related to the best friend issue? Unrequited love is a bitter pill) The key is your happiness, or lack thereof, has nothing to do with them and everything to do with you. No better teacher of this point in my experience than Anthony DeMello, do you know his work? Healing is a blessing. Gratitude, resistance, losing heart are all feelings that come and go. As long as we have hopes and expectations, we need to honor that and work with them in whatever ways we can. But none of that is who you are, just passing experiences that the ego likes to indulge. What has worked for me is to develop a deep relationship with openness and awareness, naked and unflinching. But the crucial point is precision. Miss by a hair and you miss by a mile. Everything you've described are transient states of mind, none of that lasts. There is a possibility of connecting to something deep inside and all around that is not affected by any of that. It is very subtle yet sublime. It is elusive yet unwavering. I don't know what specific path or practices you engage but if you can truly make a connection to the luminous, to the spaciousness and warmth that are your very essence, the place where that hug comes from, you will find a completely satisfying answer to any question that might arise... including the one about fulfillment. One obstacle I've found is that we need to develop trust and confidence in it. We may get a glimpse, maybe a very powerful taste, but it is unfamiliar and we tend to fall back to relying on the wily ways of the mind to deal with real life situations. We need to bring the open awareness from the cushion to the present moment whenever confronting these doubts and questions and continually return to that openness and warmth rather than looking for conceptual answers. Eventually confidence arises and questions self-liberate. Anyway, this is what comes up for me when I read your words. As DeMello would say, if that helps, WONDERFUL, if not, WONDERFUL! All we can do is dance. Wishing for your peace and fulfillment... _/\_

I agree that is most excellent advice! Something I would add is to not let what happens inside dominate you either. If we pay attention, we sometimes see that the inner landscape can be every bit as turbulent, uncontrollable, and disturbing as the outer. My primary practice is called Inner Refuge. Once discovered we work to stabilize and integrate it in our daily lives. It is a place of inner peace, strength, and resourcefulness where nothing from the outer, or inner, worlds can disturb us. Sounds like you have a good teacher. Would you share what type of qigong you practice?