doc benway

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?

I agree with you but I find that what occurs on social media, here perhaps just a little less, is not debate. Debate involves advancing positions and providing supportive evidence with some degree of organization and mutually agreed upon rules and guidelines. Most of what passes for "debate" online is often electronically shouted opinions and gratuitous assertions, with little or no supporting evidence. There is also the specter of suppression of information, flooding of misinformation, corruption of authoritative sources, questionable reliability and similar corruption of alternative sources, thresholds for accepting the veracity of information, and related factors which make intelligent and civil debate extremely challenging in the information age. Fortunately there is the ignore button... (one reason to avoid becoming a moderator, moderators can't ignore anyone )

Who knows? People have different ideas about what's best for themselves and others, even when the stakes are high. And we are now in an era when facts have less solidity in people's minds, like it or not. It's a rather concrete demonstration of the Buddhist view that our minds create our reality. While this particular situation is a very challenging one, there are others and there will no doubt be more, perhaps even more polarizing while that is currently difficult to envision. At an intellectual level it is fascinating, at a visceral and emotional level horrifying, and technology seems to be accelerating this trend and the potential for disaster. At some level, we need to find a way to live with this fact.... or not.

Is there any role for trying to protect people from potentially harmful and divisive misinformation? I recognize there are many difficult questions surrounding such an undertaking, who is the arbiter of truth, for example. On the other hand, there are blatant examples of aggressive misinformation campaigns on social media which can have profound effects on health related decisions, elections, and the like. I really enjoyed Sacha Baron Cohen's talk on the subject a few years back...

Wonderful to see more and more people waking up!! Such a blessing and cause for Thanksgiving.

In the good ole' USA it's all about the hair... https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/6/10/21285542/hair-cut-protest-lockdown-culture-war

I've been trying to share my own response to the pandemic and the conflicts arising from the various facets of it. Anything I share is about me, and I acknowledge it may also unintentionally cause you or others some pain. This is the nature of this unprecedented situation we face. If we choose to engage each other in discussing it from our different perspectives we are guaranteed some discomfort, as long as we identify with our position and its consequences. That is very real but also only a part of the truth. I've also been hoping to encourage a turning away from that identification - the one who grasps at information, the emotions, the thoughts, the pain, and towards a Refuge. I genuinely believe that is the only way forward for me, inward through the pain and towards the spacious clarity and warmth of being. My practices and sangha have been a life raft for me, particularly early in the pandemic when I was very exposed and feeling very vulnerable, in the absence of any protection (no matter whether that "protection" proves to be adequate and benign - only time will tell). I can only speak for myself as a member (and moderator), but if I haven't made it clear already, unequivocally... YES! (yes, there is a place for someone like you in this spiritual community) This is a tough subject to discuss and a tough subject for each of us as individuals to navigate for many different reasons. My hope is that we can come together here as a community and learn how to offer each other support and respect, even when we disagree. If we can't, then why are we even here? We certainly would not qualify as genuine seekers and practitioners if we're unwilling to go in that direction, as far as I'm concerned. That is the kind of environment I am unapologetically working towards fostering here. Choosing to eschew the vaccine out of genuine personal health concerns in the present situation and still taking reasonable precautions to protect ourselves and those around us is NOT lacking in compassion, IMO. Seeing and feeling your sincerity and inner struggle on the topic and being unable or unwilling to be understanding and supportive most certainly IS lacking in both empathy and compassion. We can't expect everyone here to be willing or able to act with empathy and compassion, regardless of which side of this argument we are on. On the other hand, we can hopefully help everyone to see this in themselves and give them the opportunity to grow from the experience, you and me included.

@Iliketurtles We do not routinely delete topics or posts unless they violate the forum guidelines. Simply stop bumping and the the thread will soon be lost in the ether…

I appreciate you sharing and your general demeanor here. My own path is the direct one, not so much one of analysis or interpretation. I think your opening and sharing in a supportive environment should allow some degree of processing which is an important part of healing. For me healing is largely a matter of being OK with whatever is present in the current moment. Another very important part is being OK, in fact embracing with kindness, that aspect of my self that I've alienated or despise in the context of former actions and ideation. I offer you a warm, luminous, and spacious hug and will continue to check in on this thread.

It's not so much a physical exercise or manipulation of the eye. It is more related to resting the eyes and the mind's eye-sense in space. Opening the third eye is about "seeing" in a way that transcends the physical eye and eye-sense, or the way the mind interprets the information. it is more a meditative approach than a physical approach. This is why it is emphasized in some traditions to meditate with the eyes open and to do practices that induce visions like sky gazing, sun gazing, and dark retreat.

Monkey Magic! I need to watch some more... Thanks

Synchronicity... I just spent the long holiday weekend doing a short personal retreat. The most important thing that came out of it was seeing how much effort I exert in any given moment. Even when I think I'm where I need to be there can be a subtle me in charge, judging, evaluating, guiding... Whether it is my work, family life or, as pointed out in this retreat, even meditation there are so many levels of effort and control that are more and more subtle. As you say, when we truly let go there it is!

I appreciate your perspective. I was fortunate enough to have a profound heart opening experience elicited by simply being in the presence of my teacher the first time I met him. It was nothing he said, rather simply his presence, his body language, interest, connection with me - it was shockingly powerful, although it didn't hit me until a few minutes after our brief meeting was over. He is extremely warm, engaging, and joyful but also knows how to establish clear and healthy boundaries. I once listened to a long talk he gave about selecting a teacher and it helped me understand the complexity of the relationship and his position and approach to the issue. It can be a slippery slope to expand the role of teacher/spiritual guide to include friendship on multiple levels, especially in the West where the relationship is profoundly different than that in Asia. I often listen to talks by Anthony DeMello who was a Jesuit, an awakened being, and psychologist who provided psychological and spiritual support to clergy in India. He spoke about his own inner conflict in dealing with the priests and nuns. As a therapist, he was trained to employ measures which would ease their pain and suffering. As a spiritual guide, he would often recognize the value in allowing, even encouraging, them to go through deeper and more destructive experiences in order to help them to open. I think it is a very difficult role to play, a spiritual guide and teacher. Far easier to be a spiritual friend as there are far fewer expectations. One needs to be open and warm enough to help others to open their own hearts, yet discriminating enough not to allow the student, who is often in pain, maybe desperate and looking for a life raft, to become too attached or to have unrealistic expectations. The wrong relationship can actually become an obstacle or turn someone away from the path entirely. Not everyone is cut out for it and each of us needs very different things at any given point along our path. Good luck with your own search for more community. You'll find at least a little of that here.

Voice of the Fire was wonderful! Very different but reminded me a bit of Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.

Welcome back TT! I'm certainly happy to have you here and look forward to your presence and presents.

I used a Wang in the late 70's when working in an organic chem lab...

Don’t know that one but loved this one

Or one of my fav’s -

It is such a blessing to live from this space. It's easy to talk about, much rarer to experience, even rarer yet to be the ground and flow of our lives.

Loyalty pays off...