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Post by andreasmamet on Dec 27, 2009 7:56:48 GMT -5
The term “Dharma” basically means THE UNIVERSAL TRUTH. Simultaneously it means more than that. The term also represents THAT WHICH WILL LEAD YOU TO THE EXPERIENCE OF UNIVERSAL TRUTH.
Therefore, we may ask, “What is the signature of Dharma, how do I recognize that I am facing a substantial expression of Dharma in a body of teachings and in a teacher?”
When you have a substantial encounter with Dharma, there should arise a process that makes tangibly clear to you the methods that you unconsciously use to create suffering for yourself. Tangible is key here. As this process unfolds for you, you should feel … AHA! A competent Dharma Teacher will have the power to initiate this process. YOU should have the power to implement on your path the instructions that will keep you from repeating the same mistakes that led you to suffer in the first place. YOU should have the power to listen and heed once you determined you are looking at a Wisdom Source.
As a result of a substantial Dharma Encounter, the level of your suffering should begin to diminish. The level of your well-being should increase. But also there should arise for you a daily program of practice that is both attitudinal and technical, as without you making the decision to work on yourself, nothing much will change for you. Even direct contact with the Most Radiant of Buddhas will not save you if you do not do your own work in a way that is steady, sincere and substantial. You must play your part and be responsible for your growth by watering the flowers in your garden daily and weeding and conditioning the soil.
Coming back to the methods we use to cause our own suffering. The most difficult part really consists in facing within ourselves our inner demons and shadows, those parts of our selfishness and ignorance that run as very strong and crystallized behavior patterns and may have done so for a long time. To deal with those ingrained behaviorisms is really difficult, we do not want to look at our deepest fears and greed, we do not want to know we are capable of mean or self-centered behavior. Yet a true Dharma Connection will take you to have a face-off with your inner demons and will invite you to dissolve these inner demons in the Void. To accept this as part of the work is only for the most courageous and many people who enter the journey may bail out when reaching this specific point and the mirror gets to be too close.
This brings us to the term The Void. A substantial expression of Dharma in teachings or teacher will have the capacity to take you to the experience of the Void … if … and only if … you cooperate with the process after having made the decision to work on yourself, be responsible for yourself, and implement the teachings in your life and not run away when those inner demons that I mentioned make themselves known to you in ways that you will find distinctly uncomfortable.
The experience of The Void is what will happen to you if all the ingredients of your spiritual practices come together just right and your efforts flower in that process that some people call The Great Work. And it is for that reason that a great wise man once said, “Don’t bother to start the Great Work if you don’t have what it takes of finish it.”
The Void or the Great Silence will unfold when the mind stops and for the first time insight into the nature of reality is gained. Please note the way I have phrased this. I did not say that YOU will gain insight into the nature of YOUR reality, even though English and most other languages would lend themselves to express it in this way. I did not express it in this way, because that is not what happens. When the normal mind process comes to cessation in the event of extremely deep meditation, whatever you consider to be your s e l f evaporates, because your known self is just an artificial construct that depends on the constant functioning of your mind, saying … I am this, I am that…. constantly.
When this normal routine process is suspended, Silence arises. When this Silence continues to deepen, it turns into Infinite Space. That Infinite Space of course was always there, but it now becomes revealed… revealed to who or what? Revealed to the space occupied by your body. It is revealed … to matter, which has been asleep, but now is transformed into Radiant Awakened Space. The arising of this experience in the disappearance of the experiencer… is the most precious of the precious. You cannot imagine it.
The above expresses as clearly and as best as I know to express what will happen if you have serious and receptive contact with a Dharma Source. May it become a tangible reality for you.
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Post by zendancer on Dec 27, 2009 10:01:38 GMT -5
Andreasmamet: Greetings. Do you realize that people have awakened without ever meeting a teacher or doing any kind of formal practice? Just curious. Can you tell us about your own experiences and understanding from an everyday perspective? What you wrote is true, as far as it goes, but it sounds very abstract and professorial. It also gives the impression that finding the truth is a smooth logical progression of development whereas this is rarely the case. Please give us some background for what you wrote. Cheers.
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Post by lightmystic on Dec 28, 2009 12:07:51 GMT -5
Hey andreasmamet,
Personally, I find that there is no such thing as objective dharma. There is only one dharma, and that is yours. Dharma could be considered destiny, or the things that, by definition, will fulfill you, and it may or may not involve waking up. If you are seeking, then chances are it will, but dharma is about fulfillment, and not necessarily about any specific result. I don't think there are any teachings that are dharmic for everyone. It depends totally on you and what you need.
