Comments on: Appearance #2

By: Davidya

Davidya — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:22:36 +0000

I have access to some teachers here but also find the ‘net very useful. There are simply ideas and experiences that I would not have otherwise heard. The smaller voices that still offer great value.

As for people being a lot further down the path, you may be surprised how short the path really is. (laughs) It simply takes some time to work our way along because of the vistas.

The mind likes to place things on a spectrum, compare positions, but really there are none. Someone always seems to be ahead and someone else behind. But we’re talking relative to something omnipresent, so the sense of before and after arises only from where we’re standing. Move over a bit and the view changes.

By: Shadowduck

Shadowduck — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 11:45:11 +0000

The internet in general has certainly been a huge help to me in gaining some understanding. It’s imperfect, but for those of us who don’t have access to a teacher in “real life” it’s a fantastic resource. Having the opportunity to read the thoughts of people a lot further down the path than I, and ask them questions when I can’t follow, has made all the difference and I’m very grateful for it – and for those contributing to it of course! #8-)

By: Davidya

Davidya — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 05:27:37 +0000

Is a blog a poor place to discuss such ideas? In some ways as a good discussion needs time to go deep. There is a tendency to be superficial on the net. Some of my longer posts have had the least feedback, a little 2 deep. (laughs) But blogs remain a great way to share ideas and start the discussion, get people thinking. You can see how it leads bloggers into further posts.

By: Davidya

Davidya — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 05:24:47 +0000

You got it – words fail as words are symbols for ideas and spirit is beyond all ideas. But each of us has preferences for our local context, kind of like dialects. If you are into a specific system, there is always a specific terminology or use of terms. For example, Gangaji uses the word “ego” far more loosely than others. Probably as she considers concepts a barrier, so she stays general, focused on what is “under” the ideas or feelings.

Some debate as they like the terminology of their system. Others debate as they find one word or another describes the experience better to them. Those are the ones to pay more attention to.

In the end, you’re right – words are all we have. And there’s another reason they can be key. For some people, a certain word or phrase, heard a little differently, is the key that drops the barriers and allows awakening to take place. Then words work magic, in a backwards sort of way.

By: Shadowduck

Shadowduck — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:55:29 +0000

I know I’m not the first to mention this, but the ongoing debates about terminology amaze me… Occasionally, the debate stops for a moment while everyone agrees that no words are really appropriate and they can never be anything more than symbols or pointers – hints to the truth. Then the whole debate starts off again!

I guess words are all we have. In the context of a blog at least; does that mean a blog is an inherently poor place to discuss such things?