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The application of skillful means really boils down to the dance of yes and no, doesn't it? (Which is a question we recently had to answer for our study group with Carlos Pomeda- How do you participate in the world of manifestation without getting pulled into sensual indulgence?) Well the thing is we say YES to it all. We say, yes to the blog, yes to the email, yes to text messages, yes to yummy food, yes to any possibility. We welcome it all as an agent of the Divine and as a potential doorway into chit-ananda. And then with discernment, self-scrutiny and rigorous self-honesty we begin the process of no. "No, this makes me crazy," "No, not today," "No, not right now," "No, not so much," "No because I feel bad when I do," "No because I deserve a higher expression" and so on. The small no's can serve the larger Yes.
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We do not need to say "no" because anything is inherently wrong or bad or because of some externally imposed moralistic code of renunciation designed to make us suffer and go without but because certain things, behaviors, beliefs, etc. do not help us touch (chit) and express (ananda) our innate majesty. Really, whose essential nature is best brought to life by addictive, indulgent use of anything? It is really quite simple. Well, in theory. As we all know actually making changes and sustaining certain "no's" can be a bit challenging.
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Back to my day yesterday--I did very strong asana practice in the morning, worked on my book project and my visual aid project in the afternoon, finished my homework for last session on Tantra with Carlos Pomeda and did some preparation for our upcoming meeting tomorrow on Alchemy, Hatha Yoga, and Kundalini. That stuff is really getting juicy and shall I say "just a bit far out there." I love it. Sometimes I wonder how a spoiled neurotic white girl like myself got so fascinated by the occult, mysticism and the exploration of consciousness. (I know, Mom and Dad you have long wondered the same thing, haven't you? "Who is this child? We raised her to be a good Methodist..." Laughing...) Anyway, the info on alchemy is captivating. More on that later.
That is about it. Off to walk the dogs.
2 comments:
Christina,
I think you're wise to set a reasonable schedule for your Internet work.
Let's consider the following comment in your blog today: I know, Mom and Dad you have long wondered the same thing, haven't you? "Who is this child? We raised her to be a good Methodist..." Laughing...
As you know I am a Christian of the Methodist persuasion who struggles to profess, witness, serve, etc. I cheerfully add that I don't consider myself a "typical" or "traditional" Christian.
Yes, Andrea and I would have been more comfortable if you had chosen the Christian tradition to follow. Nevertheless, our being comfortable in this instance has little to do with the path you have chosen and nothing do with our love for you. We certainly don't believe you're going to hell because you follow a different path. Do your thing.
With respect to an issue you raised in a recent posting: The question of the origin of evil and, for that matter, good. My understanding (briefly stated) based upon my interpretation of Judeo-Christianity leads me to the belief that evil and good arise from our God-given great gift of free will.
For some reason, God appears to want adherents who follow God out of love, not fear. That is as free-thinking sentient creatures rather than automatons or robots. We can only make that choice if we have essentially unrestrained free will to select good or evil. As Christians, we clearly know the choices we are to make: "I set before you this day, good or evil,life or death. Therefore choose life."
There is not in this statement from God, and nor similarly anywhere through out
Holy Scripture any coercion toward the choice, other than that we should act out of love of God and our brothers and sisters.
Thus, as you indicated in your posting, we cannot have true good without the free will to choose good or evil. Good and evil result from the gift of free will.
Again, I see some parallels between my understanding of fundamental (not fundamentalist) Judeo-Christianity and the path you follow.
Love and blessings,
AP1
Ah yes! Love the alchemy stuff. Except when it sucks.
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