Though if a human was to suspend these ideas in their entirety, and to rather cease engagement with all passing thought, all feeling and perception long enough, they will eventually arrive at the crystal-clear realisation there is actually no discrete personality or character existing as a separate self, that is to say, no thinker, feeler or perceiver. Further, in the moment of dwelling within this novel awareness, omnipresent consciousness is seen as all that exists, without doubt, self as this. This is seen with the mind’s eye, a point of view otherwise obscured by the senses.

Summarily, by assuming all is either matter or energy, we inadvertantly shroud the origins of consciousness. Though upon awakening from the illusion of a separate self, there is no problem. Consciousness and the cosmos are inseparable, and we are as emergent yet inextricable parts of the cosmos, like so much as individual windows of the cosmos upon itself.

The problematic situatioon appears to be a consequence of humanity’s curiosity coupled with a reluctance to question the nature of the self. As a survival strategy this makes practical sense, though results in a perpetuation of the confusing arbitration of an inside and outside, when actually there is no such separation.

The assuming of a separate self as the source of consciousness didn’t entirely begin with the institution of Science. Christianity had its phase of banishing Animism, excluding spirit to within the heavens with the Church as the intermediate agent, and thus denying any suggestion the Earth is of any such numinous qualilty. Somewhat ironically, Animism appears closest to reflecting the true nature of the cosmos and our place within it, to all a spiritual essence, though still unconscious, still with a palpable sense of inside and outside, of other, of us and them.

The history of the West may serve as a cautionary tale. In short, assumptions of convenience may result in immeasurable, if not tragic oversight. For whatever reason, the Church mistakenly interpreted the one intelligence or divinity to mean theirs; and through the era of Copernicus, Galileo and Descartes, beliefs of the Church found to be erroneous, for example, the idea the Sun rotates around the Earth, led to not only wholesale rejection of the religious belief system, but rejection of the notion of any inherent intelligence within the cosmos, leaving the mechanistic worldview of matter and energy as the default ideology.

The consequence of such historical developments is a widespread ignorance of the inherent consciousness or awakened intelligence of the cosmos, the planet and its life forms, consequently guiding us along a trajectory of impoverished and destructive relationships amid perceptions of ostensibly non-living, and if living, then non-conscious objects.

#consciousness #science #reductionistmaterialism #philosophy #psychology #zen #spirituality #selfhelp #selfimprovement #website

Staying awake remains priority, complete with the immeasurable love, joy and understanding flowing from this practice. Lifestyle-wise the heart leads - through periods of naive environmental activism, rural retreat management, music production and performance, permaculture site management, festival food stall operations;

and upon returning to the orient:

teaching; then

guiding forest food-gathering,
in co-operation with locals, appealing to the passing traveler’s genetic memory.

Amid the occidental zeitgeist, Zen appears broadly misunderstood, mistaken for an exotic, esoteric, and harsh discipline. Albeit radical, Zen may be rather a simple and beauty-full practice of revealing true self. The practice is best initially accustomed through embodiment in the physical company of a mentor's example, as it is a lifestyle practice which in the process rediscovers original, unfettered, unlimited mind.

Sharing knowledge of this practice of awakening comes naturally. I am now in the early stages of developing a rural retreat for this purpose.

Here on nostr there is the opportunity for inspiration and guidance to be usefully exchanged. Of course, feel free to contact me, and I will do the same. I am here as a willing participant amid this wonderful, confused planetary community.

#introduction #website #zen #japaneseculture