Nonduality
Go Anywhere, Do Nothing, Love
Everybody
by OH
Three Answers Origin
Grace and Kundalini
The Debate
Zen Bamboo Warning Stick
Advice to Jerry
Just This
Three
Answers Origin
by
OH
One
evening, Neem Karoli Baba came to call. He gave me one of
his famous bear hugs....ummmm, so delicious! Was all
snuggled up in his arms, but knew i had only a few
moments with him, so quickly began to ask some questions.
Was considering moving to California, so asked him,
"Where should i go?" And he said, "Go
anywhere!"
Was thinking of quitting my job, so rushed on,
"Well, what should i do?" And he answered,
"Do nothing!"
Thought i would get some advice about my love life, so
asked, "Who should i love, Rob or Fred?" And he
answered, "Love Everybody!"
So i call this, The Three Answers:
"Go Anywhere!
Do Nothing!
Love Everybody!"
Grace
and Kundalini
by OH
This thread
on Grace and Kundalini reminds me of the last darshan of
Muktananda before he left the United States for India
(where he passed away. )
The meditation hall was jammed with over 500 people with
a huge overflow watching by remote in the dining area.
There had been various offerings of poems and Hindi songs
by Baba's swamis, and then Baba came out to give a talk
about Shakti and Her "Grace." When he was
finished, a swami came up to the microphone and told us
that a devotee of Baba's was going to sing for him. And
she just wanted to be called, Roberta.
So, Roberta Flack came up on the little stage pushing a
keyboard followed by a drummer and guitarist. She sang
Killing Me Softly directly to Baba, he put a white scarf
around her neck, and she then sang, The First Time Ever I
saw Your Face. It was like being in the Twilight Zone -
you sorta couldn't believe what you were seeing (Roberta
Flack was big recording star back then.)
And then she had us all clap our hands as she played and
sang an old time spiritual. It was funny because Baba
started shouting something out, and his interpreter,
Malti, said, "Baba says, this is not a night
club!" That didn't stop us for a minute. We were
having a Shakti ball.
Then, Roberta quieted us down and said she was going to
sing a song that we could all sing with her, to
Muktananda, to Nityananda, to the Divine Feminine who had
blessed us all. And she played and sang, Amazing Grace,
and we all joined her - 500 strong and the whole dining
hall, too. i bet there was not a dry eye in the house.
When we got to the line, "I was blind, but now I
see,," Malti (now Swami Chidvilasananda who
succeeded Muktananda), whispered in Baba's ear what the
words meant, and he nodded and muttered happily,
"Ah, yes, good, good."
The hall was filled with so many devotees who had sung so
often the Hindu songs, sometimes haltingly, trying to
understand, to get with it, but now, here was a song we
had all grown up with, that we really "knew",
and everyone put their heart and soul into it (well,
heart and soul that's another song, Roberta didn't play
that one.,^)).
Anyway, it was a time to remember. So, thanks for
bringing back the memory. Yes, old woman here, has always
considered Grace and Kundalini one and the same. Amazing!
The
Debate
by OH
Talking
about teachers:
A few years ago, I read about a formal debate that two
contemporary Buddhist teachers had (i forget their
specific names, i will call them Zen Master and
Rinpoche). It seems the followers of the Japanese Zen
Master and the followers of a Tibetan lama (Rinpoche),
had been arguing about which of their teachers knew more
Dharma, so the teachers agreed to this debate to answer
the question (Dharma debate is an acceptable and highly
respected practice in Buddhism).
The day of the debate, the Japanese Zen Master comes into
the room with his large entourage, and then the Tibetan
lama follows with only his interpreter. They sit across
from each other, each on a little dais prepared for them,
about ten feet apart .
They have pulled straws to see who begins, and the Zen
Master has won. He reaches into a bowl of fruit that is
next to him, selects an orange and holding it up, says to
the Tibetan lama, "What is this?"
Rinpoche and his interpreter whisper back and forth for a
few minutes, and then look blankly at the Zen Master. The
Zen Master, still holding the orange in front of him,
repeats,"What is this?" But, Rinpoche whispers
to his interpreter, shakes his head a few times, and
still says nothing.
The Zen Master has a triumphant look upon his face.
Holding the orange even higher, he says, "Can you
tell me what this is? Look at what I am holding! What is
this?"
The Tibetan Lama whispers some more to his interpreter,
and finally the interpreter says,"Rinpoche wants to
know if this guy is crazy, always asking what that is.
Don't they have oranges in Japan?"
The Zen Master stands up, bows to the Tibetan lama, and
walks out of the hall, followed by his entourage.
The Tibetan lama and his interpreter smile to each other,
and on his way out, Rinpoche picks up the orange, and
begins to peel it, to take a bite.
Zen
Bamboo Warning Stick
by OH
Mirror:
"Do teachers actually whack their students on the
head with a stick?"
