 |
|
Take a side, make statements within the human experience that are small steps, and easily believed and accepted, and relevant and important, to the viewpoint that they hold currently. Otherwise it's just dimissed, too heavy, too complex, too elaborate, too involved, not pertaining to their immediate mindstream. One of my many errors, I get bored with the particulars, the details, and end up spilling all the beans. Instead, write randomly, and trust that the whole will fill in.
There exists a battle of Good and Evil, a Human Life, a Game, a Play, a Movie, a Performance, a Work Contract, produced and directed by the Lord acted out by the people, in choices they make and views they hold. By holding the line, obeying and following instructions (of the director), and diminishing or pushing the ego-illusion of a 'self' to the side.
brave people gave service first, and suffered the evil threatens thereby, but paved the way for weaker freedom-walkers.Study, and follow instructions. Many people don't even notice the value of instruction (so they don't pay attention or give effort). By studying a little daily, we may be reminded of that which we don't even realize we've overlooked.
The lifespan of human beings being short, and there being many fields of knowledge one may pursue, seek to accomplish the greatest value understood. Don't busy yourself with activities of mundane livelihood, such as acquiring possessions. One needs to turn one's mind away from pleasures and generating and protecting fortunes. We need to realize that there is no self nor others to be concerned with.
Greatest Value:Lucky to have free time, and sufficient intelligence to recognize and choose value. Use your life-time in a body well. To focus in on a topic, research it for years, while writing (and rewriting, editing). The primary consideration is dreams, imagination, and power of mind. Focus on states of awareness and take action to visualize, create, and understand.
In a similar light as listening to inspirational singers, music or reading the teachings of great minds enriched through experience, valuable time may be invested watching YouTube videos of cultural communities, teachers, scientific discoveries.
Himalayan ArchivesNotice death. Realize the life given is brief, and be aware of each passing moment. Take the time to turn your face to the wind, watching the leaves of the trees blowing in the breeze. Having been awakened, prepare yourself in order to attract a teacher, and join a valid school. Practice giving up defilements and overcoming obstacles. The teacher apprears at exactly the right moment, naturally, of nature, by design, and to the casual observer, miraculously. Nothing miraculous about it. It was earned, achieved, step by step.
Follow the progression of the spiritual paths as written. Many steps taken in the wrong direction do not help in achieving the goal, and they must be retraced later. Lucky to see personally, and maintain diligence until you have accomplished the goal. Even if you fall ill, do not allow your vows to be undermined by external obstacles.
Study one step at a time in detail, finding application daily, repeating difficult lessons until mastered. The way of the intiate has long been stepwise, an experiential process alternating between understanding and practice, leading to further steps, as perception begins to open. Don't make far-reaching plans, for you may not be here tomorrow. Keeping death in mind, notice materiality and transition, therby learning to differentiate value.
Don't try to understand the whole of the law. Rather, use your present, imperfect understanding to improve your state. You ask for more knowledge, more freedom, and greater abilities. Stop asking for more food until you've finished the food already on your plate.
Seek out mentors and associates who have achieved what you are trying to accomplish. Valid schools are many, but competent masters of each school's teaching are few. If you happen to find your way alone, then study the scriptural materials that you have taken care to bring with you. If you wish to traverse the spiritual paths and levels, search for the others who also make the journey, for they may provide comfort and counsel as far as your paths travel together. If you cannot find them, develop yourself further, and they will appear at the right time. If you have aroused the altruistic motivation, others will gravitate towards the energy field you emanate.
Beware the tricky teacher who intends well, but uses backwards methods, of inspiring difficulties, confusion, distress, and anger, in order to transcend these obstacles. The alternative position is different. There is no attempt to provoke the pupil. Dislike and anger is only a form of attachment upside down, and both ultimately have the same effect. Therefore, follow teachers that use a positive framework, whatever their assertion of speedier travel using backwards methods. They are still backward, and to be avoided. Trod straight, simple, joyful, supportive, kind, helping paths.
Apply instruction immediately. When you pursue your spiritual practice, that is precisely the time that you encounter obstacles. When you encounter negative circumstances, try to counter these challenges with your spiritual practice.
