Transformative power of development: Feedback 2/3

After indulging in a somewhat exaggerated critique of the introductory section, I can now move on into the part which feels very much like something I would enjoy writing, on a good day at least. So, let's move to the second part of Julian Walker's article on transformation. This section is called „Interior Depth“.

The mystery of the inner world becomes available in a way that was simply not possible when we were unwittingly projecting it outward. The magic of the outer world becomes available in a way that was not possible when we were seeing it as a narcissistic extension of ourselves. The sacredness of the real world becomes more apparent in a way that was not possible when we were seeking a different world, a magical world, an otherworldly god, a fantasy dimension of all-good, all-powerful perfection in which to disappear.

This is true, and extremely important. Our critical faculties and the capacity to employ rational in a systematic inquiry is crucial in this step. The naive „I create my reality“ syndrome so prevalent in today's spiritual scene isn't a product of authentic magical thought, in any of its potent expressions, Eastern or Western, but of rampant narcissism made possible by an almost systemic collapse of 20th century intellectual and ethical frameworks holding our reality from falling apart, followed by an erosion of our academic and public-discourse standards. Religious institutions were proven unreliable, and commodification plus bastardization of spirituality was a natural consequence. At the same time, however, an unprecedented situation emerged in that previously esoteric techniques and arcane knowledge have become available to virtually everyone everywhere, and soon could be claimed by anyone anywhere. Specifically, spiritual paths have been presented for the last 40 years in a context of market-inspired offerings, where surfing on the smorgasbord of multiple options everyone is given to choose something that expresses their unique selves, which in the vast majority of cases means expressing their not-so-unique egos (*the eclectic result makes a faithful psychospiritual profile, a portrait and caricature at once, depending from the vantage point). Checks and balances are absent, so anything goes. Teachings have become mere techniques. Arduous initiation has become 1-day workshop at best. Purification of awareness has become a 10-minute guided meditation. But the problem is not in mere quantity. Relaxing the edge has gone too far to completely annihilate the critical faculties of a deeply desacralized eclectic mindset. No rapport, no challenge, no confrontation: "renowned teachers" have become "bestselling authors", somewhat like mail-order brides.

But in order to discover a more genuine sacredness, without „seeking a different world“, a robust existential rationality must be coupled a genuine search for truth beyond one's contractions. Indeed, if spiritual culture becomes/remains just a vestige, a cross-dressing for an inflated affection of magical vulnerability, there's no hope something as „sacredness“ will ever be available. Instead, it will be avoided. In such case, la-la-land of wishcraft remains a promising option. And therapy, of course.

There is no going back. Suffering is real. Injustice has no pleasing metaphysical explanation. Death will happen. And yet life is magnificent, mysterious, complex, beautiful in equal measure to its tragedy, meaninglessness, and cruelty.

Beautiful! No... Going... Back! Key phrase: injustice has no pleasing metaphysical explanation. But most of even serious practitioners remain deaf to this crucial insight, quoting dharma-phrases to defend from what they won't acknowledge. Disenchantment is the key to real magic. Thank you, Julian. What follows is rather straightforward and brilliant in its simplicity.

In fact, it is in the very contrast between evil and nobility, callousness and sensitivity, mediocrity and brilliance, oppression and freedom, that the exquisite fragility and power of the human spirit reveals itself.

Striving. Growing. Being humbled by reality in its harshness. Having no choice but to bow before truth. Fighting for what is good. Being blown open by Beauty.

The interior origin of art, myth, dreams and meaning becomes apparent in all of its splendor and chaos. The activity of a mind that seeks to represent, express, understand, symbolize the dynamics and forces we intuit at play, underlying, inter-weaving the reality we perceive.

We are ready for the leap to the next stage, but only in so far as we have really completed this intense transition and begin to engage the practices that will make transrational meaningful.

Unlike the revolutionary overhaul that occurred from prerational to rational, transrational will not negate rational, rather it will build and expand upon it's solid foundation - it's accurate purchase on inner and outer reality via a deepening relationship to contemplative practice, mind-body integration, intuitive intelligence and even more rigorous dedication to truth, beauty and goodness.

I tend to be less optimistic about rational, in and of itself, serving as "solid foundation" for transrational or even postrational, since they expose inherent limitations and shadows of a rational platform - as to solid foundation, I would opt for a reflective, evolutionary impulse of soulful authenticity - still, perhaps I can go along with this formulation. Specifically, if we really want to grow, not just individually, but also create an authentic spiritual culture as we go, we must move away from morbid vestiges of magical thinking. At this point in our culture, and probably equally in the East, it's much more important to develop a mature existential culture, than relaxing our angst through meditation, or devotion to an idealized tradition/guru/channeled wisdom/whatever. Depending on a variety of motivational factors, meditative techniques can be used for better or worse, like any other artifact - even to truncate development. In fact, meditation mustn't be treated as spiritual viagra. Growing as humans and patiently ripening the growing discomfort of clarity in confronting our dilemma is the real wishfulfilling jewel at this point. The great bliss is the flip side of the way things are now. Meanwhile, catering to the lowest common denominator in the spiritual showbiz, the vulgarity of many offerings is rather appalling.

