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(Core Wisdom's real value is realized not by intellectual or conceptual understanding, but by living the principles and practices in daily life. To "walk your talk" is to be a "practical mystic" in action. Allen R. was a participant in the February 2008 Core Wisdom Mastery Class in Tiburon, CA. Five weeks after the class, he sent me an email about observations and insights he had as he consciously applied the Core Wisdom principles each day. On April 19th, Allen sent a second email update. Read together, his emails illuminate the potent way in which, over a period of two months, Allen's intention to live from his true nature and inner wisdom continued to deepen, unfold and manifest naturally in his life. The following are Allen's two updates. -- Hal)
Update from Allen R., March, 2008: "Two Key Understandings"
It has been five weeks since the February Mastery class, and the process has been to repeat to myself the material that was presented many times, in order to learn what little I know. To practice, through meditation and dissolving, the first steps along the path. The intellectual understanding is part of this process, for with that comes the ability to initiate control of a mind most often lost in thought.
Two key understandings which Core Wisdom has made clear are:
1. Our conditioned minds block the flow of energy, the flow of life
2. Belief and faith in the truth are not enough; realization of the Truth is incomparably more important, and that takes practice, not just thinking.
Core Wisdom has turned the searchlight of my thought onto the nature, process and origins of my thinking. The meditations and processes employed by Core Wisdom offer a practical, less esoteric approach to the understanding of what freedom can mean. The challenge has been to begin and to continue with this practice. It recalls my early studies of Buddhism, which were tied up by the language of paradox, and now seem so much more straightforward.
At times, my mind can only stand so much, and then I set upon my creative outlets as a kind of relief and joy. There is a lot of inertia to overcome, a kind of constant vigilance to stay with this. It is not the standard groove, and must be recalled again and again.
Thank you for your work.
Allen R., Ashland, OR
Update from Allen R., April 19, 2008: "The Sound of One Dog Barking"
We have a five-year-old Labrador/poodle named Cooper. He's a great dog, born with a super disposition, a demeanor encouraged with kindness and attention. As a result, Cooper is playful, athletic, friendly, gentle, and affectionate. My wife has trained him to serve as a therapy dog, and he is taken to visit people in hospital and in assisted living facilities�his instincts are fully intact, especially his sense of smell, and his perception of things being out of the ordinary. He's protective of his environment, but not overly so.
From time to time, and without notice, Cooper will display bouts of sudden reaction to certain events, such as people walking their pets in the neighborhood, or nocturnal animals roaming in proximity to the house, especially skunks. Late in the evening, my wife and I will be reading, or watching a film, and from what appears to be a dead sleep, Cooper will spring from his spot near the hearth, and erupt in a fit of barking. In the past, this abruptly loud reaction to something we were not aware of, was jarring, disruptive, and disturbed our otherwise peaceful rituals. We would react, our hearts would race, and we would shout at Cooper, commanding him to 'knock it off!' This behavior was most affecting when it occurred at 4:00 am, being awakened from a dead sleep.
A deep sleep episode occurred the other night. Again, it was not anticipated, but instead of effecting a reaction of being disturbed, I just lay there, listening. It went like this:
ERR-WRUFF! WRUFF!WRUFF!WRUFF!WRUFF!WRUFF!!
WRUFF! WRUFF! WRUFF!
ERR�WRUFF!
HUFF, HUFF�
WRUFF!WRUFF!WRUFF!WRUFF!WRUFF!!
ERR-WRUFF! WRUFF! WRUFF!
HufF�hufF.
Er..wr-uff.
Huf�huf.
Errrrrr..
Huff, woff, err�
Hahh, snuff!
And with a last exhalation of air, there again, was silence. I lay there, the experience over. There had been silence. There had been barking. There was silence again. I was aware of each bark, the number of barks, the cadence of the barks, the notes of silence in between each bark, also the sighs, the huffs, the rhythmic flow, and the finale, a snort of assertion.
As I lay there, I thought, "How interesting!" I was just aware of the sound. I did not associate or attach any preconceived ideas or ideals about the sound. I just listened, and the experience, the lesson, was over.
How often in my life do I react with previously stored responses, conditioned to ignore what is actually happening at the time, and replacing the experience with what should or ought to be, and in the process substituting an old memory, missing what actually is?
It does not have to be the sound of one dog barking. It could be my wife, my children, a friend, or a complete stranger, my own body, emotions, words, etc., etc. What is being aware? It is all of that. Listening. Being unattached. Having the wonder of experience, the unique moment of now.
Fairly, having spent several weeks beforehand processing and dissolving, I was ready for this experience. And it taught me, in a singular simple moment, the power and meaning of being present to what is so. The sound of one dog barking.
Namaste,
Allen R., Ashland, OR
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