The Storyteller

[Gonzo]

self-importance is only relevant in regard relations with others, with ranking and so on

Isnt that really the root of all the issues? Isnt that what causes conflict? We compare and rank ourselves against others and never quite measure up...therefore causing want, and suffering because we never quite measure up?

I'm thinking too, of what the "little voice" likes to dredge up, which is continually a string of "failures", inevitably involving relations with others, or lack of self-confidence, or a lack of self-worth, both seeming to be in relation to others.

When I used to go fishing, alone, in Sedona, there were no such thoughts or worries - just going fishing. If I ran into somebody, that changed it, but I seldom did in those days.

[Red Heart]

if the storyteller dies what is left?

[redspiderlily]

if the storyteller dies what is left?

Silence?

[datura]

if the storyteller dies what is left?

Silence?

[serendipity]

Hi G,................why, do,nt you go fishing, alone, again? Having been an angler all my life, I can affirm that, fishing, (or hunting), alone, is very effective at shutting up the "loony lodger" in our heads.

[Gonzo]

Hi G,................why, do,nt you go fishing, alone, again? Having been an angler all my life, I can affirm that, fishing, (or hunting), alone, is very effective at shutting up the "loony lodger" in our heads.

Yes, indeed it is - "Loony Lodger" is a great name. There's no place to fish around here...guys fish the irrigation canals, saw a guy pull a big sucker out of the water below the dam on the Mexico side of the Rio Grande - Sedona spoiled me because I almost always had that fine creek to myself, almost always came home with a string of trout. The whole area has now turned into a giant subdivision and the creek is polluted.

[serendipity]

Hi G, ...........you wrote,......."Yes, indeed it is"

This, is something which puzzles me, ie; that anglers etc, appear to take this effect fot granted, yet, others, seem scarcely aware of it. To be alone, in the natural world, seems to me to be very basic to an appreciation of DJ's teachings, yet, few, who claim to be authorities, appear to emphasise this. To me, the natural world is what matters, and the details of what men do, is largely, irrelevant.
I would,nt dream of trying to "teach" anybody, but, if I may, I'd like to suggest something to those who do,nt fish or hunt. Go out into the natural world, totally away from other people, and choose a comfortable spot and sitting position. Sit there, without so much as twitching a finger, for as long as you can, (at least, several hours), and wait for the show to begin. Slit your eyes to avoid disclosing thier movement. Concentrate on the world around you, ie ; sights, sounds, smells, etc,(especially, the life around you)............not, on yourself, or your personal concerns.
I shall say no more on this, and will leave it to those who are interested enough to practice it, to find out, where, it may lead.


You wrote,.........."There's no place to fish around here",...............well, that, sounds like, a very pleasant relaxing business opportunity, right on your doorstep,- if not, for you, then, for another. After all, you mentioned irrigation canals, so, there,s water available, and, commercial fisheries are big business in Europe, so, I do,nt see why, it would,nt work in U.S.,( especially, in a desert state,..........cool running water, cool shade, etc.) I know, "commercial", and angling, do,nt really make good buddies, but, if its tastefully designed and sensitively managed, it can be almost as good as a natural water. In a desert state, it would inevitably, attract a great deal of wildlife, especially, birds.


You wrote,..............."The whole area has now turned into a giant subdivision and the creek is polluted."
Yes, the sick, selfish, short-sighted, greedy, capitalist bastards,(thats us, folks), are slowly murdering thier own mother in the name of progress. I know, I should,nt care, but, it still breaks my heart.
You could "undo" a little of the damage, by creating your own little wild-life oasis,..............now that, seems like something "worthwhile" to me!

[Gonzo]

Hi G, ...........you wrote,......."Yes, indeed it is"

This, is something which puzzles me, ie; that anglers etc, appear to take this effect fot granted, yet, others, seem scarcely aware of it. To be alone, in the natural world, seems to me to be very basic to an appreciation of DJ's teachings, yet, few, who claim to be authorities, appear to emphasise this. To me, the natural world is what matters, and the details of what men do, is largely, irrelevant.
I would,nt dream of trying to "teach" anybody, but, if I may, I'd like to suggest something to those who do,nt fish or hunt. Go out into the natural world, totally away from other people, and choose a comfortable spot and sitting position. Sit there, without so much as twitching a finger, for as long as you can, (at least, several hours), and wait for the show to begin. Slit your eyes to avoid disclosing thier movement. Concentrate on the world around you, ie ; sights, sounds, smells, etc,(especially, the life around you)............not, on yourself, or your personal concerns.
I shall say no more on this, and will leave it to those who are interested enough to practice it, to find out, where, it may lead.