Let go of your compulsion for planning for the accomplishment of mundane objectives. If you indulge in planning, and preparing large projects for the future, involvement will never end. Should you wish to retire to some isolated place and pursue your spiritual practice, go whenever you think of doing so, without losing sight of your intention. If you don't do it then, adverse conditions may divert you in innumerable ways.
Do not wait to find an ideal place for solitary retreat. Practice where you are. Practice what you have studied, and the meaning will take on new life in application and examination. Do not make an ostentatious display of enthusiastically meditating and practicing, but rather remain in solitary hermitages in order to develop meditative stability. Generate internal states of realization and awareness before sharing your treasure with the mundance world.
A female teacher is well-suited for imparting primary training, possessing in her eyes the five magnetic powers present in water. Owing to the high level of water-power in a woman, she gathers in herself the art of placing in the mouth of the listener, what words and impressions she likes. Consequently, a child picks up more easily what is imparted by a female teacher than by a male.
- Ask to receive, notice the signs -Ask and you shall receive it, love and you shall be it. Knock and it shall be opened to you, as long as there is sufficient and necessary cause and reason. It is good to study regularly, renewing our understanding and resolve, reminding ourselves of that which may easily be forgotten. Where your mind and focus is, there your treasure shall be.
Make sure your treasure is in the right place. Valuing money and possessions, beware loss and death. Valuing love and associations, beware heartbreak and separation. Valuing truth and honor, beware betrayal, attack, and lies.
When reading or speaking strong truths, hair may stand up all over the body, and further, stand higher in proportion to the degree of truth invoked. Moreover, when you speak a wrong word, or allow ego to run wild momentarily, words may choke in the throat, cutting off the ability to breathe. Quickly, apologize and pray for forgiveness, feeling an invisible hand reaching into the throat and removing the obstruction. These gifts work better and are revealed when eating less, to the point of fasting, and giving self away in service to others. The test comes when fear of insufficency for self comes up against the desire to share and give to others, for who would give all the life included? What would be left for self? And that's the point, seeing the absence of a self, the eyes having been opened in death.
- Pay Attention -During a footrace, there is no time to concentrate on much else besides running fast, keeping balanced, and breathing well. Amid the distractions of material life, however, we easily lose sight of this, and become involved with relatively unimportant matters, thereby using up the time given. Valuing money highly, and the things it facilitates, we may lose awareness of time in each moment. Spending the majority of our time on valuable pursuits is paramount, not to find that the time has been spent, and finally, ultimately, we notice death coming.
Value time, and take risks, not just in financial investments, but also in life choices, fun, and involvement. Don't miss your own life, limited by fear and security issues. Even small distractions may be annoying, making concentration difficult. Value silence, and be glad for temporary distractions and annoyances to make clear the value of silence when desired. Weigh also, too much silence may feel lonely, unless you are already internally well-directed and focused.Let it suffice for today to understand and practice today's message. Let the work of today and its cares be sufficient for today, neither rushing nor dawdling, neither trying too hard, or not enough. Just right, just in time, just perfectly in season, according to the audience's capacity and need. Things have their correct time and place, and we must not fight the natural order. Zen masters worked on becoming aware of correct timing, place, action and speech.
Watching youtube videos gives access to many mentors tailoring the discussion to a topic that we can choose from. It is very fortunate to be able to receive their efforts. Compile lists of great videos, channels, books and spend free time studying. Seek entertainment and relaxation as well.
A small monastery, with a library and a handful of monks, or even starting with just yourself. Quiet enough to provide near-solitude, and an ideal place to stay, study, and meditate. A time of silence for several hours, twice daily, with all sounds attended to, and deep caves nearby. Test the atmosphere of the caves for air quality, and seepage of dangerous gases or emissions.
Read the teachings, and if bored, enjoy activity and diversion, until again feeling to study, alternating study, practice, and release. Your memory being exceptional, you will remember clearly the stories, and thus quote many passages by heart as instruction for various situations. By delivering counsel in the form of the teachings, all who hear will benefit. Don't rely on your own understanding, but rather look to those who have come before, and have gone farther that yourself. You can easily identify the achievers through the brilliance of their speech and actions, if lucky enough to have found your way to sit in their presence.
