Thanks Jason for the wonderful comment to the first blog. The question posed (see comment to first blog for full text) was why not allow philosophical concepts and ideas, don't they give a framework for spiritual experience and so help?
Yes, it's true that anything can serve as a pointer to the Stillness that we are, even a philosophical concept or idea. And also, once the Awakening to that Stillness is making itself felt, some context in which to place it may allow a greater understanding... this is a great benefit if it allows the mind to relax. In both these cases we are really talking about a direct experience of something that is here. It feels like this is what was being pointed out in Jason's comment, and I'm very happy to be prompted to clarify it.
This is completely different to a discussion about opinions, ideas and beliefs. Actually meeting the direct experience of the effect of an idea is very pertinent to this blog. I would encourage anyone to test the effect of an idea themselves, is there a wish to debate a point or is there a wish to allow the pointer to have it's full effect of opening? The feeling is very different, and unmistakeable, one is about a position in the mind, the other takes you far beyond that.
The mind misunderstands Awakening believing it means you need to get somewhere, but it doesn't want to go there - fears it, so stalls you with a debate. It's ironic that there isn't anywhere to go anyway. The invitation is to simply be as you are right now, that that is good enough.
Perhaps also check to see if something wants to defend its right to debate ideas and opinions... there are plenty of places to do that on the internet, why would it insist that it should do it here too? The mind loves to postpone, and if it can do that whilst appearing to try to help, all the better. Check to see if the debating is a delay mechanism, if it's holding onto some belief that says that simply being as you are right now is not good enough. It's a strategy of the mind - to hold back, trying to manage the Awakening, fit it into its own schedule - "first let me understand then I'll allow it". And of course, this just prevents it from being fully known.
Yes, it's true that anything can serve as a pointer to the Stillness that we are, even a philosophical concept or idea. And also, once the Awakening to that Stillness is making itself felt, some context in which to place it may allow a greater understanding... this is a great benefit if it allows the mind to relax. In both these cases we are really talking about a direct experience of something that is here. It feels like this is what was being pointed out in Jason's comment, and I'm very happy to be prompted to clarify it.
This is completely different to a discussion about opinions, ideas and beliefs. Actually meeting the direct experience of the effect of an idea is very pertinent to this blog. I would encourage anyone to test the effect of an idea themselves, is there a wish to debate a point or is there a wish to allow the pointer to have it's full effect of opening? The feeling is very different, and unmistakeable, one is about a position in the mind, the other takes you far beyond that.
The mind misunderstands Awakening believing it means you need to get somewhere, but it doesn't want to go there - fears it, so stalls you with a debate. It's ironic that there isn't anywhere to go anyway. The invitation is to simply be as you are right now, that that is good enough.
Perhaps also check to see if something wants to defend its right to debate ideas and opinions... there are plenty of places to do that on the internet, why would it insist that it should do it here too? The mind loves to postpone, and if it can do that whilst appearing to try to help, all the better. Check to see if the debating is a delay mechanism, if it's holding onto some belief that says that simply being as you are right now is not good enough. It's a strategy of the mind - to hold back, trying to manage the Awakening, fit it into its own schedule - "first let me understand then I'll allow it". And of course, this just prevents it from being fully known.
Comments