Couple more thoughts.....
John Beasley wrote: "show me a sure road to enlightenment"
This would, in my opinion, be trying to attach a static pattern to
the dynamic. There are no "sure" ways to enlightenment. The very
fact that the dynamic is constantly in motion precludes one "sure" way
to getting there. Even Zen Masters do not have "a" way to "the" way.
There are numerous koans because every student is different. We all
have different static filters that, like sunglasses blocking out the
sun, block out the dynamic.
I don't think mysticism, per se, is the only answer, but I do know,
as a mystic, that it is A way. And can I tell you how exactly to let
go of your static patterns? No. This is a journey you have to take.
And I don't think it's about abandoning the static (I think Pirsig is
correct - they are necessary) But it does have to do with
acknowledging that the filters are there, and they are just that.
Filters.
For example...(this i something I use with my clowning) If I ask an
audience member the following two questions, I almost always get the
same responses. "What color is snow?" (they answer white) "What do
cows drink?" (they answer milk) Now, cows do not drink milk (calves
do, but the question was 'cows') In asking the first quetion, I have
placed a filter (white) in their minds. This colors (pardon the pun)
their answer to the second question. If I continue with similar set
ups...(what do the letters 'j-o-k-e' spell? and then what do you call
the 'white' of an egg? - generally i get "yolk" (rhymes with
joke))...i get similar responses. UNTIL I point out to them that
these are trick questions. Then they actually stop before giving
their response and often (but not always) give the 'correct response.
We are trapped by static filters until we become aware of them. Once
we're made aware of them, we can then avoid being trapped by them.
By realizing that the filters exist, we begin to have access to
something dynamic.
The flow comment - "It is encountered in 'flow', when I am engrossed
in some task that extends me without overly stressing me. It is
encountered in artistic creativity, and in that encounter with meaning
read 'between the lines' that Krishnamurti calls intelligence. When I
rage against injustice, or really smell the roses, I am encountering
the dynamic."
these are other ways to get in touch with the dynamic. But the
things you speak of, are those things that I as a mystic attempt
daily. It's about doing intentionally - not habitually (a Zen
practice)
A Zen instructor defined Zen Buddhism as follows:
"Zen Buddhism is about awareness. Not awareness of something in
particular, but awarenes itelf -- being awake, alert, in touch with
what is actually happening. It's about relying on the immediate
experience of the present moment." (Steve Hagen)
Sound familiar? The dynamic is the here and now. But we are
constantly bombarded by the static.
Shalom
David Lind
Trickster@postmark.net
MOQ Online Homepage - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
Unsubscribe - http://www.moq.org/md/index.html
MD Queries - horse@wasted.demon.nl
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sat Aug 17 2002 - 16:03:13 BST