Isn't it true that all is clearly stated, and restated, only that you are lacking, rather than elements being left out of the teachings. The path is clear, and little study remains. With the time left to you, practice and teach, sharing merit with those ready to receive, at whatever level of their development.
You may know which teachings to look for, through your own clairvoyance, and works written by those who have come before. Study the map, and ask respectfully, preparing the form and content of the questions beforehand. Expect difficulties, and don't be put off by them. Leave home and family, and do not attach to mundane affairs. Although lonely, especially at first, be aware that you are also free and unencumbered with various obstacles resulting from association. You can always idealize, but nothing is perfect. To achieve independence, you must give up companionship. To gain silence is to give up conversation and music. To concentrate, give up distraction. It will take both effort and renewed strength and discipline.
He savored the realization and experience of former masters like salt. Just as adding salt to food improves its taste, Zurchung Sherab Trakpa savored the pith instructions of the previous lineage masters, their profound wisdom and understanding, their experience and realization; and his hearing, reflecting, and meditating on the teachings was like adding salt to the teachings themselves.
Parents love their children, and give them all sorts of helpful advice, telling them what is right and what is wrong: "If you do this, you will get into trouble; if you do that, it will help you," or "If you associate with that sort of person, he will help you, but be careful not to go around with that other person as he will trick you." It is beneficial to have good teachers, guarding our wellbeing, and saving us from painful mistakes.
You need to look at the lives and deeds of those who have achieved greatness. When one meets a great scholar, out of admiration one naturally feels like studying and becoming learned oneself. And when one meets a very accomplished being, one feels like practicing in order to become as realized as he is. Thus, meeting learned and accomplished beings creates a spontaneous desire to acquire the same qualities as they have. If temporarily unable to find direct association with sages, then immerse yourself in study of their writings, that they may speak to you across time and space.
The preliminary practice may help you develop disillusionment, determination to be free, and confidence. The main practice may lead to experiences and realization.
There is an intangible essence that may be transmitted directly from teacher to student, from on ebeing to another, through mystical union, unknown qualities of the teacher's enlightened mind. The teacher is therefore like an unstained jewel, shining in the light. A spiritual master can turn beings toward virtue and to the authentic teachings by the sheer radiance of his enlightened qualities.
- distractions -People who are tightly bound to their worldly commitments, wealth, pleasures, children, relatives and so forth, may be so preoccupied with the strenuous efforts entailed by these things that they have little time remaining to practise the Dharma. In the midst of activity, gatherings, and conversation, we also simply may forget to set aside time for study, reflection, and practice.
People who want to learn the Dharma but are too lazy, ensnared in procrastination. Some people's obscurations and negative actions are such that, in spite of the effort they put into the Dharma, their backlog of bad actions may overwhelm them. Some beings, lacking sufficient intelligence, might enter the Dharma but may be unable to understand.
Whether others applaud you or criticize you, you need to turn away from both craving and enjoying praise and avoiding and disliking blame or criticism. Don't judge, don't be so interested in the affairs of others. Work on yourself.
The idea stage, while at the beginning of production and the most delicate, is at the same time the most open to change and creative input from other dimensions of awareness. Speech is somewhere between ideas and action. The final product, the creation, the material object, while being the most concrete, is at the same time the hardest to change, and the least open to creative input from more subtle planes and states of awareness.
Assembly and production of apparent phenomena are included in the initial idea-states of the intelligent purpose for which the effect was intended to fulfill. The seeds sown by intelligence and awareness create the apparent present through a series of causal events and circumstances, and the world exists in the mind's eye of the beholder as much as it does in any external, stable state of reality.
Challenges that we experience due to the apparently ignorant actions of others are actually part of our larger self giving us lessons that we have agreed to, in order to expiate past karma. This may be hard to recognize in the face of pain and loss, as unfortunate as the experiences may be. On the other hand, if we pay attention and guard the seeds of present and future karma, we may prevent (or at least diminish) misfortune and suffering, and lay the causes for good events and experiences to come.
It is an exercise of both patience and compassion when rivals, thieves, and bad-natured beings attack, and cause great pain or harm, taking all that we have, including our peace of mind, or even life itself. Only in this cris situation may we learn whether our desire, greed, possessiveness, and selfish identification have been disciplined. Will you maintain composure in equanimity, feeling sorrow and compassion for the ignorance and negative karma these beings create around themselves, or will you feel angry at the injustice having been done to you, wishing retribution and punishment, feeling anger, and not caring about the well-being of the attacker or thief?
