To: K-list
Recieved: 2004/01/16 04:00
Subject: [K-list] Re: [kundalini_p] Applied and Sustained Concentration
From: Macdocaz1
On 2004/01/16 04:00, Macdocaz1 posted thus to the K-list:
Hello Rainbow Spirit, I am sorry you believe that I have purely an
intellectual approach, because I am a contemplative. I meditate 4 or 5 hours a day.
So, I am not an intellectual at all. I have found it is this rigorous
contemplative practice regimen that has brought me safe thus far through the long dark
night of the soul to a pleasant abiding in the here and now. And, thankfully
I enjoy the silence of what you call samadhi or no mind.
But just as you use terms like 'samadhi' and no doubt 'kundalini' I have been
a contemplative for thirty years and I have read and studied this subject
thoroughly. I have learned there is as sophisticated a language of cognition and
gnosis as there is for engineering, so why not use it to be precise? However
I am sorry if my use of terminology is difficult for you, because whenever I
use terminology I almost always place it in brackets and use common English
terminology so that my readers will not be burdened with too much to digest. I
will of course make even a more rigorous effort to make my writing even easier
to understand for the common English speaker.
Yes, I am familiar with the Advaitan beliefs and constructs, because it is
part of my lineage. But, my lineage of Advaita Vedanta relied heavily upon a
rigorous contemplative practice regimen. This lineage passes from me through
Amar Jyoti to Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna, all of whom observed and taught a
rigorous meditation practice regimen, as did Ramana Maharshi, who represented
one of the other popular lineages of nondualist philosophy.
A contemporary nondualist, Adyashanti, comes from the San Francisco Zen
center. I believe he also teaches a contemplative practice regimen. In fact I
have sat in on one of his dharma talks here in Tucson.
I find the claim that emptiness is only a view one need simply "awaken" to,
is about as fulfilling as being "saved" in a Christian evangelical church. I
find these concepts empty because they do not satisfy me. I do not believe
philosophical constructs relieve suffering (dukkha). They only present a point
of view, a belief, a faith.
Arguably, this point of view, Dzogchen-like, is admirable, so it is difficult
to argue with, however I believe it is erroneous to believe that the point of
view is IT, and there is nothing more after emptiness and faith. I find this
premise empty and devoid of substance, because I do not believe one's
dissatisfaction (dukkha) will be relieved by view, faith, or belief alone. And, when
I find people in the throws of the spiritual awakening (kundalini) I know
what will help them is cultivating a calm and still mind through a daily
meditation practice. Because that is what I did, and it carried me through the other
side of the dark night.
Asking one who is suffering to simply stop thinking and worrying, is like
asking someone with a headache to stop having the headache. I do not think one
asking you for an aspirin would be please with such a response.
I am certain that emptiness, faith and belief however are an excellent
foundation for the absorption experience (jhana), for which the charismatic
manifestations of kundalini that the people on this list are having are only a
foreshadow of, but emptiness is just the entry point for the first absorption
(jhana). However one with a nondualist view alone, has not yet gotten to absorption
(jhana), nor will one, without meditation. There are eight absorptions
(Jhanas) beyond emptiness, but I do not believe one will get to them without a
contemplative practice regimen.
These absorption states require a contemplative practice. I doubt seriously
one who rejects contemplative practice will ever get there. This is why those
with a view with no contemplative practice often reject the absorption states
(jhanas), and they even accuse ecstatics of narcissism, because ideas that
cannot be refuted are always demonized.
I believe you will find the Advaitan emptiness is much like the Zen no-mind,
but when you read the Nikayas (Pali canon), you will see no-mind and emptiness
are simply synonyms for calm abiding (shamata). Then, you will see that
nondualists who reject a contemplative practice are only talking about the
beginning of absorption (jhana).
The absorptions start with calm abiding (no mind), but ecstatics don't stop
at the doorway of a house during a rainstorm (kundalini) and say, "what a nice
door this house has," or peek inside and say, "what a nice house you have,"
while being drenched with rain. We keep going and stand in the center of the
four corner stones of that nice warm house, and enjoy the shelter that the whole
house has to offer, because it has 4 corner stones, awareness of breath,
awareness of the body, awareness of the senses and awareness of the mind. And, we
take refuge in a pleasant abiding in the hear and now, absorption (jhana).
So, I have come to see the emptiness of a philosophy of emptiness as only a
view, and nothing more.
Thank-you Hillary, for your kind support.
Best regards to all,
Jeff Brooks
In a message dated 1/15/04 10:08:39 AM, guy3rdAThotmail.com writes:
<< Hi Jeff,
Why not simply silence the thinking verbal mind and live in a state
of being? Your process seems very intelectual and I need a dictionary of
terms to understand which distracts me from a fluid understanding. I design
ships, houses, electrical systems, hydrolic systems, plumbing, cook and all
the other daily rituals without confining myself with interpeting into
words. Language limits because of the inherent confines of definitions and
beliefs that shackle the mind. In this silence there is no judgement or
beliefs only being. there is no other, therefore no practice. Words
create a path for another to follow and therefore useful to describe that
path but the words are not the path and cloud awareness. Why catagorize and
discribe the experience to yourself when you need only turn off the verbal
stream
running through the mind and [be] A baby has no trouble doing this you need
only unlearn what you have been taught Why spend a few furtive min. in
samadhi when living there is so available and so simple. You have described
trying yet there is nothing to try. The need to act is but a masturbation
of the ego or intellect, surrender of action removes the ego and allows a
constant [being]
Peace and Love my Freind,
Guy
Rainbow Spirit >>
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