Dear Taigaku ~
Your avatar is exquisitely mystical. It "took my breath away" when I saw it. I love the immediacy in your poem. Your wandering mind, as you look out the window, and take in what's there, as well.....the realness of nature. You paint vividly both the inside and outside of the classroom. Even with your distraction, you hear what he says and doesn't.
Love,
Elizabeth
Not Waiting for the Miracle
Whilst visiting a multifaith discussions forum on the All Things Spiritual website, I found a link (posted by a member) to articles on the What is Enlightenment? Magazine's pages.
The article I thought was most in tune with this thread is -
"A Spirituality that Transforms" by Ken Wilbur ("..Prolific author,.. widely acclaimed for his innovative and critical synthesis of philosophies East and West")
For a sense of the theme, here is an an exerpt:
"...all of those for whom authentic transformation has deeply unseated their souls must, I believe, wrestle with the profound moral obligation to shout from the heart -- perhaps quietly and gently, with tears of reluctance; perhaps with fierce fire and angry wisdom; perhaps with slow and careful analysis; perhaps by unshakable public example -- but authenticity always and absolutely carries a demand and duty: you must speak out, to the best of your ability, and shake the spiritual tree, and shine your headlights into the eyes of the complacent. You must let radical realization rumble through your veins and rattle those around you.
Alas, if you fail to do so, you are betraying your own authenticity. You are hiding your true estate. You don't want to upset others because you don't want to upset your self. You are acting in bad faith, the taste of bad infinity.
Because, you see, the alarming fact is that any realization of depth carries a terrible burden: Those who are allowed to see are simultaneously saddled with the obligation to communicate that vision in no uncertain terms. That is the bargain. You were allowed to see the truth under the agreement that you would communicate it to others (that is the ultimate meaning of the Bodhisattva vow). And therefore, if you have seen, you simply must speak out. Speak out with compassion, or speak out with angry wisdom, or speak out with skillful means, but speak out you must."
For the rest of this article: http://www.wie.org/j12/wilber.asp
~Makera
The article I thought was most in tune with this thread is -
"A Spirituality that Transforms" by Ken Wilbur ("..Prolific author,.. widely acclaimed for his innovative and critical synthesis of philosophies East and West")
For a sense of the theme, here is an an exerpt:
"...all of those for whom authentic transformation has deeply unseated their souls must, I believe, wrestle with the profound moral obligation to shout from the heart -- perhaps quietly and gently, with tears of reluctance; perhaps with fierce fire and angry wisdom; perhaps with slow and careful analysis; perhaps by unshakable public example -- but authenticity always and absolutely carries a demand and duty: you must speak out, to the best of your ability, and shake the spiritual tree, and shine your headlights into the eyes of the complacent. You must let radical realization rumble through your veins and rattle those around you.
Alas, if you fail to do so, you are betraying your own authenticity. You are hiding your true estate. You don't want to upset others because you don't want to upset your self. You are acting in bad faith, the taste of bad infinity.
Because, you see, the alarming fact is that any realization of depth carries a terrible burden: Those who are allowed to see are simultaneously saddled with the obligation to communicate that vision in no uncertain terms. That is the bargain. You were allowed to see the truth under the agreement that you would communicate it to others (that is the ultimate meaning of the Bodhisattva vow). And therefore, if you have seen, you simply must speak out. Speak out with compassion, or speak out with angry wisdom, or speak out with skillful means, but speak out you must."
For the rest of this article: http://www.wie.org/j12/wilber.asp
~Makera
Makera 
Thank you for the link. I am personally a subscriber to What Is Enlightenment?, a magazine I find to be very thorough, although I imagine some people would deem it too theoretical in its approach to spirituality (although it does actually presuppose rather than neglect the practical dimension).
If anyone wants to read more by/about Ken Wilber, I can recommend this site: http://www.worldofkenwilber.com
Peace to All!
~Taigaku
Thank you for the link. I am personally a subscriber to What Is Enlightenment?, a magazine I find to be very thorough, although I imagine some people would deem it too theoretical in its approach to spirituality (although it does actually presuppose rather than neglect the practical dimension).
If anyone wants to read more by/about Ken Wilber, I can recommend this site: http://www.worldofkenwilber.com
Peace to All!
~Taigaku
Last edited by Taigaku on Mon Apr 19, 2004 3:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Taigaku ~
As we have started a little revival of Belief vs Knowledge, Fact or Fiction,
I thought this would be an appropriate addition to this thread of variegated pearls.
"Believe nothing because a wise man said it.
Believe nothing because it is generally held true.
Believe nothing because it is written.
Believe nothing because it is said to be divine.
Believe nothing because someone else believes it.
But believe only what you yourself judge to be true."
~ the Buddha
This sounds simple on the surface, but requires serious introspection to determine from where your beliefs, ideas and opinions actually originate.
In other words, to consider carefully the source and the filters through which they come.
Only "you yourself" (empirically, personally) can determine what is true from your own experience. Not from a book, or a second hand 'opinion', of any kind, from anywhere or anyone else. And not from this, if it doesn't ring true.
Love & Light
~ Makera
As we have started a little revival of Belief vs Knowledge, Fact or Fiction,
I thought this would be an appropriate addition to this thread of variegated pearls.
"Believe nothing because a wise man said it.
Believe nothing because it is generally held true.
Believe nothing because it is written.
Believe nothing because it is said to be divine.
Believe nothing because someone else believes it.
But believe only what you yourself judge to be true."
~ the Buddha
This sounds simple on the surface, but requires serious introspection to determine from where your beliefs, ideas and opinions actually originate.
In other words, to consider carefully the source and the filters through which they come.
Only "you yourself" (empirically, personally) can determine what is true from your own experience. Not from a book, or a second hand 'opinion', of any kind, from anywhere or anyone else. And not from this, if it doesn't ring true.
Love & Light
~ Makera
One more round...just for the hell of it. (aka 'pissing in the wind')
Repetition is required, it seems.
As has become so sadly evident, one can never underestimate the insidious power of repetitive advertising (propaganda) - from a mass-media with an agenda....
"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart...
he who looks outside, dreams.
He who looks inside, awakens." ~ Carl Jung
~ Makera
Repetition is required, it seems.
As has become so sadly evident, one can never underestimate the insidious power of repetitive advertising (propaganda) - from a mass-media with an agenda....
"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart...
he who looks outside, dreams.
He who looks inside, awakens." ~ Carl Jung
~ Makera