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Shame about sexual feelingsFrom: Steven
Subject: Philosophy
Date/Time 2010-02-14 13:40:51
Remote IP: 76.247.139.98
Message>>>I am not sure why you mention it because
>>>it does not address anything I said, it
>>>has no relevance to my post.
>>
>>> This is, of course, true provided you don't buy
>>>into the Buddhist philosophy that all
>>>is illusion and delusion, which I don't.
>>>*********************
>>>I suggest "Buddhism, Plain and Simple, by Steve Hagen
>>>Nice book and will clarify alot of typical misunderstandings of buddhism.
>>
>>>There are things that have a "reality" to them
>>>that are nonetheless not part of my self-identification.
>>**************************
>>>You are going off on something besides my post
No, I'm not. I'm referring to the fact that
"understanding your true nature" is not a panacea
to all problems. Not everything is about misidentifying
things that are not you, with what you truly are. Recognizing
a distinction doesn't make the distinction go away, *unless you
believe that, that which is not you is illusion*. So
my comments are completely relevant.
Regarding your book reference, that is one person's interpretation
and that is all. We can argue about "what Buddhism really says"
DE JURE, all we like. But DE FACTO, practitioners and teachers
of the field teach something different. What constitutes Buddhism?
The field of practitioners and teachers that promote a given
philosophy. If you say it is something different, then you are
believing in a personal interpretation of the Buddhist scriptures
that does not match what is actually being practiced.
I have, on videotape, Buddhist practitioners of many decades,
some who have lived a hermit lifestyle doing nothing but practicing
Buddhism saying the phrases "all is illusion; all is delusion".
I can show you sometime if you don't believe me.
>>>Assuming it is not someone with a serous problems,
>>>then its just an intensified pattern and association,
>>>deeply placed with years of conditioning, actions,
>>>habits, automatic responses. Just think about all the
>>>formulas necessary to deal with this: sounds, smile,
>>>fusions, kan and li's.
Considering this perspective, which I don't think I agree
with completely, then it goes back to my comments
about pragmatic approaches. Effective tools are still
needed to deal with such issues.
>>>Sometimes people who go to spiritual traditions
>>>may need professional assist, our practices are
>>>not the sole answer for them, in some cases not
>>>good at all.
Going off on a small tangent here, I think that some
instructors take this concept too far. Their
approach to teaching is a little too dogmatic, in that
they are only interested in teaching specific exercises
without providing much emotional support. Sometimes
when people start doing practices, internal issues start
coming up from within, and these same dogmatic instructors
respond with a relative lack of compassion. And it has
turned some people off. Believe me, I know. I've had
several conversations with many of these individuals in
private about such things who did not feel the instructor
was being supportive or compassionate to their process.
We call the organization "Healing Tao", and my personal
view is that the word "healing" should imply a holistic
approach, not a cute word for Tao meditation practices
to attract people. Granted, Healing Tao instructors
can't be counselors, psychiatrists, medical doctors, etc.
all rolled into one, but some support beyond just
teaching practices I think should be given.
>>>As I mentioned what you call friction, I can call
>>>"The Excitement for Life", "The passion to live life",
>>>"the drive to engage in life" and use it in a variety
>>>of ways. Its interesting, at some time in our lives
>>>we will wish to have this friction again, longing
>>>for this energy or passion for living life, for
>>>being in love with life. This friction, this life force
>>>is part of the Tao, we unite with it and use this force
>>>in our alchemical formulas. We use it in living our lives.
>>>We as taoist alchemist are in a small minority,
>>>our understanding and life cultivation is not shared
>>>by many, we look at this "friction" as life force,
>>>as the cosmic life force inside us and the raw material
>>>to build our spiritual unfolding. This sexual energy,
>>>life force, friction is guiding or driving us to spiritual
>>>cultivation, The life force is natural, the friction or itch
>>>is natural, the drive for sex or sexual pleasure is natural,
>>>how we label this, how we define what this means is not natural.
>>>A Christian views it one way, a tantra practitioner another,
>>>these are human made views. Education is key, in the healing tao
>>>there is much about this, if we were educated from childhood
>>>in this way we would have a good chance at having an entirely
>>>different view and experience of this.
On these comments, I think I agree pretty much in full.
Happy Valentines Day to you too :)
Steven
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