All forms of suffering are like a child's death in a dream. Holding illusory appearances to be true makes you weary over time. Therefore, when you meet with disagreeable circumstances, understand them as illusory. Develop psychological strength, and don’t react so strongly to every tiny difficulty and challenge that results from the daily affairs of life.
Serious illness is an opportunity to differentiate clear sight, seeing what is important in life. Sudden adversity, or destructive emotions arising are an opportunity to practice patience, wisdom, and kindness
As the masters report, those who harm us are like a precious treasure, giving the opportunity and instance to practice. Therefore towards all cultivate patience without hostility, even in the face of injustice and ignorant, unkind persecution. Even if someone broadcasts all kinds of unpleasant remarks about you, in return, with a loving mind, cover their mistake and focus on good qualities. Don’t retort or be caught up in their error or bad thinking and action.
Never wish them pain. That's not who you are, or are practicing to be. If they caused you pain, they must have pain inside, so wish them healing. Even if someone tries to hurt you, when you haven't done the slightest thing wrong, out of compassion take their misdeeds to yourself in Tonglen.
Struck by words of abuse, we may notice whether the flames of anger have been mastered. It is said that a true Hasid, a Sufi master, a Yogi, a Lama, a Saintly being, is only worthy of being called 'teacher' when he or she is capable of countering spoken or physical abuse calmly and with restraint, choosing the level of appropriate response wisely.
Gaining and then sharing material wealth, having taken precious time to accumulate and protect it, will test our generous nature, fearing to trust in the divine will to care for our needs. Accomplishing virtuous acts and being generous are due diligence, reuired steps along the path.
Common folk will test your patience, restraint and wisdom at every opportunity. Therefore, it's good to get out of the monastery, get out of your safety zone, in order to test progress being achieved. This pocess highlights the areas that you may need to work on.
For every cause, there will be effects, but perhaps not those that are anticipated. To know the likely effects of given causes is the beginning of wisdom. Choose wise actions, and sow the seeds of excellent causes. Through many small, good steps, you can improve your situation. Help others to see more clearly and pursue their goals, but don't neglect your own business. As it is written, don't ignore your own poor, in going forth to assist the world.
The wise being obeys laws which others must undergo training and punishment to learn and understand. Study the teachings of those wiser than yourself, in order to learn lessons that you may avoid, having understood the results of establishing bad causes. When there are none wiser than yourself, your words and actions will ring true, as the teacher lies within you, if you will only remove the limitation of your rational mind.
If you are happy, it is necessary to understand that this is a result of blessings and prior causes. If you are unhappy, this also is based on the cause of your previous actions, thus understand cause and effect as the core of your practice. By the time you approach death, it is necessary to feel that you have completed your tasks, so resolve all issues that you set before yourself daily.
Avoid negative actions, as they yield the fruits of bad karma, unhappiness, and misfortune. Engage in positive actions, because they are the seeds of good karma, happiness, and lucky events. Embrace the teachings of the wisest who have ever lived, as they have lessons to share, saving time and preventing mistakes. Ensure benefit for others, certainly, but also do nor lose sight of your own welfare. Don't set your sights so impossibly high, blinding the light from your own eyes. There is no end to the things that can be known, so do not get lost in a profusion of words.
Your karma will mature, whether in immediate fulfillment and expression, or in delayed fashion. Previous actions are the root cause for the proximate cause of fulfilled karma, whether good or bad, and that those previous actions were determined by circumstances in the moment (at that time). Beware to keep your thoughts pure and kind, like weeding a garden, because both fortunate as well as unfortunate circumstances (positive and negative karmic seed causes) arise from your thought patterns and resulting words and actions (prior cause).
There exist precious, pivotal moments of choice, where you choose good or bad futures for yourself (and others associated with you) but may be unaware of the future results of present causes, some being so slight as to be unnoticed. We may underestimate the results in any case, unbelieving that such slight causes or even the accumulation thereof could be considerable and unchangeable later. The situation is like tiny snowflakes falling so gently, the life-threatening avalanche seemingly unrelated the following spring, as it tumbles down the mountainside with a deafening roar.
