Comments on: Do You Have to Crawl Throught the Desert to get Enlightened? http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/ Practical inspiration. For a happier life Wed, 16 May 2012 19:20:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Trent M. http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-6211 Trent M. Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:04:47 +0000 http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-6211 Another though-provoking article. I believe that we can become wise and grow spiritually on our own, but we have to take the steps for ourselves. For someone who has "crawled through the desert", they reach understanding or enlightenment because they are forced to be stuck in a situation. They are not bombarded with the distractions of every day life as we are. They are stripped of these obstacles. But for us, who have normal lives, it is up to US to "put ourselves in that desert". Ignore the distractions and motivate ourselves to just keep going. Another though-provoking article.
I believe that we can become wise and grow spiritually on our own, but we have to take the steps for ourselves.
For someone who has “crawled through the desert”, they reach understanding or enlightenment because they are forced to be stuck in a situation.
They are not bombarded with the distractions of every day life as we are. They are stripped of these obstacles.
But for us, who have normal lives, it is up to US to “put ourselves in that desert”.
Ignore the distractions and motivate ourselves to just keep going.

]]> By: Jonathan http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-3306 Jonathan Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:11:37 +0000 http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-3306 I think crawling through the desert is very powerful. If you are disciplined enough to achieve enlightenment sitting by your computer, great. But the desert humbles the ego, it strips away civilization, it leaves you naked with yourself, unbound and ownerless, open and vulnerable. It rids you of material worries and confronts you so that you have to grow. I think crawling through the desert is very powerful. If you are disciplined enough to achieve enlightenment sitting by your computer, great. But the desert humbles the ego, it strips away civilization, it leaves you naked with yourself, unbound and ownerless, open and vulnerable. It rids you of material worries and confronts you so that you have to grow.

]]> By: Sui un http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-342 Sui un Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:51:54 +0000 http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-342 Mary........Very good......very helpful. I have found that it is as Dogen tells us, that it is as close as the ground that we walk on or the air that we breathe. Please tell us about yourself. Is it possible to meet you and perhaps sit together. Where do you live, lineage etc. Thanks....gassho. Sui un Mary……..Very good……very helpful. I have found that it is as Dogen tells us, that it is as close as the ground that we walk on or the air that we breathe.
Please tell us about yourself. Is it possible to meet you and perhaps sit together.
Where do you live, lineage etc.
Thanks….gassho.
Sui un

]]> By: Mary Jaksch http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-296 Mary Jaksch Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:31:38 +0000 http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-296 @Jardar Welcome to GoodlifeZen, Jardar! @Jardar
Welcome to GoodlifeZen, Jardar!

]]> By: Jardar Nygård http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-295 Jardar Nygård Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:04:05 +0000 http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-295 I liked your post=) I liked your post=)

]]> By: Liara Covert http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-179 Liara Covert Tue, 05 Feb 2008 07:58:42 +0000 http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-179 Rumi is one of my favorite poets. As far as the question in the title of this post, I don't think we need to crawl through the dessert to get enlightened. However, I believe each of us must evolve to feel ready to learn, to confront our own self-created illusions, to move toward unconditional acceptance and unwavering love. These sorts of beliefs imply learning to experience life beyond distractions of ego. Not everyone would consider this kind of "change of heart" a sacrifice. Rumi is one of my favorite poets. As far as the question in the title of this post, I don’t think we need to crawl through the dessert to get enlightened. However, I believe each of us must evolve to feel ready to learn, to confront our own self-created illusions, to move toward unconditional acceptance and unwavering love. These sorts of beliefs imply learning to experience life beyond distractions of ego. Not everyone would consider this kind of “change of heart” a sacrifice.

]]> By: Mary Jaksch http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-163 Mary Jaksch Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:46:34 +0000 http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-163 @ Arne Thank your lovely comment, Arne. Your confidence and joy leaps out of your words! That confidence is an interesting thing. It's like putting one's hand in water. At that moment you know whether it's warm or cold - and nobody can tell you otherwise. I like the recommendations that were given to you. Very wise. The words 'Don't make a thing of this experience', warns you not to think that you are now special. It also implies that it's important not to make the experience into a thought. The words 'Don't underestimate it' encourages you to respect the experience. I think it also implies that it's important to let the experience sicker into every part your life. @ Arne
Thank your lovely comment, Arne.
Your confidence and joy leaps out of your words!
That confidence is an interesting thing. It’s like putting one’s hand in water. At that moment you know whether it’s warm or cold – and nobody can tell you otherwise.

I like the recommendations that were given to you. Very wise. The words ‘Don’t make a thing of this experience’, warns you not to think that you are now special. It also implies that it’s important not to make the experience into a thought. The words ‘Don’t underestimate it’ encourages you to respect the experience. I think it also implies that it’s important to let the experience sicker into every part your life.

