Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Erik sighting
Unfortunately the rigors of children in soccer, being a soccer coach for 3 and 4 years olds and a son in baseball, have kept me away fom the Zendo lately. Wanted to take a brief moment to mention that thinking of you all and hope your practice is fruitful. Looking forward to returning in the near future. Of potential interest to the Sangha, I will be attending a two day Big Mind retreat with Genpo Roshi in Miami, during the month of July at the Center for Integral Living. Hope to be able to share my experiences upon my return. As always, take care, and live well...
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2 comments:
Erik,
I am most interested to know your impressions of this Big Mind experience. I am a skeptic, I fully admit it. E.g. Big Mind should have one of those 'r's inside a circle behind it since it is a registered trademark(!!!) of Gempo Roshi. Also, I am skeptical of a Roshi who promises, for the fee paid, "Sartori before lunchtime"...ummmm.....Reeeaaaly???
So, hurry up and get awake!!!!
LOL
Chuck, glad to hear from you. I've had all the reservations and doubts you have as well, and well am trying to look at this with an objective point of view. But with that I am willing to give some benefit of the doubt and some arguments for the process are compelling.
We come from a "sudden awakening" tradition. A lot of us forget that. No one says it need take 20-30 years to awaken to our true nature. We seem to take the stance that if I gotta bleed for it, than everyone else should too. I've kinda felt that way too, but for one that's incredibly uncompassionate. Two, for those that attain some measure of the awakening experience their seems to be this jealousy and a sense of "hey, I wish that was me! that's not fair." Again, not really where we want to be.
I agree there is a bit of the McDonald's golden arches appeal to Big Mind. A western take on the enlightenment experience. But awakening is awakening, however you get there...If it works then well, who cares. As Chikyo has pointed out, "we could use all the awakened folks we can muster." I for one would rather be doing the work from an awakened perspective.
As Genpo Roshi points out, after Satori the work just begins. Much time follows of working through maintaining that space, and actualizing it in daily life. It is much easier to help someone find where they're going in a darkened room if you in fact turn on the lights first so at least they have an idea where thy're going.
The one thing that also peaks my interest is that, well listen, this guy isn't some self help guru that just fell off the turnip truck. He has transmitted to Daido, received transmission for Tetsugen, Maezumi, is a true lineage holder. I find it difficult to think that he's lost his marbles, or would head down a path that he felt wasn't going to be fruitful for others....
Anyway we shall see, and yes Chuck, we should all Hurry Up and get Awake!!! :)
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