Yes. To add to that, my partner, Kim, currently in Brazil on a combined birding/butterflying trip, has "tuned in" to the natural world since she was quite young. And "tuned in" is an appropriate phrase. She does exactly as you are describing. She seems to communicate, literally, with birds and butterflies. With the availability of terms and definitions from Castaneda and others, the notion of energy bodies comes up. She is conscious of expanding her energy body in the way you describe, by sitting still and connecting with all the life around her. She has taken some truly stunning pictures of butterflies, several astounding professional lepidopterists. She likes to say she asks the butterfly if it wants to be famous, and they will actually land and pose for her.

I like your line: "...wait for the show to begin" - it always does. I have my camper parked in a relatively remote corner of an RV park, with a wild area immediately beside me, and a 40 acre field out my door, currently let go in wild grasses and other things. It's a spot that affords many opportunities, including one day a large black snake in the mesquite tree being hounded by a mockingbird, and one day, as I sat outside, a ribbon snake that came underneath my camper, then under my chair and between my legs. I'm going to include a picture of my "plot".

You wrote,.........."There's no place to fish around here",...............well, that, sounds like, a very pleasant relaxing business opportunity, right on your doorstep,- if not, for you, then, for another. After all, you mentioned irrigation canals, so, there,s water available, and, commercial fisheries are big business in Europe, so, I do,nt see why, it would,nt work in U.S.,( especially, in a desert state,..........cool running water, cool shade, etc.) I know, "commercial", and angling, do,nt really make good buddies, but, if its tastefully designed and sensitively managed, it can be almost as good as a natural water. In a desert state, it would inevitably, attract a great deal of wildlife, especially, birds.

Actually, that has been done, exclusive of fishing. Texas is world famous for birding, and we have near here the Edinburg World Birding Center with ponds fed by a water treatment plant. My RV park is two miles from another World Birding Center at Bentsen Park, but I don't go to either any more - I lately prefer my own "patch".

You wrote,..............."The whole area has now turned into a giant subdivision and the creek is polluted."
Yes, the sick, selfish, short-sighted, greedy, capitalist bastards,(thats us, folks), are slowly murdering thier own mother in the name of progress. I know, I should,nt care, but, it still breaks my heart.
You could "undo" a little of the damage, by creating your own little wild-life oasis,..............now that, seems like something "worthwhile" to me!

It is truly painful. I passed through Sedona several years ago and I'll never go back.

Two things relevant. This, from the end of "Tales of Power"

The life of a warrior cannot possibly be cold and lonely and without feelings, because it is based on his affection, his devotion, his dedication to his beloved. A warrior's love is the world, this earth. Only if one loves this earth with unbending passion can one release one's sadness. A warrior is always joyful because his love is unalterable and his beloved, the earth, embraces him and bestows upon him inconceivable gifts. The sadness belongs only to those who hate the very thing that gives shelter to their beings.

This lovely being, which is alive to its last recesses and understands every feeling, soothed me; it cured me of my pains, and finally, when I had fully understood my love for it, it taught me freedom. Only the love for this splendorous being can give freedom to a warrior's spirit, and freedom is joy, efficiency, and abandon in the face of any odds.

Without an unwavering love for the being that gives you shelter, aloneness is loneliness.

The other is a most poignant book about American Indian notions about the earth titled "Neither Wolf nor Dog", by Kent Nerburg.

[Red Heart]

This lovely being, which is alive to its last recesses and understands every feeling, soothed me; it cured me of my pains, and finally, when I had fully understood my love for it, it taught me freedom. Only the love for this splendorous being can give freedom to a warrior's spirit, and freedom is joy, efficiency, and abandon in the face of any odds.

This is the place where all of my really big epiphanies have happened, in nature. When I am stressed I just jump into my kayak and all is right with the world (gonna have to find a new tactic, the river is freezing over). My biggest challenge has been to translate that peace to my working life.

[Red Heart]

STORYTIME!!!! YAY!

