Good morning! Welcome to the DKos Sangha weekly open thread.
This is an open thread for members of the DKos Sangha and others who are interested in discussions concerning how we integrate our progressive political activism into our spiritual practice. If you have observations about the political discourse of the week, or about practice, or about anything else related to walking a spiritual path through the political world, if you wish to share, or if you seek support, or if you simply want to say hello, please do; this space is for you.
If you would like to write a diary for the DKos Sangha, please let me know.
If you care nothing for spiritual practice and only wish to denigrate and disparage, please do so elsewhere, and respect that this is a community diary for the DKos Sangha.
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There is no separate self that does anything.
This is one of the stickiest patterns to dissolve, because it is so engrained within us that we do stuff. There is a pattern of thought that creates the illusion that we write diaries, plan our day, drive to town, and make decisions. The making decisions is an especially tough one, because making decisions can sometimes cause stress, doubt, confusion, the desire to put off the decision; ie dis-ease, dissatisfaction with our present experience, suffering, duhkha.
The most basic Buddhist teaching is the Four Noble Truths, and this teaching is reflected in Advaita and many other spiritual traditions. Briefly, this teaching makes four points; first is the existence of suffering; second is the causes of that suffering; third is that, as its causes are known, suffering can be relieved; and fourth, there is a path, or dharma, that can lead us to the alleviation of suffering.
Here, suffering is a broad term that includes all types of dissatisfaction, or dis-ease; and most humans spend a good amount of each day dis-eased. They are annoyed, frustrated, impatient, mad, angry, disappointed, displeased, disillusioned, despondent, etc. The primary cause of much of our suffering is attachment and aversion, our desires for outcomes, our desires to avoid outcomes, our desires for something other than what is happening now. It is the beliefs that if only we had a nicer car, or a better job, or lived in a different house, or had a relationship with a more exciting mate, etc, we would finally be happy. And who is it that wants these things, who is it that has attachments and aversions? Separate egoic self. And what is separate self? A complex, ever-changing, collection of thought patterns. Conditioning.
So, within this idea, this thought, that there is someone who is doing something, lies the cause of our suffering, our dis-ease. Within this idea that there is an "I" that "has to" do something lies the causes of our dissatisfaction. The very phrase "I have to" causes some degree of irritation. I have to work Saturday, I have to wash the dishes, I have to pay the bills.
It's all thought.
Adyashanti used an example that, when he said it, connected with my own experience. Sit on a couch; without there being a doer who does something, this body will eventually get up off the couch. There isn't a requirement for a separate egoic self that makes a decision to get up off the couch.
As part of our practice of watching the mind, of paying attention, being mindful, we'll notice that this is true. And the deeper our awareness grows, the more we notice it; things happen, the universe unfolds.
As we move deeper into awareness, we notice that "decisions" are made when they need to be made, without a "decider". Diaries are written, days are planned; the dishes get washed. We notice that there doesn't need to be an "I", a separate self, that brings with it all of the dis-ease of separateness. Everything just happens; there is a natural harmony within the unfolding when there isn't a separate self to get in the way, to erect walls and barriers and doubts and fear. When there is no separation, everything just is. Within awareness there is clarity and harmony.
There is a trusting in not-knowing; there is no "need" to know the answer. There is patience; there is a gentleness. And there is peace.
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Breathe
Just for a moment
Just rest, for a moment, in the stillness of breathing
There is nothing happening
There is just the stillness of breathing
There is the space within which the breath moves
The space within which everything is perceived
Rest here in this space
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Namaste
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You are welcome to join us each week in our Monday night group meditation here at DKos Sangha. This online group meditation is hosted by Ooooh, and the diary is posted at 7:00 Eastern. So that we are able to be together for as many here at Daily Kos as wish to participate, the meditation period runs from 7:30 to 10:00 Eastern. This group sitting is open to beginners and advanced, and is not restricted to any particular traditions or practices. It is not expected that you sit for the entire period; sit for as long as you like, when you like. The idea is that we are here together; supporting each other, holding space for each other.
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Enjoy your day!
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