--- In [email protected], "Marek Reavis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > So it always does seem to come down to how you operate or express > whatever your "knowingness" is in the world. In my own head I keep > coming back to New.Morning's definition of any enlightenment worth > having is one that generates positive effects both in the individual > and in the individual's sphere of influence (and therefore, by > extrapolation, to the world at large).
Hi Marek, We are thinking the same thing. And while I probably used the words above, I tend to shy away from the term and label "enlightenment"-- or any derivitives, "awakening" etc. All such use of labels takes the focus, discussions and eyes off of the prize - the flowering of human virtues -- inner and outer. Witness today's discussions, paraphrasing and funning a bit, 'E people act perfectly'. 'That person can't be E because they don't act the way I think they should.' 'E'er can rob banks and trains'. 'you are stupid if you think an E'er could act like that'. etc. All of these great discourses have lost any focus (or celebration) of human virtues. They are about a much less interesting and useful topic, IMO, that is, 'my understanding is superior to your understanding', and 'you really suck since your understanding is inferior'. I love your characterization below -- > someone who knows the Tao flows with > circumstances as they develop and utilizes everything that comes > his/her way with grace and kindness and intelligence. Patience, > forebearance, humility, friendliness, compassion, happiness -- good > qualities, all, and what I desire for myself and others as the > anticipated and growing fruits of awakening. Or even as my old SRM > lapel pin has inscribed around the little bas-relief image of Guru > Dev: "Peace, Energy, Happiness" -- that's good enough for me. I am inclined towards people who have grace, kindness, intelligence, patience, forebearance, humility, friendliness, compassion, happiness, peace, energy and happiness. I am inclined towards practices and lifestyles that seem to bear that fruit within me. Does the discussion come up, 'Does a person who has grace, kindness, intelligence, patience, forebearance, humility, friendliness, compassion, happiness, peace, energy and happiness rob banks, scam investors or prey on recently pubescent boys?' Such a person might, but would be rare, IMO. If a person with the above qualities did 'bad stuff' -- well then the good news is that there are even more good qualities left to be absorbed into ones life (blood and breath). In contrast, when the E label is seen as paramount, then the discussion is about labels and why 'my label is better than your label'. Few human virtues in that discussion, IMO. Getting people hooked on the label Enlightenment (its just a word for god's sake) is one of MMY's great plays (IMO). As an aside, I think MMY was a genius, in that he loved a great 'mind-fuck'. MFs are a great path to dissolving and boundaries -- and these are human virtues). Much of the odd and IMO silly discussion about MMY actions and interactions with staff neglect his (not so) hidden agenda, he gave great MF to dissolve boundaries and attachments of those he loved. And he loved everyone so it was open season with MF's. Clearly he was successful in getting people hooked on the label Enlightenment. People are so wrapped up in it, they can't identify or distinguish it -- like a fish can't distinguish water. Its (become for them) a fundamental factor of life. The light filling part of the MF is when sees the snake is seen a just a rope -- that E. is just a word. IME, its quite liberating when the big E word is seen as that -- and one's attention is more drawn to 'real things' -- grace, kindness, intelligence, patience, forebearance, humility, friendliness, compassion, happiness, peace, energy and happiness. I think when the attachment to E, both as a verbal construct behind ones life, goals and thinking, as well as the view of it as a thing people 'have', a whole bucket (SL) of other attachments goes down the toilet at the same time. "E'er" is short for "Error". When I hear discussions of E, I chuckle and think, "Great one, oh great one!" (as in "oh great one" as Ed McMahan used to say of Johnny Carson's jokes)