I recently went to a confrence in DC to present some stuff to people who DO know what they are doing. It was a very interesting time. While I was there I tried to keep up my practice of not thinking at least one time a day. Did not happen. There was too much to see and way too much to do. I even tried to meditate before sleep..nuttin, not even dreaming. I feel like I have been rebooted. Anyway on with the story...
While at this meeting we were invited to a dinner at a spy museum...by a company promoting their software. I had gone to a presentation earlier in the day and was very impressed with the product blah blah blah on to the good stuff. I saw a professor there that was also at the presentation and I wanted to get her opinion of the product, so we sat with her and had a conversation about all that, then we had some drinks (was an open bar oi thats another story) she was there with her partner who "happened" to be a theologian...the subject of non-duality came up over beer and champagne WOW what a night. This chick was relentless, I loved it. She "caught" me at every thought...I had no idea how much crap I was telling myself, no idea how insidious this stuff is. Every sentance was a story I was telling myself, and she let me get away with none of it. It was uncomfortable to be sure, yet ultimately enlightening. I need her to follow me around for a few days...krimeny! I really got to see how I speak, what kind of subtle weaving of identity I have woven for myself. Im still processing it.
I am beginning to see how important it is to have an instructor/mentor/teacher/aware person in my life could be for me. I cannot necessarily see all of the parts of my self. Or hear the way I speak about things, because I always speak that way...I dont see that there is an issue, because its a matter of subtleties...there is a story but I cant hear it because Im part of it kinda thing...I cant catch myself yet...I dont know that anyone could do it by themselves...there is no way to be that objective with the finer points. We can surely be our own mentor with the obvious stuff, but as aware as I like to think that I am I had no idea I was speaking that way till I met this lady to be sure. Interesting stuff

[Red Heart]

Since this is my experience of this non-dualism thingie, I just realized that I had stopped my practice of not thinking once a day. An amazing thing has happened, things are the same as they were before I started the game with Z. Hm, it seems that this must be "kept up" with. Hm, bleh, I hate it when I am on the cusp of something and it gets stuck, like a word that would be perfect for a sentence and just gets stuck on the tip of your brain...and you cant even force it out. Theres another level there...I can feel it trying to pop out, writing isnt helping...grrr

[Red Heart]

My intent is not to actualize, its just my nature to explore different things. I dont care about enlightenment but different things are really interesting, maybe I just think too much. Maybe Im just too ADD. Maybe I should just focus and not try to change anything but to allow an unfolding...HOWEVER, I havent been trying anything lately...and I feel stagnant. Maybe thats the issue. Stagnant vs. movement. Movement is fresh energy, stagnant is the same energy that has started to decompose and get smelly....or water or whatever...my my my, that was an interesting sentence. I think Im just gonna free type everyday and see what happens....I really like that stagnant vs movement. Hm

[Zamurito]

~

I like this as well.

Keep us informed of what you encounter

z

[Red Heart]

Maybe you should consider taking a stance of higher integrity with your words.

Your words create the future you live into.

What do you mean by higher integrity? And I absolutely agree that your words create the future. I cant not believe it or I would not believe the life that I am living. But not just words drive the machine, intent has to drive the words.

[Red Heart]

Todays free typing:

I have been writing a paper all day, its a final paper for an important class for my degree. It was a review of a paper that I presented in my final presentation for the class. It was very challenging, a lot of chemistry which occasionally eludes me. Stressful Then the power went out, I could no longer work on anything but getting a cup of coffee and feeding the fam breakfast. So out to the backyard we went to our smoker. All the wood was covered in a one inch coating of ice, and it was raining...and cold. The wood appeared to be uselessly soaked. We persevered, managed to get a blazing fire going, boiled up some water, got the old french press out of mothballs and had amazing coffee while we brought down the cast iron skillet, and commenced to cooking some amazing vittles. I was a little sad when the electricity came back on. I was impressed by our attitude of not sitting in the house all cold and scared, just spark up the cooker and lets GO!
I liked the very proactive nature of our actions. We could have sat in the house and had cold muffins, and danish which would have been fine for some, or we could have done what we did and had a nice hot meal no matter what the conditions, which is fine too. To me one is better than the other, but to someone else it could be backwards...which is really right? What we did. Only because we did it. Thats it. There are no immutable truths for everyone, just me. The rub comes when someone tries to convince me that it is NOT right...hm, I wonder if that isnt the whole deal? Right Wrong Hard Easy....Me You all one and all none LMAO! that just tickled me. Senseful ramblings on an icy day