Understanding the cumulative nature of causes and effects, use your time to assemble good causes. Let the effects come of their own accord. By imitating the example of a good person, become that which you practice. Identify with the qualities of Buddha, and remove qualities you don't find attractive. To learn the difference between good and bad causes, is to be able to build up a store of protective goodness, through the choices you make daily.
- You Chose This Life, These Experiences -It was your choice and decision to be born, so accept the teachings and experiences that you have set before yourself as tasks in this lifetime. There is unnecessary suffering that you attract to yourself through the process of meeting your needs. have more faith, for it is written that the worker is due their wages, and the good workman shall have sufficient bread and a place to sleep. You fear for the lack of small miracles, never reaching the point of seeing large happenings, due to a lack of faith. For my word is true, and any promise made will be fulfilled. You are the maker, not me, so make.
How are your parents doing? When was the last time you 'called to say, I love you…' Or if they have passed, remember them in spirit. Even if you didn’t have a great relationship, they gave you birth, and that’s not nothing, as any mother knows well.
Your body is the vehicle through which you find expression, so if your life isn’t as great as you’d like, go out and help somebody else. That’s right, loving other people is going to fix you right up. If you’re depressed, there’s nothing better than exercise and doing something good for someone to snap you out of it. If you’re doing great in life, that’s all the more reason to help others, in appreciation for what you have received.
Having accepted your death, you may think there is nothing left to fear. You still must conquer humiliation and violation, physical pain, imprisonment, theft and ungratitude, and the attack of common mind in fear of your strength and unfamiliarity. There is much to fear, and a wise person avoids undue pain. It is said, fools rush in where wise angels fear to tread. Don't poke the bear.
Whatever you do, past karma must be exhausted, so balance the scales of justice at every opportunity. Minimize the amount of suffering you experience in a human lifetime, and increase joy. In learning the causes of your pain, take steps to diminish them, and replace them with seeds of happiness. It is wonderful to feel pleasure and happiness, so take steps to realize what fills you with joy. Since there are yet causes remaining in place, so there remain actions to complete, taking up your attention. It is rare when you are able to realize your dreams, and accomplish what you set out to do in a human lifetime. Invest some quality time remembering your childhood, back to birth, reaching the bardo state, and then previous lives.
Possessions may contribute to development, and wealth may be used to pursue more goodness and service. Make it that way, and don't get caught up in pursuing success, forgetting the passing of time, and the greater duty of accumulating merit. Pursue instead the highest ambitions that you can understand and make sense of, and give up pursuits of questionable worth.
The sorrow and longing due to parting with love, is inherent in the joy and connection felt upon meeting. Because you fear separation, you do not leave home and your loved ones, sacrificing what might have been.
If harmful beings or unfortunate circumstances have brought you this far, then count yourself lucky to have had those qualifying events in your life. Problems cause you to seek out solutions, and locate the teachings that may hold answers. Pain and discomfort may cause you to exert yourself, and bring forth effort. Meditating on the true nature of injury and pain may help bring about realization, for pain is the teacher in reverse, localizing the focus of attention on that which matters, and concentrating your efforts.
Situations that bring discouragement are your own making, although it may appear that there are others who are harming you, or intend to. Such situations are the inevitable consequences of your having disparaged others in the past. They provide a great opportunity to bring an end to the karma caused by negative emotions, and a means of training in the art of rooting out your own hidden flaws. They are not an opportunity for reacting with anger or impatience, neither superiority nor inferiority.
You react most strongly to undeveloped parts of yourself, and this may be why you have chosen to experience certain events, in order to see more clearly what you need to work on. If you don't feel ready to meet the challenges you have selected for your growth, you may experience them later, but must eventually face your difficulties. Surround yourself with blissful experiences in a blissful place, and any upset you feel such as lonliness or boredom is surely self-inflicted, and another obstacle to be mastered.
