tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post7288268118232923575..comments2023-10-30T06:38:39.170-07:00Comments on Snow Branches: Gazing at the Ox - Solipsism: Trapped in Tozan’s First RankUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-54281458768515621622011-05-18T22:29:18.296-07:002011-05-18T22:29:18.296-07:00Hi Ano, thanks very much!Hi Ano, thanks very much!David Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18339979176989832285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-84614640345940292772011-05-18T12:17:40.231-07:002011-05-18T12:17:40.231-07:00Hi David, thanks for this post - it was a good rem...Hi David, thanks for this post - it was a good reminder!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-41540716813018189292011-03-27T22:04:19.836-07:002011-03-27T22:04:19.836-07:00Dawid, I really appreciate your sharing your story...Dawid, I really appreciate your sharing your story. Probably not easy to talk about but a strong and valuable lesson. Thank you!David Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18339979176989832285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-15935531794623582702011-03-27T17:29:00.048-07:002011-03-27T17:29:00.048-07:00What you bring up in this post is oh so important....What you bring up in this post is oh so important.<br /><br />I remember last year, I took a drug which had the curious effect of erasing all my memories. (First drug I ever took, and probably ever will, too.) I would start speaking to my friend, and then two seconds later I would just stop and look strangely at him ... I had forgot what I - we - were speaking about.<br /><br />This resulted in a deep and intense state of formlessness. Everything lost the meaning we ordinarily impose on things. Say I looked at a chair. It wasn't a chair - it was everything and nothing simultaneously. Yeah, in other words, this was your ordinary nirvikalpa samadhi vegetable experience. And naturally, it was blissful beyond words.<br /><br />But the following morning, I remembered strongly one thing about the evening. What I remembered was my complete lack of empathy towards my friend. I had been a real douche bag. Just sitting there with a blank stare, as in my own world, totally not caring about anything. I remember that eventually I stopped speaking to him entirely, because I simply wasn't capable or willing. And if I did speak, it was to offer some pompous statement about "reality".<br /><br />In other words, the formless state caused by my complete lack of memories had erased all traces of compassion, empathy, humour, and even simple kindness.<br /><br />So yes, David. One can get stuck for sure. Real freedom is not about slipping into and attaching to some kind of coma. It's not natural, and it's not authentic.<br /><br />Pax!<br />D.Integral Monasteryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14383348246118459758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-16065029466154877062011-03-23T15:49:48.843-07:002011-03-23T15:49:48.843-07:00(BB: I posted this on your blog but thought I woul...(BB: I posted this on your blog but thought I would post it here too)<br /><br />It took me a long time (until I was 56) before I finally decided (got up the nerve?) to leave solo practice and look for a sangha. As my preference was Rinzai Zen, I checked the internet for local Rinzai centres, found one that looked OK, and just went over and knocked on the door.<br /><br />That was it. The abbott answered the door and said I really should have had an introductory lecture but come on in anyway and just do what the others are doing. After the sit, we chatted a bit and he asked me about the books I had been reading.<br /><br />On the way home, I kept thinking how ordinary he was. I wasn't expecting Bodhidharma or a samurai warrior. Actually I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I was very pleasantly surprised. If he had had an "I'm the great Poo-Bah and you're not" attitude, I doubt if I would have gone back.<br /><br />I can't speak for anyone else, but I would be inclined to go with the one who expresses ordinary kindness, has a twinkle in his or her eye, and except during rituals, displays a distinct lack of pomp.<br /><br />Best wishes in your search!David Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18339979176989832285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-75870172966583288302011-03-21T23:06:36.222-07:002011-03-21T23:06:36.222-07:00a great post. I'm pleased to say - I dont enti...a great post. I'm pleased to say - I dont entirely understand it all. Which means - yes. I'm ready for a teacher. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04122762432900082546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-87743798133194227182011-03-20T08:42:34.332-07:002011-03-20T08:42:34.332-07:00Thank you very kindly!Thank you very kindly!David Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18339979176989832285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-53339763462582288252011-03-20T05:01:17.103-07:002011-03-20T05:01:17.103-07:00Nicely said...Nicely said...Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03320860122104064884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-40265142714726391582011-03-16T09:09:04.849-07:002011-03-16T09:09:04.849-07:00The Ox is one of my favorite analogies. It is true...The Ox is one of my favorite analogies. It is true that one can get "stuck" and the suggestion of a teacher is a good one. <br /><br />Amituofo,<br /><br />WilliamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-54898017595401920182011-03-14T19:43:23.837-07:002011-03-14T19:43:23.837-07:00Interesting, David.Interesting, David.wendy merkhttp://www.wendymerk.comnoreply@blogger.com