Agreed Mackkup! I would augment the predicament with the saying about 'not needing to push the river'. I see the choices of trying to turn the river our own direction, or to let the river carry us where it wills like a cork. But both options are likely to get your head smashed on a rock... The alternative is the realization that we are trying to push it here, here and here at the expense of all that other stuff. As though we could choose to push only a few narrow strips of water while the other parts just adapt smoothly. But this method creates eddies and whirlpools and a rough ride for all. So I don't think its a matter of letting the river steer as though you have no choice, but rather that you are most effective when moving at the same speed as the river when trying to move it. It is through practice we learn what is not too fast or too slow. Or better put, let go of striving, to surge forward and let go trying to cling to a mossy rock. When we ride with the arising events/river our definition of self expands more easily beyond a single current or two -- and I suspect THEN we see the way reality flows, and that it is jsut how we would have it flow. Phew -- a thin analogy by the end, but I love a challenge :) Rod
________________________________ From: mackkup [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thu 2/24/2005 6:50 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Zen] reality reality flows the way it flows. it doesnt flow the way you want it to flow. I am learning this concept but often i let it slip thru the cracks. When i want reality to flow my way thats when i get angry, anxious or upset. this can never be the case for reality flows its way and never for anybody else. the sooner i can accept this fact the easier my life will be. i believe my internal struggle has alot to do with the resistance of this fact. Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers. At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide! http://us.click.yahoo.com/hjtSRD/3MnJAA/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/
