12-18-2013, 12:00 AM
I’ve seen that the “real change” as you describe, usually comes from unforeseen traumatic events, such the death of a loved one, a divorce, pstd, ect, and as Kao suggests, a kidnapping would be a good example as well. Causing a huge blow to the assemblage point (in toltec terms), these events create what seems mass chaos in life, with change becoming more of a necessity, than a choice, and this only the prelude to monumental change, requiring that first step.
It presents a fork in the road inviting us to either (and this is where choice come into play) slumber or awaken. We can slumber through consensual pain and suffering with others, the “cosmetics” you talk about … including life-affirming, cheerful, exhilarating, heartwarming, joyful, uplifting and pleasing advice and directions of others, yet still experience the pain and suffering, as a chronic, incurable condition.
Or, we can take the less traveled road. Blazing solo, because it’s not a path to follow … it’s your own personal path to freedom, dissembling your self, demolishing and destroying everything, piece by piece. Recapitulation is a major and powerful part of this process, using as you say, the authority of “one’s own judgment and one’s own powers of reason and comprehension”, until nothing is left … as you wrote in your recapitulation post referenced below.
But, who really wants to tear themselves to pieces, bit by bit, when the “prize” at the end of the road is Nothing? Not most, I’d guess.
SelfHealedMadman wrote:
"Who am I? That's the only koan there is; the only one anyone ever needs. Every day you don't answer this question, another ounce. Take a moment to think about what it would mean to have to sit down with a scalpel at a certain time every day and amputate an ounce of your body. You would quickly have to learn things about …” http://sorcery.yuku.com/sreply/90762/Th ... -Castaneda
It presents a fork in the road inviting us to either (and this is where choice come into play) slumber or awaken. We can slumber through consensual pain and suffering with others, the “cosmetics” you talk about … including life-affirming, cheerful, exhilarating, heartwarming, joyful, uplifting and pleasing advice and directions of others, yet still experience the pain and suffering, as a chronic, incurable condition.
Or, we can take the less traveled road. Blazing solo, because it’s not a path to follow … it’s your own personal path to freedom, dissembling your self, demolishing and destroying everything, piece by piece. Recapitulation is a major and powerful part of this process, using as you say, the authority of “one’s own judgment and one’s own powers of reason and comprehension”, until nothing is left … as you wrote in your recapitulation post referenced below.
But, who really wants to tear themselves to pieces, bit by bit, when the “prize” at the end of the road is Nothing? Not most, I’d guess.
SelfHealedMadman wrote:
"Who am I? That's the only koan there is; the only one anyone ever needs. Every day you don't answer this question, another ounce. Take a moment to think about what it would mean to have to sit down with a scalpel at a certain time every day and amputate an ounce of your body. You would quickly have to learn things about …” http://sorcery.yuku.com/sreply/90762/Th ... -Castaneda