There is a process of recognizing that life is always speaking to us, but it involves getting in touch with ourselves and our emotions on a very fine feeling level. And that can be challenging, because then we have to face all the scary parts of ourselves. But, I think you might find, if you attend to that part of yourself, then the communication with yourself and life gets much much clearer. You can also request getting messages specific ways, and, a lot of the time, life will be happy to oblige. It really seems to come down to deepening your relationship with life, listening, and speaking back. By doing that, culturing that infinite intimate relationship, it becomes much clearer not only what is dharmic for you, but also that life is constantly providing it and how.
Then everything can be enjoyed much more.
What do you think?
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Post by jimmytantric on Jan 15, 2010 23:04:45 GMT -5
Zendancer, don't take this personal, but you come off like a know-it-all. Just an observation in love.
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Post by zendancer on Jan 15, 2010 23:25:27 GMT -5
Jimmy: I don't take it personally because I'm a don't-know-it-at-all. LOL. If I knew anything, I might be dangerous. As it is, I just have a lot of fun being what I am even though I don't know what that is. Cheers.
BTW, I liked this post of yours. It was more down to earth and a lot less preachy. Take care.
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Post by klaus on Jan 15, 2010 23:32:14 GMT -5
jimmy,
This is what lightmystic, zendancer and others are saying in different words.
For someone who dosen't like words you sure use a lot of them.
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Post by lightmystic on Jan 16, 2010 12:01:49 GMT -5
Yeah, I can feel the love just leaping off those words....  Zendancer, don't take this personal, but you come off like a know-it-all. Just an observation in love. |
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Post by jimmytantric on Jan 16, 2010 20:18:09 GMT -5
Litemystic- love is'nt always nicey warm and fuzzy. We learn nothing from pleasure-pain is the best teacher.Let's not think we know what Love is. By the way I wish you Love.
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Post by jimmytantric on Jan 16, 2010 20:25:28 GMT -5
Klaus- maybe you have mastered the art of communicating with other homo-sapiens without words, I have not. I would be willing to learn this artfrom you, -if your gracious enough to teach me. How else would this forum be possible without words. I once tried to communicate without words or sound but they tried to lock me up, so I gave up the practice.
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Post by klaus on Jan 16, 2010 21:47:25 GMT -5
jimmy,
You seem to disparage the use of words as used by people on this forum to express their ideas, feelings and insights.
Or do I misunderstand you? If it is not a misunderstanding isn't the pot calling the kettle black?
What exactly is your point(in your own words) without refering to to the writings of others you are trying to make?
I myself feel an urgency, in your words that compels you. What is it that compels you?
Why don't you share a little about your journey that brought you to the insights you now have.
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Post by klaus on Jan 16, 2010 22:02:58 GMT -5
Litemystic- love is'nt always nicey warm and fuzzy. We learn nothing from pleasure-pain is the best teacher.Let's not think we know what Love is. By the way I wish you Love. jimmy, I always thought Love was unconditional, allowing one the freedom of Being. What do you think Love is? |
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Post by jimmytantric on Jan 17, 2010 21:49:34 GMT -5
How could I (homo-sapien) know what love is, esp. via words. Obviously I, nor you, give yourself action. I find it interesting that we give ourselves titles-Senior member- staff etc. Are these not just words. This is a word forum so we must use them to interact. There is no me or you only something we try but cannot comprehend. Let's take ourselves a little less serious. This forums strength is in talking with one another, we have the oppurtunity to awake from what we are not. I myself FEEL blessed that other Humans are even talking about these mystical ideas and for that we are ALL blessed. om
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Post by karen on Jan 17, 2010 22:01:14 GMT -5
Jimmy, the "Junior Member" "Senior Member" and "Staff" designations are just how this forum's software categorizes us. It's all automatic and done thanks to whomever was smart enough to write this software.
I'm grateful to have found this place. I'm always reminded to practice here, not defend ideas.
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Post by zendancer on Jan 17, 2010 22:13:41 GMT -5
Jimmy: You already know what love is. No words are necessary. I was at a meeting twenty years ago when a Zen Master asked, "What is love?" Everyone in the room remained frozen, locked in thought, except for one person. A girl in the audience got up from where she was sitting, silently walked to the front of the room, and gave the intimidating Zen Master a big hug. Everyone in the room suddenly realized who was free of thought.
The titles on this website are merely a function of how many times a person posts. If you want to be a senior member, just post a lot. A great master once said, "If you open your mouth, you've already made a mistake." Consequently, you can think of the senior members on this site as people who have simply made more mistakes than other people. LOL.
Yes, we are all blessed to have this forum where we can play, poke each other, share experiences, connect with other people on this path, and generally have a lot of fun. Welcome to the zoo.
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Post by jimmytantric on Jan 18, 2010 1:14:36 GMT -5
It truly is nice to see that other humans have been given the Grace to see ourselves as the Illusion BEING played with. I truly wish All members/guests and whatever the best on/in this magical/mysterious journey called Life. What a gift just to see thru the Dream. Om
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