8/10 - Pushing for Enlightenment Experiences p.35

[paige]

he seems to teach different styles of sitting ... "silent illumination", "Koans", mantra, observing the breath, to different students based on his view of their needs.

That sounds familiar! I quite appreciate that approach - though there are potential pitfalls to placing so much trust in your teacher's judgement on "what's good for you." I think I'd otherwise be tempted to experiment with just about any "flavour of the month" technique... especially when I feel that I'm encountering a roadblock to my practice (or just laziness/ resistance). Which I think would put me into "chasing two rabbits and catching none" territory.

I've heard of Dharma Drum, but they don't have any outposts in my neck of the woods, so I've never visited any of their centres. My current city of residence hasn't much choice of temples. I would have preferred to stay with my "first home" of Soto Zen, but the Ch'an temple is becoming quite a positive experience for me, despite the quirks and mysticism and the obvious influence of Chinese folk religions.

[Gregor]

I'm just finishing the chapter now, I apologize for being so behind the schedule, I did not bring the book with me to Maine!

Well the discussion here has been quite the education, I don't think I am up to the task to contributing much to it. But, thanks to everyone who left comments, I really get a lot out of reading them.

In this Chapter Joko talks about the Ox herding pictures, I like what she had to say about how we move back and forth from levels of "enlightenment" all the time. The whole matter is not simply a progression of moving forward at all is it? I know that personally this had been a tough week, I've been pretty grouchy, run down, and undisciplined --- but, that's okay, this moment is a new moment and has its own set of possibilities.

gassho,

Greg