I think a lot about--as we've discussed before--the dialectic of striving and letting go, and when one or the other is appropriate, in practical living and in theoretical, theological spheres. To take anxiety as a practical example, sometimes a lingering anxiety is best resolved by letting go, but sometimes it is best solved by doing something (catch me at the function like, "Oh, how am I doing? Well, there's five things I can see...four I can touch..."). To take a theological example, do we succeed in being like Christ when we strive to imitate him? When we let go and let grace fill in the gaps? Or is it a bit of both? And I'm glad you quoted the koan, "If you see the Buddha, kill the Buddha." It's one of my favorites. Also! As for the symposium speech, you did really fantastic, so good on you, man. Public speaking is frightening, and it is not a fear I'm planning on overcoming, spiritual epiphany or not...so cheers for that! And having a good deal of experience meditating, you are right about the mistakes coming from considering them mistakes...trying to control them. Some great analysis, Sam, pleasure to read.
Thank you Nicholas! Fortunately I felt a bit more at ease for the most recent Symposium, as this moment of revelation was the year before. But until then it really was squeaky voices and red faces. And yes, you're quite right. Upaya in relation to our anxiety is doing whatsoever (whether action or non-action) best helps our psychology realise that it is not under threat, that it is safe in Being's embrace, and that all dualisms are really 'Just Gaming', to use Lyotard's term.
I think a lot about--as we've discussed before--the dialectic of striving and letting go, and when one or the other is appropriate, in practical living and in theoretical, theological spheres. To take anxiety as a practical example, sometimes a lingering anxiety is best resolved by letting go, but sometimes it is best solved by doing something (catch me at the function like, "Oh, how am I doing? Well, there's five things I can see...four I can touch..."). To take a theological example, do we succeed in being like Christ when we strive to imitate him? When we let go and let grace fill in the gaps? Or is it a bit of both? And I'm glad you quoted the koan, "If you see the Buddha, kill the Buddha." It's one of my favorites. Also! As for the symposium speech, you did really fantastic, so good on you, man. Public speaking is frightening, and it is not a fear I'm planning on overcoming, spiritual epiphany or not...so cheers for that! And having a good deal of experience meditating, you are right about the mistakes coming from considering them mistakes...trying to control them. Some great analysis, Sam, pleasure to read.
Thank you Nicholas! Fortunately I felt a bit more at ease for the most recent Symposium, as this moment of revelation was the year before. But until then it really was squeaky voices and red faces. And yes, you're quite right. Upaya in relation to our anxiety is doing whatsoever (whether action or non-action) best helps our psychology realise that it is not under threat, that it is safe in Being's embrace, and that all dualisms are really 'Just Gaming', to use Lyotard's term.