Well Rod, you seem to put forward your views in a very emphatic manner. Unfortunately, I have often seen emphatic language used more frequently by those more blinkered, so I wonder if perhaps you might have missed a point somewhere, or whether instead, I am simply interpreting too much.
That aside, I support what I have read of Alex's exposition on suffering, as being more useful for a person attempting to improve their life situation. This takes the view that effort must be expended, and that there is indeed a goal. It does not deny that the journey becomes the goal, nor that in the end both disappear, just that Focusing on the End is done to motivate us to pursue the MEANS, and to help provide sort of directional guidance. Why else would we bother with the words of the Masters. This is the essence of using a thorn to remove a thorn. My advice to Allison is not to TRY too hard to be detached, unless your practice is itself the practice of DETACHMENT. Detachment usually arrives as a byproduct of your meditation practice, and there are many other beneficial byproducts as well, including Witnessing. These byproducts/benefits will come and go during a life of practice, and will not generally disappear until enlightenment. Accordingly, Suffering will disappear progressively as your meditation practice deepens, and will be eliminated completely on your enlightenment. I would recommend the playful avoidance of any fixed notion of what is entirely RIGHT, or WRONG, as your psyche has different needs and parameters to mine, or Alex's or Rod's, or anyone else's. Find general guidance on theory and practice, and experiment with it until you have something that works for you. Develop a philosophy that motivates you to further growth (whether it is ostensibly RIGHT, or WRONG), and find a practice that becomes enjoyable so that you are motivated to do it more often. Then over time, you will make new discoveries that will probably cause you to change your Philosophy or your Practice, or both. Then enjoy the change. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/WwRTUD/SOnJAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