All is the law, and the punishment of evil is already contained within the evil act, right at the time of the thought and commission of sin. Never mind an inescapable future punishment, and the traditional concepts of Karma, every sin carries within it the seeds of despair. The greatest punishment is self-inflicted and usually not even noticed, the loss of grace, the turning away from God. It is only in the lucky few, well-established in grace and with a perfect conscience, that noticeable effects of sin are seen instantly. Most people are too gross for the finer gradations of matter to be felt. The thief hardly can be expected to have great compassion for those beings that they are stealing from, or feel much of a sense of loss.
On the contrary, the thief rather feels a backwards joy of possession, and thrill in the moment, only to learn much later the results of their acts, perhaps only after death, in the life review, where 'we are the other.' Criminal punishment is relatively meaningless for the thief, regretting only that they were unlucky or careless to be caught. The less-gifted among us have difficulty connecting error and punishment as a natural result of their actions, and thus are slow to learn lessons.
| Discipline | Mastery | Area of Control |
| Hatha Yoga | Breath | Body and Vitality |
| Laya Yoga | Will | Mind |
| Bhakti Yoga | Love | Divinity |
| Shakti | Energy | Power, Nature |
| Mantra Yoga | Sound | Word, Song, Vibration |
| Yantra Yoga | Form | Geometry, Shape |
| Dhyana Yoga | Thought | Creativity, Imagination |
| Raja Yoga | Method | Discrimination, Awareness |
| Jnana Yoga | Knowledge | Intellect, Understanding |
| Karma | Action | Cause, Effect |
| Kundalini | Internal Winds | Psychic Nerve Force |
| Samadhi | Non-self | Oneness, Absorbtion |
Asanas are perfected over time by relaxation of effort with meditation on the seeming emptiness and separation of self from all-that-is. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika mentions 84 asanas. Both methds, holding selected poses for a minimum of 3 - 5 hours, as well as moving postures as in martial arts and dance.
After a desired posture has been achieved, practice prāṇāyāma, the practice of consciously regulating the breath (inhalation, the full pause, exhalation, and the empty pause). This is done in several ways, such as by inhaling and then suspending exhalation for a period, exhaling and then suspending inhalation for a period, by slowing the inhalation and exhalation, or by consciously changing the timing and length of the breath. Alternate nostril breathing is ony one form of Pranayama. Bellows breathing is another.
Drawing within one's awareness. It is a process of retracting the sensory experience from external objects. Pratyahara is not consciously closing one's eyes to the sensory world, it is consciously closing one's mind processes to the sensory world. Moving from outside to inside.
Concentration, introspective focus and one-pointedness of mind. Fixing the mind means one-pointed focus, without drifting of mind, and without jumping from one topic to another. Shankara gives the example of a yogin in a state of dharana on morning sun may be aware of its brilliance, color and orbit; the yogin in dhyana state contemplates on sun's orbit alone for example, without being interrupted by its color, brilliance or other related ideas.
'Ancient Zoroastrian Educational System' by Ustad Saheb (Master) Seth Behramshah Navroji Shroff. Joined a pious group of the Saheb-Dilan in the distant Mt. Damavand in Iran. Knowledge was imparted by two methods, heart to heart, and through spiritual trance. The disciple goes through various exercises of Zoroastrian purity to develop gradually the four latent energies of the brain.
Earth treasures may include manuscripts, meditation guides and rituals. Most texts concealed as earth treasures were encoded in symbolic script on parchment. These scrolls were hidden, often in adamantine vessels within rocks, in caves, underwater, or in temples. While earth treasures are substantial in nature and physically concealed in an external environment, they aren’t ordinary things subject to weather and decay. These objects, and their assigned guardians, endure to meet their owner due to the power of enlightened vision and the collective good karma of those meant to find them. Once the appropriate master locates the treasure, the symbolic script, sometimes just a few characters or lines, acts as a catalyst. It unlocks the complete meaning that was once planted in the treasure revealer's mind, perhaps in a past life, as a disciple of the master. May you be blessed to find treasures that will unlock and unhinder your talents, in order that you may do good work, helping others.
Mind treasures are accessed in the minds of treasure revealers either through perception of symbolic scripts that catalyze discovery of the whole teaching, or through direct apprehension of the teaching itself. Tulku Thondup explains: Concentrating his enlightened mind, Guru Padmasambhava concealed the teachings, by the power of aspiration, in the essential nature of the minds of his disciples, or in the expanse of their awareness state. If the teachings had been concealed in an external object or in the ordinary state of mind, they might be affected by changing circumstances. Concealed in the natural state of the mind, which is pure and changeless, the mind treasures remain stable through time.
