Comments on: Mindfulness in Big Sur http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:44:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: abbi http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-14396 abbi Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:25:04 +0000 http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-14396 Great discussion! You've got a good blog going here. Great discussion! You’ve got a good blog going here.

]]> By: Al http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13939 Al Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:13:23 +0000 http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13939 That sounds really bizarre, linus r! Thanks. That sounds really bizarre, linus r! Thanks.

]]> By: Jim and his Karma http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13925 Jim and his Karma Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:20:05 +0000 http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13925 Oh, and one nice benefit of a consistent and rigorous meditation practice is you learn what consciousness is. Hint: it's non-local. Oh, and one nice benefit of a consistent and rigorous meditation practice is you learn what consciousness is. Hint: it’s non-local.

]]> By: nick http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13921 nick Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:32:58 +0000 http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13921 Thanks, Rudy, for the great Big Sur pix and commentary. When I first came to Esalen in the early sixties I was immediately captivated. Here is what humans were meant to do. With all the land masses completely explored and mapped, the final frontier was inside the mind. And that was what Esalen is all about--a no holds barred encounter with the mystery inside us. And when I was given the chance to invite edge explorers to the big E, you, Rudy, were one of the top candidates--Rudy I eat the Mystery of Existence for Breakfast Rucker. I recall one crazed night in the baths when you and I came That Close to breaking thru into another reality. But we missed it. Don't worry. We'll catch the next wave. Recently Jeffrey Kripal has compiled an official history of the Esalen experiment which he sees as a variety of Western Tantra: "Esalen: America and the Religion of No Religion". Worth a look. Thanks, Rudy, for the great Big Sur pix and commentary. When I first came to Esalen in the early sixties I was immediately captivated. Here is what humans were meant to do. With all the land masses completely explored and mapped, the final frontier was inside the mind. And that was what Esalen is all about–a no holds barred encounter with the mystery inside us. And when I was given the chance to invite edge explorers to the big E, you, Rudy, were one of the top candidates–Rudy I eat the Mystery of Existence for Breakfast Rucker. I recall one crazed night in the baths when you and I came That Close to breaking thru into another reality. But we missed it. Don’t worry. We’ll catch the next wave.

Recently Jeffrey Kripal has compiled an official history of the Esalen experiment which he sees as a variety of Western Tantra: “Esalen: America and the Religion of No Religion”. Worth a look.

]]> By: linus r. http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13919 linus r. Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:24:51 +0000 http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13919 I have both books by Suzuki and Rahula.... if you want to hear something really funny.... order on-line the historic Jiddu Krishnamurti dialogue with vague abstruse Tibetian Buddhist scholars with severe foreign accents and perspectives (I believe Walpola Rahula was in this halarious dialogue) if you can just imagine Krishnamurti trying to reason with thousands of years of an arcane lingo and idiom.... I have both books by Suzuki and Rahula…. if you want to hear something really funny…. order on-line the historic Jiddu Krishnamurti dialogue with vague abstruse Tibetian Buddhist scholars with severe foreign accents and perspectives (I believe Walpola Rahula was in this halarious dialogue) if you can just imagine Krishnamurti trying to reason with thousands of years of an arcane lingo and idiom….

]]> By: Tudgedelta http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13900 Tudgedelta Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:15:13 +0000 http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13900 I took an 8-week mindfulness meditation course at, of all places, a former corporate employer's office. My instructor was Charlie Johnson, and he was wonderful, teaching pretty much the same as what you describe. I love the advice about not judging your stray thoughts. Such meanderings would take me off my meditative state, and this advice was like a Homer "doh!" realization for me, except instead of "doh!", it's "oh, that's a stray thought... moving on..." I must admit that I've not kept up an explicit daily meditation routine, but Charlie taught us how to instantly shift into a state of mindfulness, even if it's just for a moment (which is forever)...right here, right now... Anyway, I've not checked your blog in a couple of weeks, and was pleasantly welcomed by this post, accompanied by beautiful pictures. Thanks! I took an 8-week mindfulness meditation course at, of all places, a former corporate employer’s office. My instructor was Charlie Johnson, and he was wonderful, teaching pretty much the same as what you describe. I love the advice about not judging your stray thoughts. Such meanderings would take me off my meditative state, and this advice was like a Homer “doh!” realization for me, except instead of “doh!”, it’s “oh, that’s a stray thought… moving on…”

I must admit that I’ve not kept up an explicit daily meditation routine, but Charlie taught us how to instantly shift into a state of mindfulness, even if it’s just for a moment (which is forever)…right here, right now…

Anyway, I’ve not checked your blog in a couple of weeks, and was pleasantly welcomed by this post, accompanied by beautiful pictures. Thanks!

