Today I discovered a word that describes perfectly how I feel about my relationship to the universe these days; it's pronoia, the opposite of paranoia. I don't feel that the world is not out to get me, but rather the opposite. The world wants to give me every kind of love and support.
But maybe it's not that the universe is actively trying to help me, but that I've learned to work with its nature rather than against it. It's like I know better which levers activate which effects, which feels like the universe is more consistent in rewarding me. It's the same effect, I just choose to ascribe a logical mechanic to it's cause, rather than a purely magical or religious one.
Who knows?
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Ox Herding
I originally posted this on my other blog about Buddhism and Meditation, but because it's quite personal and a bit weird, I don't think it's quite appropriate there. But I do like it a lot, so I'm publishing it here instead. Also, I may have got it completely wrong!
The Ten Ox herding Pictures are a series of drawings that represent the stages of the spiritual journey.
You can see them here.
One of the reasons I made this blog is because of the terrific struggle I had with stages 1 to 4. I figured maybe I could help to propel others through these early struggles. But hey, maybe you have to struggle, I don't know. If someone just handed me enlightenment on a plate would it be worth anything? My struggle could have been worse, and maybe has been, if you subscribe to certain Buddhist sects ideas about reincarnation. Maybe I've struggled through many, many lifetimes to even catch a glimpse of ox droppings.
But anyway, now that I've got the ox tied up in my basement, I can perform weird sex acts upon it at any time of my choosing. Just kidding.
Here's my interpretation of 6 of the 10 stages of the Ox Herding Pictures.
1. Wandering about like a twat.
This is having no clue about anything. You're wandering around, maybe doing crazy shit, getting into trouble. You suffer, because you are without wisdom, and you were bought up thinking that suffering is necessary and normal.
2. Getting a glimpse of the tracks of the Ox
You hear or read some part of the wisdom of the Buddha. You feel a flash of truth; you think there may be something to this Buddhism stuff! You can go two ways from here, back into the wilderness to wander in despair and fruitless searching for something else; or on to stage three. I think that I went wandering then came back to the tracks, and then wandered again. But I kept coming back to the tracks, and I'm glad that I did. At times, maybe I still am wandering away for short periods.
3. Catching sight of the Ox
You've seen the hindquarters of the Ox and you find it very attractive... I might rephrase that sometime. Maybe this is analogous to understanding a little of the Dharma, and feeling it's truth more fully. Now you want to get after that Ox, as it seems like the only thing worth following.
4. Catching the Ox
Okay, so now you've got the rope out, and you're lassooing that Ox. Luckily this is a metaphor, or I'd be upset, cos I don't like the idea of domesticating animals, and keeping them in bondage. What this means is that you're beginning to practice, taming your mind... trying the practices, following the Eightfold path. You might struggle, you might stumble and fall. Maybe the Ox gores you, or tramples you a little. But you probably survive.
5. Taming the Ox
You're getting into the groove; establishing a regular practice. You got a good concentration practice going, and your morality is more together. Your relationships seem to take less work; you have less fights, and arguments. You might have had some insights and the practice is paying off. You are more relaxed, with more focus. Things are starting to get easier. But don't slack off now!
6. Riding the Ox home
Okay, this is where I start to get fuzzy, because I think I'm in this territory, still mapping it.
7. I'm going to write more about this after I've gotten here for real
TBC...
I apologise for the idiosyncratic nature of this post... I'll be right back to dry and boring as soon as I'm able.
No moo-moos were hurt in the making of this blog post.
addendum: I was just reading some bad self help book, and it was talking about The Heroes Journey, AKA the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monomyth]Monomyth[url/] and it struck me how similar the two paths are.
The Ten Ox herding Pictures are a series of drawings that represent the stages of the spiritual journey.
You can see them here.
One of the reasons I made this blog is because of the terrific struggle I had with stages 1 to 4. I figured maybe I could help to propel others through these early struggles. But hey, maybe you have to struggle, I don't know. If someone just handed me enlightenment on a plate would it be worth anything? My struggle could have been worse, and maybe has been, if you subscribe to certain Buddhist sects ideas about reincarnation. Maybe I've struggled through many, many lifetimes to even catch a glimpse of ox droppings.
But anyway, now that I've got the ox tied up in my basement, I can perform weird sex acts upon it at any time of my choosing. Just kidding.
Here's my interpretation of 6 of the 10 stages of the Ox Herding Pictures.
1. Wandering about like a twat.
This is having no clue about anything. You're wandering around, maybe doing crazy shit, getting into trouble. You suffer, because you are without wisdom, and you were bought up thinking that suffering is necessary and normal.
2. Getting a glimpse of the tracks of the Ox
You hear or read some part of the wisdom of the Buddha. You feel a flash of truth; you think there may be something to this Buddhism stuff! You can go two ways from here, back into the wilderness to wander in despair and fruitless searching for something else; or on to stage three. I think that I went wandering then came back to the tracks, and then wandered again. But I kept coming back to the tracks, and I'm glad that I did. At times, maybe I still am wandering away for short periods.
3. Catching sight of the Ox
You've seen the hindquarters of the Ox and you find it very attractive... I might rephrase that sometime. Maybe this is analogous to understanding a little of the Dharma, and feeling it's truth more fully. Now you want to get after that Ox, as it seems like the only thing worth following.
4. Catching the Ox
Okay, so now you've got the rope out, and you're lassooing that Ox. Luckily this is a metaphor, or I'd be upset, cos I don't like the idea of domesticating animals, and keeping them in bondage. What this means is that you're beginning to practice, taming your mind... trying the practices, following the Eightfold path. You might struggle, you might stumble and fall. Maybe the Ox gores you, or tramples you a little. But you probably survive.
5. Taming the Ox
You're getting into the groove; establishing a regular practice. You got a good concentration practice going, and your morality is more together. Your relationships seem to take less work; you have less fights, and arguments. You might have had some insights and the practice is paying off. You are more relaxed, with more focus. Things are starting to get easier. But don't slack off now!
6. Riding the Ox home
Okay, this is where I start to get fuzzy, because I think I'm in this territory, still mapping it.
7. I'm going to write more about this after I've gotten here for real
TBC...
I apologise for the idiosyncratic nature of this post... I'll be right back to dry and boring as soon as I'm able.
No moo-moos were hurt in the making of this blog post.
addendum: I was just reading some bad self help book, and it was talking about The Heroes Journey, AKA the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monomyth]Monomyth[url/] and it struck me how similar the two paths are.
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