]]> By: Arne http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-162 Arne Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:00:10 +0000 http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-162 The fog lifted for me once a few years ago and my life has never been the same. I knew immediately that all the books I had read, all the yoga and meditation I had done, anything and everything I had done trying to learn and understand, trying to get somewhere, trying to achieve something, trying to improve myself, all that only kept me away from finding the truth. I must have approached it the wrong way, I tried too hard. May be it was a good preparation, I don't know, but it didn't get me there. A nice afternoon walk in the forest got me there. When the fog lifts, the fog lifts. What I suddenly realized was that the truth is so incredibly simple, so utterly simple, it is such a joke.... you can't describe it, you can't squeeze it into words, it is far too real for words, who is there to describe it?, it cannot be understood, you can't seek it or find it because it is simply too close. You are not seperate any longer. You are not dreaming any longer. You are awake and there is no more "you" and no more "other". So simple. Such a joke. I love it when you say it is like meeting a long lost friend and he is you and falling into each other's/your own arms. Coming home again. WOW. And that long lost friend, your own self, has been in front of you all your life, waiting patiently for the fog to lift and for you to come home. You have been facing each other all your life without recognition. Too much fog in between. What a moment when you finally meet. That was my experience and it has changed my life, I feel totally encouraged and totally confident even while I'm stuck in deep fog again. I was told not to make a thing of this experience but also not to underestimate it. Ahhh well, I might as well share it. Cheers. The fog lifted for me once a few years ago and my life has never been the same. I knew immediately that all the books I had read, all the yoga and meditation I had done, anything and everything I had done trying to learn and understand, trying to get somewhere, trying to achieve something, trying to improve myself, all that only kept me away from finding the truth. I must have approached it the wrong way, I tried too hard. May be it was a good preparation, I don’t know, but it didn’t get me there. A nice afternoon walk in the forest got me there. When the fog lifts, the fog lifts. What I suddenly realized was that the truth is so incredibly simple, so utterly simple, it is such a joke…. you can’t describe it, you can’t squeeze it into words, it is far too real for words, who is there to describe it?, it cannot be understood, you can’t seek it or find it because it is simply too close. You are not seperate any longer. You are not dreaming any longer. You are awake and there is no more “you” and no more “other”. So simple. Such a joke. I love it when you say it is like meeting a long lost friend and he is you and falling into each other’s/your own arms. Coming home again. WOW. And that long lost friend, your own self, has been in front of you all your life, waiting patiently for the fog to lift and for you to come home. You have been facing each other all your life without recognition. Too much fog in between. What a moment when you finally meet. That was my experience and it has changed my life, I feel totally encouraged and totally confident even while I’m stuck in deep fog again. I was told not to make a thing of this experience but also not to underestimate it. Ahhh well, I might as well share it. Cheers.

]]> By: Mary Jaksch http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-161 Mary Jaksch Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:34:59 +0000 http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-161 @Ian I've sent you an email in response so that we can talk about this in private, Ian. Let me say some general things here. Awakening experiences come in different shapes and sizes. An awakening experience can be just a fleeting tongue-tip touch or a profound turning point in one's life. The former is like walking in Autumn fog: suddenly the fog lifts for a moment and you can see the shape of trees and hills and then the mist closes in again. The latter is a life-changing experience. And this change revolves around how we perceive the 'self' and the world. Important is how the experience shapes your life. Some questions one can ask after an experience are: Do you feel encouraged? Has this experience confirmed you on your spiritual path? Has it given you confidence? @Ian
I’ve sent you an email in response so that we can talk about this in private, Ian.

Let me say some general things here. Awakening experiences come in different shapes and sizes. An awakening experience can be just a fleeting tongue-tip touch or a profound turning point in one’s life. The former is like walking in Autumn fog: suddenly the fog lifts for a moment and you can see the shape of trees and hills and then the mist closes in again. The latter is a life-changing experience. And this change revolves around how we perceive the ‘self’ and the world.

Important is how the experience shapes your life. Some questions one can ask after an experience are:
Do you feel encouraged?
Has this experience confirmed you on your spiritual path?
Has it given you confidence?

]]> By: Ian Henderson http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-160 Ian Henderson Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:55:06 +0000 http://goodlifezen.com/2008/01/25/do-you-have-to-crawl-through-the-desert-to-become-enilightened/#comment-160 Hi, Mary, One question I think I have is how do you know when it's awakening? I've had two recent experiences that feel right. One was about a year and a half ago. I saw a decaying leaf on the ground. Only its veins remained. Suddenly, the whole world seemed clearer and yet dreamlike. Or clearer in being dreamlike. The problems of others seemed important and yet of no importance at all. The same was true of my problems. This experience reawakened my Buddhism, which had begun to lapse. The second was on midwinter's day, after reading a concise copy of the writings of Master Hui-Neng and the meditating. Suddenly "my" mind became still and clear and his words made sense. In both cases, I'm trying to describe something I don't think can be described. Ian. Hi, Mary,

One question I think I have is how do you know when it’s awakening? I’ve had two recent experiences that feel right. One was about a year and a half ago. I saw a decaying leaf on the ground. Only its veins remained. Suddenly, the whole world seemed clearer and yet dreamlike. Or clearer in being dreamlike. The problems of others seemed important and yet of no importance at all. The same was true of my problems. This experience reawakened my Buddhism, which had begun to lapse.

The second was on midwinter’s day, after reading a concise copy of the writings of Master Hui-Neng and the meditating. Suddenly “my” mind became still and clear and his words made sense.

In both cases, I’m trying to describe something I don’t think can be described.

Ian.

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