]]> By: Jim and his Karma http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13867 Jim and his Karma Sun, 23 Mar 2008 15:01:07 +0000 http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13867 “You can focus on the boredom and analyze what underlies it. A feeling of wanting more, anxiety of missing something, desire to be working.” All day long the mind analyzes. We identify with this constant mental output, falsely concluding that it's what we are. Meditation is about temporarily quieting the dynamic analysis and narrative, the grasping and recoiling, so we begin to realize there's actually a deeper, static underpinning, not directly accessible to mind. Meditation is the time for quieting the analysis, not launching new lines of analysis. Self inquiry (the use of mind to get beyond mind) is a fine thing, it's a sort of analysis that can truly help. But it is not meditation. Intentionally flexing one's mind during meditation goes entirely the wrong way. Meditation is about letting go utterly. I share your poor experiences with about learning meditation from books. But do try one more: http://www.amazon.com/Deep-Meditation-Pathway-Personal-Freedom/dp/097646554X It's the most stripped-down, non-ritualistic, de-mythologized, and extraordinarily efficacious meditation technique ever taught. It's part of AYP (Advanced Yoga Practices), a free series of Internet lessons that has given thousands of students what you seek. I've spent 30 years on zen, yoga, and taoist practice, and nothing can compare. If you prefer to surf free before checking out the more in-depth book, the lessons are at http://www.aypsite.org/MainDirectory.html and the meditation lesson is #13 I was a big fan of your writing even before it got popular, Prof. Rucker, and I'd be absolutely delighted if this tip "gives back" a little. Standard disclaimer....I have no financial interest in AYP, and I offer the link to help, not to promote (in fact, if you erase my comment but check out - and benefit from - the teaching, I'd be utterly satisfied). “You can focus on the boredom and analyze what underlies it. A feeling of wanting more, anxiety of missing something, desire to be working.”

All day long the mind analyzes. We identify with this constant mental output, falsely concluding that it’s what we are. Meditation is about temporarily quieting the dynamic analysis and narrative, the grasping and recoiling, so we begin to realize there’s actually a deeper, static underpinning, not directly accessible to mind. Meditation is the time for quieting the analysis, not launching new lines of analysis.

Self inquiry (the use of mind to get beyond mind) is a fine thing, it’s a sort of analysis that can truly help. But it is not meditation. Intentionally flexing one’s mind during meditation goes entirely the wrong way. Meditation is about letting go utterly.

I share your poor experiences with about learning meditation from books. But do try one more: http://www.amazon.com/Deep-Meditation-Pathway-Personal-Freedom/dp/097646554X
It’s the most stripped-down, non-ritualistic, de-mythologized, and extraordinarily efficacious meditation technique ever taught. It’s part of AYP (Advanced Yoga Practices), a free series of Internet lessons that has given thousands of students what you seek. I’ve spent 30 years on zen, yoga, and taoist practice, and nothing can compare. If you prefer to surf free before checking out the more in-depth book, the lessons are at http://www.aypsite.org/MainDirectory.html and the meditation lesson is #13

I was a big fan of your writing even before it got popular, Prof. Rucker, and I’d be absolutely delighted if this tip “gives back” a little.

Standard disclaimer….I have no financial interest in AYP, and I offer the link to help, not to promote (in fact, if you erase my comment but check out - and benefit from - the teaching, I’d be utterly satisfied).

]]> By: Vanderleun http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13860 Vanderleun Sun, 23 Mar 2008 06:26:25 +0000 http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13860 Well, I knew Ram Dass before he was Ram Dass and let me tell you it was chop wood, carry water even in those days. Well, I knew Ram Dass before he was Ram Dass and let me tell you it was chop wood, carry water even in those days.

]]> By: Witt http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13853 Witt Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:04:38 +0000 http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13853 Thank you for the reflections and beautiful pictures. It is almost like being there. Thank you for the reflections and beautiful pictures.
It is almost like being there.

]]> By: Gamma http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13844 Gamma Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:50:42 +0000 http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2008/03/19/mindfulness-in-big-sur/#comment-13844 hey this brought me out of the easter bunny rising up & pinned to flutterbye-bo tree - what next lets invade Tibet & release that old prayer wheel containg the 9 billion names of God - tomorrow as i writ is Good Fridave init good work hey this brought me out of the easter bunny rising up & pinned to flutterbye-bo tree - what next lets invade Tibet & release that old prayer wheel containg the 9 billion names of God - tomorrow as i writ is Good Fridave init

good work

]]>