Hello, Mirror dear: This whacking by teachers is only in
Zen Buddhism, not in the other schools (Theravada,
Vajrayana (Tibetan), Pure Land, etc.). It is part of the
Zen tradition, and has been used for hundreds of years as
a means to "wake up" the student, or at the
least, to urge them on, in their sitting (it is primarily
used when a student is meditating (zazen). The old
masters used all kinds of "violent" methods to
jolt their students out of their delusions - whacking
them seemed the primary one - it reportedly produced many
enlightened beings. (The book Skye quoted from is over 20
years old, i believe, and the dialogue is from a
monastery in Japan.)
This practice has not been accepted too freely in the
West, it seems - i think probably because we associate
whacking with abusive parents rather than loving
teachers. ,^)) hmm...of course, there were the nuns...lol
The Zen monastery that i stayed in in the U.S. (ZMM)
modified the practice to a monitor walking up and down
behind the meditators. Here is their definition:
"The kyosaku (long flat stick carried by zendo
monitors during periods of zazen) is used only when a
sitter explicitly requests it for relief of shoulder,
back or neck tension. Its use is an expression of
compassion. To request the kyosaku, put your hands in
gassho as the monitor approaches your seat. When the
monitor stops in front or behind you, the two of you
gassho, together. Offer one shoulder by bending your head
to the side, and then offer the other. After the monitor
has struck both acupressure points, bow again and the
monitor will move on. The use of the kyosaku serves to
keep the atmosphere in the zendo crisp and awake."
i was a bit leery of staying there initially because of
the"stick", but soon got used to hearing it -
there was no feeling of violence connected to it any
time. There was this constant urgency to wake up, very
often with verbal reminders. "Keep going - you can
do it! This is the most important time of your
life!" etc. The last week of every month (sesshin),
one sits zazen from 5AM until 10 PM every day, (with
teachings, interviews, walking meditation, morning and
evening rituals as breaks), and this encouragement is
welcomed.
The call of Zen Buddhism is a sense of urgency to use
every moment of our lives, in this, the greatest endeavor
a human being can undertake. Every evening, in a Zen
monastery, the head monk recites this gatha: "Let me
respectfully remind you, life and death are of supreme
importance. Time swiftly passes by, and opportunity is
lost. Each of us should strive to awaken, awaken, take
heed....(here he goes up an octave)...Do not squander
your life."
After my stay at the Zen monastery, i went immediately
over to the Tibetan Buddhist monastery where i usually
visit. They welcomed me with knowing smiles, telling me
that they are often a haven for those who have survived
the Zen stay.
"Everyone from ZMM comes here for a little R &
R." The contrast was obvious: at the Zen monastery,
everything is immaculate, impeccable, and a tight
schedule is followed every minute.
At the Tibetan monastery, there are teaching and chanting
schedules and you can go or not - your whole routine is
up to you. At the Zen monastery, they have meals that are
ritualized, so even your eating is a meditation - quite
beautiful actually for a hundred people to eat in
silence, in unison, in the zendo.
The Tibetan center lays out a sumptuous buffet, and you
take what you want - seconds fine, and eat out on a patio
overlooking distant mountains, with deer chomping away on
the green slope before you. If flies swarm, you just
brush them away, and talking to one another is fine.
i would imagine that each tradition serves it purpose for
particular student's needs. i was more familiar with the
Tibetan, and with Hindu ashrams, so going to the Zen
monastery was an excellent opportunity to see if i had
the balls or not ,^)). As someone mentioned, rather like
basic training. Rough while going through it, but a sense
of accomplishment afterwards. And even more importantly,
for some of us indulgent, spoiled Westerners, like old
woman, a source of self discipline.
One of the things i learned in the Zen monastery was how
to clean something. Hoboy! You are set a
"chore" for 4 hours a day. A monk monitors your
work. For example, five of us were assigned to clean the
kitchen for the 4 hours. i would scrub the countertop -
my assigned section - diligently, making sure it was as
clean as could be, and bow before the monk when i thought
it was done. She would come over and inspect, and point
out all the crevices and cracks i had missed. When as a
group we felt we were finished, she might stand there,
survey our work, and then say, "you know, i think it
might be a good idea to take everything out of the
cabinets, clean the surfaces, wash and dry everything,
and
put it back." And off we would go.... So, anyway, i
have looked at straightening up my garbage pile a lot
differently since then.,^))
Well, i have been rambling. Hope some of this is helpful.
All of above is just reporting. For old woman, only
whacking she does is in her dreams when Richard (Gere)
visits pile.
love, oh
"....Within light there is darkness, but do not try
to understand the darkness. Within darkness there is
light, but do not look for the light. ...the absolute
works together with the relative like two arrows meeting
in mid-air. Reading words, you should grasp the great
reality. Do not judge by any standards. If you do not see
the Way, you do not see it even as you walk it. When you
walk the Way, it is not near, it is not far. If you are
deluded, you are mountains and rivers away from it. I
respectfully say to those who wish to be enlightened: Do
not waste your time by day or night."
