doc benway

"Money is like shit. Pile it up and it stinks. Spread it around and you can grow things." ~ Richard Flanagan, Question 7

It seems to me that you have a very narrow definition of what is meaningful in an esoteric context. Each of us needs something different and unique to grow. I would agree that what we need, in other words what we have to work with, are what conditions are present for us in any given moment and we have limited control over that. I also agree that support of a community can be very valuable. At the end of the day, however, each of us has to do the inner work by and for ourselves. No one, not even the greatest teacher can do it for us.

In addition to the beauty of the game and its players, I also find great beauty in chess pieces, ancient, classic, and modern. A few years back, I purchased a set hand made by a Romanian chess master, IM Biró Sándor. They are unique, rustic, and very sturdy for aggressive players. The size differential between kings, queens, and "lesser" pieces is far less than traditional designs. The knights are particularly interesting and the pawns are HUGE. I think this is an homage to the often underestimated importance and power of pawns and "lesser" pieces. You can see the set here - https://caissa.ro/ChessSet/ It's been copied by a few of the companies in India that manufacture the majority of chess sets worldwide, called the Romanian Hungarian set but giving no credit, or royalties, to Mr. Sándor. The knight was used as a model for the World Championship competition set endorsed by the FIDE. I once lost my wedding band. I'd been at kendo practice that morning. Looked everywhere, went back and checked the locker. Scoured the car, house, everywhere I'd been that day. When changing clothes that evening, found it in the cuff of my jeans, it had accompanied me all day at my ankle, snickering. Another time I lost a pen that was very special, given me by my father. Could not find it for a year. One day it showed up on my front porch... just a little worse for wear.

I rarely listen to podcasts but recently discovered Poetry Unbound. I listened to a poem today on the way to work, The Seventh Circle of Earth by Ocean Vuong. It's not a very long drive but I cried most of the way. In other news, I generally don't drink much coffee but that has changed since discovering La Colombe's All Dark and finding my old Bodum french press.

Perhaps the most concise definition of religion I’ve read.

I’ll get a little crazy and combine and continue the thread: nothing can compare to the pleasure of hugging my guns, and my cats

blessed sanity has drown’d herself in the Gulf of Amerika

Seems to be a little better for me today.

Another consideration regarding secrecy I'd like to share is an extension of a point in my earlier post, fwiw. In the Tibetan tradition, one which did keep the "highest" teachings hidden for millennia, enlightenment is far more than the realization of the non-dual nature of being. That very realization can be a trap, which I think is one reason for the secrecy. Such a realization is important but it is simply a drawing back of the curtain, a human experience of the dropping of an obscuration or delusion, albeit an important one; a glimpse of the real potential of enlightenment but not the full fruition. This is the place where a lot of practitioners get stuck because it gives one the impression that there is nothing left to do. The truth is that there is everything left to do, meaning that in this particular tradition, from the moment of realization, each and every action in one's life has the possibility of being a manifestation of enlightened heart and mind, here and now, in human form. The proof in the pudding is do we, and those around us, see that happening moment to moment in our lives? Each and every action can be an embodiment of the four immeasurable qualities of empathetic joy, equanimity, compassion, and loving-kindness. This is the fruition of the Three Bodies - the body of emptiness, the body of perfection, and the body of emanation. Realization of our empty yet complete nature of Being is fulfillment of the first, maybe the second of those bodies; but we need to discover the means to bring these qualities into our lives through our relationship to others, that's the third body, the aspect of emanation. My teacher emphasizes exercising this "muscle" through acts of service to others and through channeling our connection to the source through creative expression. These are ways to see if the realization is sound and fruition is actually occurring. Enlightenment is not an on off switch, not a simple change in perspective in my view. At best that can be considered realization. It is an ongoing process that becomes the basis for how we live our lives. Only when these four immeasurable qualities are spontaneously and effortlessly occurring, and affecting those around us in a meaningful way, can we be considered to be on a path to Enlightenment. At least that's my admittedly flawed interpretation of what is taught by the Tibetan tradition.

I suspect it's similar to our limited understanding of gravity. We can't figure it out so we had a fudge factor, like dark matter/energy, that makes the equations work. I suspect everything is there serving a purpose we are yet to understand or discover.

Major problems for me, only occasionally able to log on and the Jeopardy theme plays during every change of page...

Now THAT’s the way to welcome the year of the snake!

tumble in the void kno way to apprehend true orientation

whistling a bit of shrapnel shatters stone and bone memory denied

Laozi says When a wise person hears of the Way He devotes himself fully. When an average person hears of the Way He tries to understand but doubts. When a fool hears of the Way He laughs out loud! Ha! When I first heard of the way I laughed, But when I saw it with my bones, I laughed even louder! In the first case I laughed at the simplicity of it all. How could it be so obvious? Ha! In the second, I laughed at the simplicity of it all. How could I have been so oblivious? Ah… ha… ha.. ha! I continue to laugh Not at the Way, but At the effort of the wise At the doubt of the middlings And most of all at “My” “Self"