tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37983535.post445200477487305956..comments2023-10-22T01:48:29.378-07:00Comments on SlowZen... Again: EnthusiasmSlowZenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589294912054724123noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37983535.post-2079371316005422052007-09-07T16:34:00.000-07:002007-09-07T16:34:00.000-07:00MuddyElepahnt,I have been watching your unfolding ...MuddyElepahnt,<BR/>I have been watching your unfolding sky blog. And I have finally thought of something pithy to say, plus it is kind of related to this post! <BR/><BR/> It is more interesting when there is something in it besides blue. I think that practice may be like that too.<BR/><BR/>Bonus, it rhymes!<BR/><BR/>Now I have to go yell at people and act mean. <BR/><BR/>Thanks!<BR/>JordanSlowZenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589294912054724123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37983535.post-71453336578320334832007-09-07T14:36:00.000-07:002007-09-07T14:36:00.000-07:00Hi Jordan, another nice post and good comments bet...Hi Jordan, <BR/><BR/>another nice post and good comments between you and mikedoe.<BR/><BR/>I am very much on the same page when it comes to practice, the desire for practice to be a certain way, perhaps the subtle <I>need</I> for it to be and feel "good."<BR/><BR/>You have a really good awareness of this whole issue and I simply wish you the best in your endeavor.muddy elephanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01607520133550691577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37983535.post-42015602301655046902007-09-06T14:30:00.000-07:002007-09-06T14:30:00.000-07:00"To almost any question my kung fu teacher would r..."To almost any question my kung fu teacher would respond "just keep practicing".<BR/><BR/>Yes!<BR/><BR/>Thanks MikeDoe,<BR/>JordanSlowZenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589294912054724123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37983535.post-63718444643879106272007-09-06T09:45:00.000-07:002007-09-06T09:45:00.000-07:00Jordan:OK, I see know what you are getting at.When...Jordan:<BR/><BR/>OK, I see know what you are getting at.<BR/><BR/>When we desire something we are moving away from what is here and know and creating some ideal future.<BR/><BR/>A desire can be a way to avoid the here and now.<BR/><BR/>You are correct that clinging to desire is not helpful to practice and the desire itself needs to be dropped - but naturally. <BR/><BR/>But the desire to drop desires or the desire to practice in a certain way is a way in which we deny one desire by replacing it with another. It's a subtle trap and one that you have spotted.<BR/><BR/>It is enough I think to recognise the desire, to recognise what that says and then let it be. The desire will fade naturally in time if it is not a 'natural' desire.<BR/><BR/>Some examples:<BR/><BR/>1. Obviously in my blog I have written at great length in the past about my desire for a partner. For the last week or two I can say that the desire is still there but somehow it does not seem that important or pressing. I have however still been eyeballing lots of women and have so far managed to avoid crashing the car.<BR/><BR/>2. Today I've been looking at my tent in the garden and looking at a camping website and pondering the idea of driving to a nearby forest and camping out.I find waking up with a forest in the morning to be a beautiful experience. I also desire to work on my fear some more. The only issue is that it is a 'school night' and I would be very tired tomorrow if I did this. So just in that simple thing are wrapped several desires including one to avoid what I think is a necessary practice.<BR/><BR/>Overall I don't think there is any need to DO anything with desires. Just acknowledge them and keep practicing.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes practice is 'grim' but 'grim' is something extra that we bring to it. All that 'grim' means is that we are facing something that we have been previously avoiding. <BR/><BR/>It's easy to get hooked on practice as something that is DONE.<BR/><BR/>To almost any question my kung fu teacher would respond "just keep practicing".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37983535.post-7899877808735624282007-09-06T08:30:00.000-07:002007-09-06T08:30:00.000-07:00MilkeDoe,I think it is important to break away fro...MilkeDoe,<BR/>I think it is important to break away from our desire for things to be different than how they really are.<BR/><BR/>As in: when we have a grim approach to practice this is usually due to us "wanting" something from it. MC might call this end gaming. <BR/><BR/>Eliminate that wanting, practice joyfully. <BR/><BR/> My own issue might be the "desire" to practice Joyfully!<BR/>Clinging to that desire, or any desire I think, is not right practice.<BR/><BR/>Do you see the circle?<BR/>JordanSlowZenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589294912054724123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37983535.post-46769585566092270652007-09-06T08:11:00.000-07:002007-09-06T08:11:00.000-07:00Jordan,can you explain further. I'm not sure that ...Jordan,<BR/><BR/>can you explain further. I'm not sure that I understand and that's due to me not being familiar with terms. It may be that we agree 100% but that terms are different.<BR/><BR/>OBTW, I often visit but often have nothing to say...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37983535.post-45856294346498956352007-09-06T08:02:00.000-07:002007-09-06T08:02:00.000-07:00Mikedoe,I am 80% with you on this.I am an advocate...Mikedoe,<BR/>I am 80% with you on this.<BR/>I am an advocate of cessation, So to practice cessation is to "break away from". The rest of your comments I am with you on wholeheartedly.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for visiting, it has been a while,<BR/>JordanSlowZenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589294912054724123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37983535.post-86675318440056390912007-09-06T00:36:00.000-07:002007-09-06T00:36:00.000-07:00Jordan:It's all just part of life. There is nothin...Jordan:<BR/><BR/>It's all just part of life. There is nothing to break away from. There is nothing to avoid. There is a kindof joy that comes from being willing to take on anything regardless of whether or not some might class it is pleasant/unpleasant. <BR/><BR/>Even fear can be an enjoyable experience if you know that it is unfounded. Roller-coasters are built to demonstrate this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com