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Integral Life Practice - Big Mind Meditation

Posted August 16th, 2009 by sdcaulley in Integral Life Practice

My husband and I started watching the Big Mind Meditation dvd that came with the Integral Life Practice Kit. And we both were stopped at the same point, for same reason, “How can I be the Way?”. The Way is to be followed, it is outside of ourselves. How can it be inside as well? And if I is inside, how can I follow it? This, for me is a matter that I will have to sit with.

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On the arbitrariness of inside and outside. . .

Posted August 17th, 2009 by Charles Bowling

 

Hi SD, (it's not clear how to address you properly. . .)
 
The general idea in Genpo Roshi's brilliant and innovative Big Mind process is to give voice to various parts of the human experience, both transcendent and not.
 
He is marvelously facile at recognizing and skillfully dealing with inquiries from folks who are seemingly 'stuck' at one point or another in the process. So you and your husband can rest easy in the sense that you have a lot of company.
 
However when it comes to the question, "How can I be the Way?" Much of the answer depends on which voice it is that speaks. A dualistic voice might well stumble over this question; where a transcendent (non-dualistic ) voice could easily see it as a piece of cake. If forced to speak it might well say, "How can I not be the Way!"
 
This is because from a transcendent (non-dualistic) point of view inside and outside are not quite irrelevant but are more akin to being arbitrary.
 
I am not a Christian so i cannot speak of these things with much authority, but it seems to me that what the Nazarene meant when he was reported to have said, "I am the Way!" is exactly what he was referring to. Or to put this in other terms, it's part of the human birthright to transcend (and yet include) dualities by direct experience.
 
This may initially be difficult to accept (mostly because of issues that have to do with what is called the Golden Shadow); meanwhile, it may prove valuable to continue with the Big Mind process. Most every Sunday, Roshi has a live or video Internet presentation at Big Mind TV. The price is right. It's free!
 
Warmly,
Charles
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