Essential Zen

Lately I've been making a case for predilections and how they influence our lives and in some ways, seem to prohibit "growth" in areas for some reason we become convinced we need to grow. What I find of interest is that this notion is consistently met with the criticism that the notion is an excuse for not applying yourself, for not committing, for not exerting self-discipline, for not putting the shoulder to the wheel, the axe to the grindstone, etc etc. The same criticism is leveled against the notion of reincarnation for essentially the same reason.

Who are the critics?

A book I read many years ago, "Messages from Michael", by Chelsea Quinn Yarboro, talked about reincarnation and the process of being human, and to an extent the purpose of being human. An integral part of the notion was that of soul level, which makes sense if we are, as the Buddhists (and others) say, on the Wheel of Death and Rebirth. That is, as a soul progresses through various lifetimes it essentially ages, going from infant soul eventually to old soul and finally off the wheel altogether.

In regard the soul levels are those who are most concerned with achievement (of any kind): the young souls. I've been suspecting our major spiritual adepts were young souls, and further, our current crop of Online Adepts/Gurus/Naguals/Teachers likewise. They are a determined bunch, determined to achieve, determined to find the way and be on the way, to be impeccable, to achieve enlightenment, or become a Man of Knowledge.

Nothing wrong with that. Except when they lay their enthusiasms on me. I tried adhering to "ways", tried discipline, tried impeccability, tried commitment. I failed. So now I am faced with creating an elaborate excuse. I don't have one. I'm not a young soul.

So.. does all this mean that you have achieved your goal of an unconcerned man, limpid pond and all that.. or have you dumped that goal?

daphne wrote:So.. does all this mean that you have achieved your goal of an unconcerned man, limpid pond and all that.. or have you dumped that goal?

Neither. I've realized the goal is a sometime achievement, not something permanent.

Gonzo wrote:

daphne wrote:So.. does all this mean that you have achieved your goal of an unconcerned man, limpid pond and all that.. or have you dumped that goal?

Neither. I've realized the goal is a sometime achievement, not something permanent.

I see. It comes and goes eh?

daphne wrote:

Gonzo wrote:

daphne wrote:So.. does all this mean that you have achieved your goal of an unconcerned man, limpid pond and all that.. or have you dumped that goal?

Neither. I've realized the goal is a sometime achievement, not something permanent.

I see. It comes and goes eh?

It seems so - perhaps its like the surfer continuously waiting for "the perfect wave" - every once in a while he catches a good one, just often enough to keep him interested.

I rather liked this comment too, from The Blue Cliff Record:

An ordinary man is Buddha; desire and passion is enlightenment. One thought of folly makes a man an ordinaryu man; the next enlightened thought and his a a Buddha.