What Lao Tzu said in a cryptic and terse manner, in the Tao Te Ching, 'Chuang Tzu' explained in a lengthy, detailed manner, and sometimes in metaphorical and satirical stories. He wrote large volumes in clear, explanatory prose to clarify what had only been hinted at by Lao Tze.
Jewish mystical tradition that acknowledges the personal experience of the absolute. The tree of life diagram shows the ten emanations of god that are the attributes of both humanity and the universe. In later occult systems the tree of life was used as a philosophical basis for integrating the tarot cards with astrology as well as a guide for meditation and reveries. In these ecstatic states one progressed through a hierarchy of visions that lead to ultimate mystical union. One might say the tree of life served as a very sophisticated map of the inner spaces through which consciousness progresses.
At some point, in order to share what you've learned, you must leave the cave and teach others. Who do you work for? If it is merely yourself, that is a step, but the real progress begins when you realize that you are all beings, and there never was the individual person that you imagine or perceive yourself to be. Teach from compassion and empathy, for the benefit of your listeners, not out of pride and a desire to show off. In fact, the true test of the teaching is not whether it is true or not, but how well-received the lister experiences it, whatever their level of development. Any lesson given is a test of the teacher, not the listener.
Gain and give away your merit, plant seeds of karma, practice perfect timing, and be rooted in the correct place, perform the correct actions, walk the path, open the treasure, see the connection, hear the music, read the signs.
Teachings were given at multiple levels in order to accommodate the ability and interest of different audiences. The desire and capacity of the receiver is central to the process of transmission, and receptivity is the driving force. If the student is ready and able, a teacher will appear, and if the student is unable, unwilling, or unready, although the master may check in from time to time, the student may not even notice their presence. Be tricky and hidden. Walk among them quietly, unseen, unremarkable, and not noticed.
Start simply, with self-awareness and self-discipline, before eagerness to tell others. For the same reasons, when the Buddha rose from his enlightenment experience, he refrained from talking about the full measure of his realization. Instead, he taught more accessible doctrines, such as the four noble truths, as most immediately accessible and appropriate for the people of his day. Moreover, he separated the path into levels of complexity, delivering simple lessons to less well-prepared minds, and more complex or more difficult to understand lessons to those who had sufficient self-preparation or ability.
Use your knowledge to meet other beings where they are, and gain attention and trust, before using skillful methods to bring them into awareness and participation. You may become entangled and encumbered by both other people’s limitations as well as your own, having to first test and assess competency, examine objectives, enlist cooperation and participation, and accomodate speed or ability.
The master may begin to teach at any time, but as in the case of eating food that isn't there, it's hard to get the satisfaction of eating food by imagining eating it. Without a valid audience, the teaching hasn't been transmitted, and the angels laugh, knowing the work of today hasn't been accomplished.
- Selection -Just as in the case of a student differentiating value among various schools, many of which are valid, the teacher having limited resources and time, may differentiate among students, selecting out those with the greatest potential to succeed.
A long and difficult journey is recommended to reach important centers of initiation, the places where valid teaching is given, and practice is performed. The distance and difficulty separates the merely curious and weak-willed entrants from making entrance. Let the location be remote and difficult to reach, the air cold and clean. Let the requirements for entry be desire and willingness to suffer trials of improvement and obey the teachers' wise and compassionate commands. Further, internal journeys and preparation are required to be able to benefit from, and realize the understandings offered, meaning also that centres of initiation are within us, and that we must journey and prepare, in order to be able to reach them.
Among the ancients, knowledge was only transmitted to those whose worth had been proved by a series of tests. This transmittal took place in the temples, in secret, among those prepared for the effort. On the one hand, do not ignore students who are worthy recipients of the teachings. Conversely, do not give profound teachings to unworthy recipients, even worse trying to push unwanted understandings on unwilling or combative associates. All are welcome who are able to conduct themselves within decent limits, and if they have difficulties, all the more appropriate that they're in a place of refuge, where assistance may be found.
