entries from yesterday, literally

[triskell]

11:44 AM 01/20/2007

Some Self reflective crap about the current state of my writing:
(If you're the sort of person who doesn't like this sort of topic then either skip to the next entry, or imagine whatever it is you like to think about while going through the motions of reading the following. Don't worry. I do it too.)

Hah! I remembered the old

Comments

[thymeenough]

I find inserting modern skepticism into everything tedious myself. Why bother with the trappings of change when you've no intention of experiencing it? :P

Real retreats just don't fit well with the Middle Class way. The Path of Career Ambition and Accumulation doesn't have a space for it. I ended a two year retreat this summer, and it fascinates me to learn how the people around me interpret my actions.

Effigies! Something of theirs must have gotten out of Chicago. :D

[triskell]

I am sure that Effigies albums could be found either online or in used-record shops. I know they did tour the country a bit.

I agree with your statement about skepticism. I think that having questions is necessary as a tool for more understanding, but it's not an end in itself. Being open means being open to the fact that doubt may simply be unwillingness to open.

Two year retreat? Wow! If you tell me more, I'd be interested.

The longest I have been blessed with was three weeks. But I make up for that by weekly meditation small retreats and other practices. I would've liked to go on the traditional 3 year retreat myself, but I have had no opportunity and thus must use other methods to get to the same goal. (Or that's what I tell myself.)

The Middle Class Way proponents always quote the Kalama Sutta out of context to justify themselves, and I think that is wrong.

*chuckle* This gets really wordy.

[thymeenough]

Short version

Re: *chuckle* This gets really wordy.

[triskell]

That's interesting. I have yet to find any books that deal with post-retreat scenarios. Though I think you don't need those.

I think Americans and other Western Buddhists exaggerate the importance of the Kalama sutra and take it way out of context. It's almost as if people would rather the dharma be something to fit into their busy lives, as opposed to learning that the busy lives may be what's hurting them. I dunno, but that's my inkling.

You seem to have some experience that many others can;t imagine. That's good. You ever thought about teaching others?