From Idenity of Relative and Absolute, chanted in some
Zen rituals
Advice
to Jerry
by OH
Jerry
had written: Kundalini visited last night. It is
a powerful force. I simply thought of God and it
presented itself as a mansion of power and force in the
base of my spine, too massive to move upward, it would
have caused disentegration. Had it moved, it would have
killed me. It would have blown me to bits. I asked God to
speak to me, and the third eye became many lights and I
heard music straining to come forth from the crown and
the mansion straining toward skyscraper-hood, yet nothing
moved beyond the straining. It was all too massive, yet
one message I received, and I tell you all this as one
who has met the power: Think only of God.
OH
responded: Jerry dear: You say "had it
moved, it (Kundalini) would have killed me. It would have
blown me to bits." Sounds like good news to me.
Perhaps, dear, the only blowing to bits She may do is of
your THINKING that she is going to blow you to bits! Put
on your warrior suit and face her, strip her naked, ride
her with wild abandon, and Blow to Bits together! She
will be around to pick up the pieces.
"She is in the Form of Moon, Sun, and Fire; Her
Body, a string of blooming Dhustura flowers, extends from
the Middle of the Kanda to the Head, and the Vajra inside
Her extends, shining, from the Medhra to the Head."
She is on her way up the Hill, Arunachalam, and wants to
take you along...scramble, scratch, claw, cling, pull,
dig, get up there, whatever way you can, then fall
exhausted, before His Fire and let Her have Her way with
you... "O lord white as jasmine, your love's blade
stabbed and broken in my flesh, I writhe."
Mahadeviyakna
"Inside her is Chitrini, who is lustrous with the
lustre of the Pranava and ...is subtle as a spider's
thread, and pierces all the Lotuses which are placed
within the backbone, and is pure intelligence."
This Pure Intelligence, this Knowing, Slithering,
Brilliant Beauty is going to KILL you! What a way to go!
Fasten your seatbelt, darlin' - you're in for a
bumpiferous
ride! "And the power of the Holy Ghost seizes the
very highest and purest, the spark of the soul, and
carries it up in a Light flame of Love!" Eckhart
Let go any fear. Fear is dear ego's tomfoolery...it saw
too many Bond movies - thinks all those special effects
are real. No room for fear in the rumble seat of this
rocket - kick him out!
"She is beautiful by reason of these Lotuses which
are strung on her. Inside Her is the Brahma-nadi, which
extends from the orifice of the mouth of Hara to the
place beyond, where Adi-deva is."
Yep, Only you two on way to Orgy with the Beloved...you
always wanted a menage de trois? This is your chance!!
"She is beautiful like a chain of lightning and fine
like a lotus fibre, and shines in the minds of the sages.
She is extremely subtle; the awakener of pure knowledge;
the embodiment of all Bliss, whose true nature is pure
Consciousness. The Brahmadvara shines in her mouth. This
place is the entrance to the region sprinkled by
ambrosia, and is called the Knot as also the mouth of
Sushumna."
Coffee, Tea, or Me? She offers the Ultimate Amenity on
this flight, bud - the Nectar of Immortal Bliss! Sip,
Gulp, let the amrita ooze through your being, then let
the goldern plane crash!
It is over the Referenceless Ocean, the destination every
mystic longs for.... "I remained, lost in oblivion;
My face I reclined on the Beloved. All ceased and I
abandoned myself, Leaving my cares forgotten among the
lilies." St. John of the Cross
Yes, your intimate companion of all these years will KILL
you, Jerry dear! You are condemned. Dead man walking!
Dead man walking!
"When Truth has overwhelmed a human heart, it
empties it of all that is not Truth. When God loves a
being, He kills everything that is not Him."
al-Hallaj
Dead man waking! Dead man waking!
"How can you face light without being blinded, How
can one arrest the secret of secrets without being
dumbfounded and perplexed? How can one undergo
transformation without being SHATTERED?" Bastami
Why have you waited so long, my dear? She has been so
patient. Is it not time to do Her bidding? To release any
remnants of reluctance, raise your arms, and Embrace
Annihilation!!!! Perhaps it IS your time. Boarding at
Gate....
....and you think you will be blown to bits! That is the
best god-damn news I heard all week!
Yep, She will be around, to pick up the pieces. And all
three of you can have a smoke afterwards.
much love, oh
Just
This
Hello,
dears:
I have sat at the table and blessed the bird, Thanked the
Unknown for fortune great and small. I laughed with the
children, Snoozed off the mashed potatoes, And even sat
on the balmy beach for a couple hours. The waves lapped
my feet.
Do you want to know what has been since the beginning of
time?
Just THIS! Just THIS!
None else my soul hath known,
None else is it rejoicing.
Hope you all have had fine holiday!
love,
oh
Like the morning sun that has risen over
the horizon, the dawn of Divine Awareness has risen in my
heart. And it will never set.
Thanks
for the invite, sweetie pie. Stop by pile sometime, share
pot of Onetruth Tea - freshly brewed, very delicious,
just for you.
--OH
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