James Ford, Roshi, recently wrote a "passing thought" about spiritual practice on his blog, Monkey Mind. Among the aspects of a spiritual practice, Roshi called out three for special attention. I appreciated the clarity of these and thought you might, as well.
1) You need some shut up time. If you're making noise all the time it is hard to pay attention, hard to notice the lessons and the lesson.
2) You need some regularity. Doing it once might open your heart and eyes. Has happened. But most of us need to return and return and return.
3) You need someone to check you. The brain is a great liar. We tell ourselves all sorts of stories about what we need and deserve, only some of which are true. Also along the spiritual way we have lots of experiences. Mostly of limited or actually no value on the way. Someone who has walked the way before you, who you have some trust in, and who is willing to say the hard truth now and again, is worth their weight in gold.
I especially value the third point. My shifty mind frequently nudges my life into the weeds, where I wander around interminably. All too often, I can't find the way out. It's hard to admit, but I need the help of others.
Photo by Hartwig HKD
I wish I could follow the first.
The habit of seating removes the need to think about sitting.
One of Ford's fellow Boundless Way teachers once said to me that today's enlightenment is tomorrows delusion. Boy do I need a teacher.
Posted by: bob | November 30, 2009 at 05:15 AM
Thanks for your comment, Bob. A good teacher can nudge, shove, tease, encourage, or cram us onto the cushion in a way that responds to who we actually are - at that time. What a treasure!
Posted by: Barry Briggs | November 30, 2009 at 07:45 AM
"Today's enlightenment is tomorrow's delusion" - thank you Bob for relaying that!
I am with you both - in need of the help of others, but not always deeply aware of that...
Posted by: Kusa | November 30, 2009 at 08:35 AM
The "reality check" comes up over and over, in so many institutions/arenas/practices of human endeavour. Stay in your house too long, and pretty soon you're alone with a maniac!
Posted by: Suzanne | November 30, 2009 at 10:22 AM
I also like the third point. The mind, being a great liar, can take those experiences and say "HEY, look at this great experience! It means this, and this, and this." and there I am in the weeds again, often looking for the next "meaningful" experience.
Posted by: John Small | November 30, 2009 at 10:40 AM
I relate to what John Small commented above.
When I first came to a teacher, I THOUGHT the value would be that he'd help me get to some experience of clarity and insight and freedom and wonderful feelings and all that. Indeed, having a teacher to show a practice direction and provide encouragement is helpful. Still, I ultimately have to make the effort myself.
The more surprising benefit of a teacher is something else. AFTER I get some flash of clarity or insight or whatever, a teacher has been most helpful in disabusing me of the notion that any experience is worth clinging to... and pointing me back to ordinary everyday mind.
Posted by: Stuart | November 30, 2009 at 11:32 AM