Not all students are willing and able at every moment. Until sufficient negative karma is exhausted, it is difficult to be guided, to accept valid instruction, to differentiate valid teachings in the first place, or even to hear the teachings, and realize that they have importance. It is not for all to realize at this time, nor for everyone to be prepared and ready to know. Judge more wisely, recognizing them in their respective places, and making them happy and well-satisfied with challenges and stimulation appropriate for their particular individual mental and psychological development. Also, be aware of their interests and choices, not just their limitations. Allow people their freedom to choose activities they may participate in and feel good about, and a speed that they feel comfortable with.
Only give teachings to those who request instruction. Similarly, when an outsider joined the group, and began to talk on lighter topics, the master would immediately change the subject and join the outsider in his talk. Similarly, if he noticed students' attention was not fully concentrated, he would stop further exposition. In this way, in the absence of particularly suitable circumstances, he observed reticence, and reatined his knowledge for more auspicious moments.
A passionate, motivated, interested student is a treasure, whatever their intelligence and ability. Be patient. All things are related, so whoever sees one thing clearly and completely is said to see all. Neither the teacher's nor the student's qualities may be taken as faults, but rather the raw material for growth and understanding. Seek what is good, and adopt what is worthwhile, even from bad people, dismissing the remainder. Don't offer advice, and don't seek fault, unless asked. All is the guru, and the wise student gathers goodness from all situations. In bad experiences as well, there is much to learn, and pain is a swift and able teacher.
Important subjects require time to understand, and still more time to practice. While being focused on the goal, still we must spare time for those who may follow. If you spend all your life in a cave, how will anyone meet you and learn from you? You yourself are lucky to have found the writings of great teachers, which would not be open to you if they had not taken the time and effort to share.
Write the words down, not only to share with others, but that you may read and study them as well. Don't write difficult-to-understand passages. Make it simple, easy to understand, easy to follow.
- Physician, heal thyself -You can't take the steps for them, but you can take the steps yourself. A broken vehicle isn't useful, so repair yourself to a place of practice. I will help you at every step of the way, for I am the way. Trust your judgment. So many signs, all is here now. It's you who's slowing down this transmission, you who interfere with the message. Open your soul, part your sorrow like the waters of the deep, break your suffering into small pieces that you can digest, assimilate, and then eliminate. Cleanse the body, cleanse your mind and your heart.
Don't teach too much, nor too soon, and be satisfied to share any good thing, giving clear, easy-to-understand teachings. Do not take part in gossip or criticism. With love and patience, encourage goodness. With discipline, put halt inappropriate behavior or speech. Put what you know into practice, and don't seek more until you apply what you have already. Be content with what you have, and what is given. Respect your limits and those of others. Two principles that the Master observed in his teaching were 'not too much' and 'not too early.'
- Make a good impression, and approach people from their perspective -Keep the teachings appropriate to the listener. People need comfort and leadership, not erudite teachings that only create distance and mental confusion. Great teachers encourage and lead others through skillful means, patience, and stepwise progression. Do the best you can to help, and leave others to settle their own karmic debts. Take precautions to guard yourself against harm in association.
Don't change the subject when asked a question, as an opportunity to teach. 'Don't teach, don't preach, just answer the question asked.' If lacking patience, excuse yourself and depart. Limit your speech to instruction and supportive statements, not pointing out other's faults unasked.
Don't tell anyone how to do anything, not attempt to make helpful suggestions, even if you think you see clearly how to do something better. If they wanted to know, they would have asked. Don't teach, don't preach, just answer the question asked. And if there was no question, then don't speak. If determined to interfere with other people's business, ask first if they would like some help, and listen to their answer, as well as feel their intention. Do not intervene, and so not usurp others authority nor call into question their competency.
Don't visit monasteries thinking to teach the monks what you haven't mastered yourself. Even in the case where you have mastered certain aspects, wait until asked by qualified applicants, prepared students, equipped with attention and desire.
This website is not affiliated with any educational organization, and all trademarks are the exclusive property of the respective owners. Kooksta.com is the work of a group of students in Bangkok, and all copyrighted works on this website are offered for educational purposes only, governed by the four-factor rule, section 107 of the US Copyright Act, 1976.