But this is a difficult passageway - not attempted by many. There are two powerful pulls - one is to remain in the rational realm of what has simple location, what can be expressed in an equation - the other is to want to regress to childhood magic and myth. Both serve a similar purpose - but with different variations.

Remaining in narrow rationalism is often a defensive reaction against having to acknowledge feelings, vulnerability and the non-rational power of creativity, intuition, embodied, experience, love, intimacy, soul-rockin' sex - in short, experience that the ego cannot pretend control over...

This rejects the classic mundane maneuver, shallow and hollow as it is.

Regressing into the previous fascination with literalized magic and myth is often a defense both against personal suffering but also against facing the reality of collective suffering and injustice and taking responsibility for living in the real world on its own terms.

This refutes the actual manifesto of pop-spirituality.

Both strategies are based in a fear of or inability to enter the next stage of growth - i think about this in terms of two variables: trauma and resources. If one has sufficient resources (love, self-esteem, intelligence, education, support etc..) and has either a) a small amount of trauma, or b) has done a lot of interior work to heal and resolve trauma - we are better prepared to move into the genuinely transrational stages of development.

The simple equation here is that the more disadvantageous the trauma/resource ratio is and the greater the concomitant gulf between critical thinking and spiritual longing, the more likely one will be to misperceive a regression to childhood magic and myth as the next stage of development beyond rational.

Good stuff here. A lot of substance. And next, to my favorite, the third section.

> next installment here

Masculine/Feminine

You Are 45% Feminine, 55% Masculine

You are in touch with both your feminine and masculine sides. You're sensitive at the right times, but you don't let your emotions overwhelm you. You're not a eunuch, just the best of both genders.

Are You Masculine or Feminine?

It's comforting to know I'm not a eunuch.:-) Yes, the test is extremely vague. Thanks to WH for heads up. Also, see this post at his blog on Crying Men.

Zen monk Warner's Big Mouth

"...Graham Barlow kindly pointed out that ads for Gempo Roshi's Big Scam, Big Mind® have been appearing on this site in the little ads Google puts there. At first I thought I'd complain. But actually it amuses me that a few pennies of the massive loads of dough that charlatan rakes in with his fucked up fake Zen nonsense is going to me. Thanks for the pennies Gempo, you useless piece of shit. Gimme a ride on your motorcycle sometime.

As I've said, anyone who goes for Big Mind® gets what they deserve. Think you can get instant Enlightenment for a hundred fifty smackers? Go for it. And those of you who harp on me for harping on it all the time, make sure Gempo pays you for that. OK?..."

Brad Warner is at it again. Drawing attention while getting desperate must be working great for him, because he just can't stay away from "Gempo" and "his" Big Mind. Can someone put a muzzle on his Big Mouth?

Secret Encore

Stuart Davis has writen a post on "The Secret". If you haven't had enough of this subject, please have a look at his reflections. link

NOTE: while I agree with most arguments given by Stuart and Julian on their blogs, I believe there's an even more fundamental point to be made - namely, the "secret" - that is, the law of attraction, however acceptably interpreted - was never really secret in any meaningful way. In various forms, "the secret" was the prevailing worldview of premodern civilisations. There are the exoteric lineages of (1) magical belief, according to which thoughts and intentions indeed produce tangible results - hence curses and blessings - and of (2) mythical belief, according to which thoughts and desires are rewarded and punished according to the Law. Now, the modern rational belief limits the power of thoughts and desires/intentions, recognizing their power to influence one's own actions and reinforce one's beliefs. Furthermore, the discovery of the unconscious (first half of 20th century) plus structuralist and constructivist findings (second half of 20th century) make all these beliefs simple and partial, not to say illusory and absurd. In addition, there are lineages of authentic mysticism, past and present, according to which, generally speaking, your own separate self-sense is just a thought anyway. The real mystery being the Source of your self, because that is the Source of the whole world as well. In short, the secret was never a simple secret to begin with, the title itself being dangerously misleading. Again, what is presented as an arcane mystery is nothing of sorts, and moreover, even that is presented in a distorted fashion, so as to make the whole subject ridiculous. And ridiculous it would be, if it didn't capture so much attention coupled with uncritical acceptance.

The trick question for Buddhists: given that all statements in "The Secret" are thin ice, how do you interpret the famous dictum of Dhammapada, "All things are preceded by the mind, led by the mind, created by the mind"? Beware, what you interpret becomes your reality!