Revealing Attachments

C.,

First, I want to apologize if it seemed to you that I was criticizing you or O.  personally.

The only way that I know of to help myself and others see where the ego is invested, is to see where there is attachment. The only way I know of to effectively reveal "attachment"  is to challenge. Now, what am I challenging?  Am I challenging one's concept of truth, or one's beliefs, or some theory, or even the person them self?

The fact is that I am NOT.

What I am really challenging when I challenge another's statements, is one's attachments to those statements, not the statements themselves. However, if one is identified with those concepts, then they could easily interpret this challenge as an attack. A stern test of one's discrimination for sure!

Perhaps a better response to another's statement of understanding of truth should be: "are you attached to that statement or concept?" But of course that would be too obvious :-). Unfortunately the most effective means of discovering attachment is to apply some Mars energy and see what the reaction is.  And the only way to not get burned up by one's own experiment is to not be attached oneself.

As for myself, I like most folks, do wish to be understood, but I am not attached to that desire.  Nor am I really attached to my own previous statements (even though I do believe them to be correct, at least in their intent).

My recent "experience", the result of which you have noticed, is the realization that I AM A FOOL!

Words cannot describe my ecstasy, or my sense of liberation in the acknowledgement of my foolishness.

Now I acknowledge that I am still attached in many places, but in other ways, certain of my attachments have been released by my fess'in up to my own rampant stupidity.

Does this new found flexibility enable me to help others see their attachments as well? Only a Fool would want to find out.

I am that FOOL. (last word)

JC

=====================================================

Regarding the "Dark Night of the Soul", O. writes:

"are you attached to that statement or concept?"

Hey dude, you catch on quick! :-)

No, I am not "attached" to these concepts. Yet as a working hypothesis, the subject, for me, does merit verification. Which is currently ongoing, I can tell you, since I am coming to realize that it is my "attachments", the very purgation of which, is experienced as a darkness.

In other words, those sensual things which used to please have lost their savor.

Yet, I embrace this desolation, because my practice has made me AWARE of my numerous imperfections (attachments) and their need for purgation. But most importantly, I embrace this desolation because I desire Union with the Self more than I want to hold on to past outworn activities, pleasures, desires, and concepts. And yet at times (numerous) I do hold on to the past, and like holding too long onto a lit match, the purgation of these "attachments" is sometimes unpleasant.

=====

If one sees no need for or desire for purification, then I can't argue with that.

At most, I can only attempt to show where an "attachment" may lie (foolish though it may be).

Yet even then, it is our choice whether or not we WANT to LOOK.

And certainly I do respect the choices of others, and shall continue to do so.

God Bless,

JC