In addition something important and honoring our JMJM and his tradition: Let's love oneselves in syncronitation with the universe.
--- On Fri, 13/8/10, Maria Lopez <flordel...@btinternet.com> wrote: From: Maria Lopez <flordel...@btinternet.com> Subject: Re: [Zen] EGO To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, 13 August, 2010, 9:02 Ari: You say: "Maybe I am too harsh in my practice. I know I have no love for mysellf and am harsh on myself almost all the time. I'm trying to work on loving myself, because I can't love anyone else until I have love for myself." In my personal opinion This statement you've made it makes you by itself the perfect asset to approach the Buddha Teachings. Not many people have this realization about themselves and yet the real root of our suffering is the lack of love towards oneselves. There is also often a misunderstanding about this teaching of loving oneselves or as Bill would more or less say: "Put the mask of oxygene first in you and once you're safe help others do it the same" This is far of being a selfish statement, on the contrary is a very compassionate statement for as long as one has realiced the consecuences and impact whatever is in us has over oneselves, all our surroundings and the whole universe. When a person is unhappy makes every one around her/him also unhappy. When a person is happy it happens the same. So here the love towards oneselves is based in the healthy and altruistic principle of "I release the suffering in me so I can realease the suffering all around me". Completely agree with you and yes, loving oneselves is the hardest, difficult thing to do. What it makes difficult this task is that in order to love oneselves we have to work extremely hard on it. We have to face what is in us and that not always is easy. In fact we ideally need a Teacher in order of doing so as the ego gets on the way and will find millions ways of deceiving us.... Actions of compassion in all directions will help a lot. I've found compassion actions be like the main vitamin supplement for keeping me truly alive. Welcome to the real dharma of the Buddha. Mayka --- On Thu, 12/8/10, Ari <aelindem...@yahoo.com> wrote: From: Ari <aelindem...@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [Zen] EGO To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, 12 August, 2010, 16:03 Ari: Poor thing. Sorry to hear about such an horrific dream. I wonder if it means that you are going under an intense change in your life. Not always the meaning of unpleasant dreams is negative and sometimes they mean well on the contrary as Bill was pointing out in his mail. Have you ever to face your own dream while dreaming?. If you could do that whatever is there will be resolved during the dream. I also agree with Anthony advice about be relax and very kind to yourself while practicing. Slowly, slowly. No rush. No expetations. We go nowhere as we are already arrived in the here and the now, the chopper is chopped!. A hug Mayka Thank you, Makya. No changes in my life. Same old boring stuff. My husband also has had nightmares, and after finding this out, I no longer give it much energy. I may have been thinking of the tornado and how the neighbor family was "chopped up". Maybe I am too harsh in my practice. I know I have no love for mysellf and am harsh on myself almost all the time. I'm trying to work on loving myself, because I can't love anyone else until I have love for myself. Thank you for your kindly post and your hug :-) Best, Ari --- On Tue, 10/8/10, Ari <aelindemann@ yahoo.com> wrote: From: Ari <aelindemann@ yahoo.com> Subject: [Zen] EGO To: zen_fo...@yahoogrou ps.com Date: Tuesday, 10 August, 2010, 20:45 Dear all, Recently I went to a spiritual retreat, and decided to intensify my meditation practice and other aspects of having a mindful life. I was then beset by one of the worst nightmares I've ever had, where I was being chopped to bits by a hacksaw. The last line in the nightmare was "and it's not a dream this time" at which I woke up, to, indeed find that it was a dream. There is nothing so drastic in my personal life. My personal life is pretty mundane with not many conflicts at the moment. I wonder if Ego sent me the dream, to keep me from intensifying my practice? There have been other times in the past where I would get nightmares right after I had determined to intensify my practice. ANY opinions, welcome. I'm going to go about my meditation, and not let the dream freak me out, but really, would not like to have another one! Best, Ari
