About that topic of Christianity, —given…
Posted by Eddie on October 27, 2002 at 14:52:33:

In Reply to: Re: When reconciliation lies at hand. posted by Eddie on October 27, 2002 at 10:53:16:

Coach:

>Christianity, and its relative value in life—given that most people by
far who call themselves Christians have no experience with mindfulness
training.

In my estimation one cannot possibly in “any essential respect”, or
essential estimation of the fundamental essential aspect of
Christianity which clearly (essentially) initials to “have became”
Christ like could in even the vaguest sense of the expression exclude
being a “Mindfulness” practitioner. And in my opinion any so-called
training (called by any name) prior to this point holds no absolute
guaranties for the ‘individual’ whatsoever. How ‘we’ love to ‘think’
all our good intentions, and yes even ‘so called’ good ‘work’ or works
make up for, or some how miraculously rise us to a higher state of
consciousness, or being. And yes even with a possibly so-called better
motive we tend to rely on the fallacious head knowledge, or distorted
ideal, or out right misconception of a vastly misunderstood “Essential”
principle called “God Grace”. Granted our ‘Work’ along the line
of “True Knowledge”, and of the work toward the application to our
understanding of this “New” knowledge, (new to our fix ways of
thinking/personality) and thus to our living existence here in the
organic experiment we call ‘life’ individually, ‘we’ do have the
potential possibility to rise to this Higher State of consciousness.

>We can see that you seemed to be somewhat stung by it, at least. Do
you agree?

No Coach, I simply meant what I said, that the topic with Christianity
had not been to my estimation the crux of my intention there. But
simply a very emotional part of my life experiences that I had only
been using as an example there to be trying to communicate my
perception of an aspect of your personality that “I think” I have
(occasionally) perceived to be getting in the way of your own essential
strengths. And I have allowed this emotion to be expressed in the above
paragraph here again now, not so much for the point of the Christianity
issue. But in hopes that it might become clearer to what aspect of your
personality I had been trying to hold a mirror up to you for. And this
brings up another point: I do realize and I have not very clearly
anyway expressed yet (Although I did try the other day when I said I
was in no way at your level of mindfulness.), that the main problem in
my trying to get this point across to you lies in the fact that I am
not to the level of your experienced Mindfulness practice so as to do
so. So in my last ditch effort here I will simply quote a story from
the writings of one that is at that level.

THIRD YEAR STUDIES
One of the prominent Sufis of Central Asia was examining candidates who
wanted to become disciples.
“Anyone he said, “who wants entertainment, not learning, who
wishes to argue, not study, who is impatient, who wants to take rather
than to give –should raise his hand.”
Nobody moved. “Very good” said the teacher, “now you will come
and see some of my pupils, who have been with me for three years.”
He led them into a meditation-hall, where a row of people were
sitting. Addressing them, he said: “Let those who wish to be
entertained, not to learn, who are impatient and want to argue, the
takers and not givers –let them stand up.”
The whole row of disciples got to their feet.
The sage addressed the first group. “In your own eyes, you are
better people now than you would be in three years’ time if you stayed
here. Your present vanity helps you even to feel worthy. So reflect
well, as you return to your homes, before coming here again at some
future time if you wish, whether you want to feel better than you are
or worse than the world thinks you to be.”
A Veiled Gazelle
Idries Shah

Eddie

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