Causation

I was at a meditation and discussion tonight, the person that was hosting/facilitating was interested in an integrated view of the different non-dual teachers and their teachings, speaking of a common theme and whatnot. Although the evening ended on a nice note experientially, I couldn't help but think of a better way to address his thought.

At the root of the issue is cause and effect, and the assumption that form determines function. From the perspective of Freedom, it doesn't work that way. While all these teachers may be expressions of the same thing, it isn't really about the common theme that may be found in their teachings - that's already an expression of an expression. By the same token, when we talk about our individual experience, we're really talking about an experience of an experience - it's Awareness having the experience of being a human individual who is having a spiritual or not-so-spiritual experience.

But if we want to look at it as cause and effect, we could ask whether it's a matter of upward causation like the individual works on himself spiritually to become more mindful and what have you, and reach some higher level of consciousness, or whether it's a downward causation - which is basically grace - and that has to do with a shift of identity.


So if we're going to talk about integration, that shift in identity is the only real
integral work. Other than that it's just an integration based on form rather
than substance, on what we look like rather than what we are.

Sweet Surrender

Yet another song, I thought of this upon reflecting on the whole rapture thing that's supposed to be happening today. Of course, it works for awakening in general:

It doesn't mean much
It doesn't mean anything at all
The life I've left behind me is a cold room

I've crossed the last line
From where I can't return
Where every step I took in faith betrayed me
And led me from my home

And sweet surrender
Is all that I have to give

Take me in, no question's asked
You strip away the ugliness that surrounds me
(Who are you?)
Are you an angel?

Am I already that gone?
I only hope that I won't disappoint you
When I'm down here on my knees
(Who are you?)

And sweet surrender
Is all that I have to give
(Who are you?)

And sweet surrender
Is all that I have to give

Don't understand
The touch of your hand
I would be the one to fall
I miss the little things
I miss everything about you

Doesn't mean much
It doesn't mean anything at all
The life I left behind me is a cold room
(Who are you?)

And sweet surrender
Is all that I have to give
(Who are you?)

And sweet surrender
Is all that I have to give

Can't Fight the Moonlight

I guess it was a full moon the other day, I'd been thinking about this song with a Sufi twist (before I was informed about the full moon) and well, it does seem Leann Rimes might be a Sufi:

Under a lovers sky
Gonna be with you
And no one's gonna be around
If you think that you won't fall
Well just wait until
'Til the sun goes down

Underneath the starlight, starlight
There's a magical feeling so right
It will steal your heart tonight

You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know, but you know
That you, can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark, you'll surrender your heart
But you know, But you know that you
Can't fight the moonlight..No
You can't fight it...
It's gonna get to your heart

There's no escaping love
Once a gentle breeze
Weaves a spell upon your heart
No matter what you think
It won't be too long
'Til you're in my arms

Underneath the starlight, starlight
We'll be lost in the rhythm so right
Feel it steal your heart tonight

You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know, but you know
That you can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark, you'll surrender your heart
But you know, but you know that you
Can't fight the moonlight...
No.. You can't fight it
No matter what you do
The night is gonna get to you

Cannot know
Cannot know
Don't try, you're never gonna win, oh

Underneath the starlight, starlight,
There's a magical feeling, so right
It'll steal your heart tonight

You can try to resist, try to hide from my kiss
But you know, but you know that you
Can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark, you'll surrender your heart,
But you know, but you know that you
Can't fight the moonlight
No, you can't fight it

You can try to resist, try to hide from my kiss
But you know, but you know that you
can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark, you'll surrender your heart,
But you know, but you know that you
Can't fight the moonlight
No, you can't fight it
It's gonna get to your heart

Union in Truth

Dearly beloved!
I have called you so often and you have
not heard me.
I have shown myself to you so often and
you have not seen me.
I have made myself fragrance so often, and
you have not smelled me,
Savorous food, and you have not tasted me.
Why can you not reach me through the
object you touch
Or breathe me through sweet perfumes?
Why do you not see me? Why do you not
hear me?
Why? Why? Why?

For you my delights surpass all other
delights,
And the pleasure I procure you surpasses
all other pleasures.
For you I am preferable to all other
good things,
I am Beauty, I am Grace.
Love me, love me alone.
Love yourself in me, in me alone.
Attach yourself to me,
No one is more inward than I.
Others love you for their own sakes,
I love you for yourself.
And you, you flee from me.

Dearly beloved!
You cannot treat me fairly,
For if you approach me,
It is because I have approached you.

I am nearer to you than yourself,
Than your soul, than your breath.
Who among creatures
Would treat you as I do?
I am jealous of you over you,
I want you to belong to no other,
Not even to yourself.
Be mine, be for me as you are in me,
Though you are not even aware of it.

Dearly beloved!
Let us go toward Union.
And if we find the road
That leads to separation,
We will destroy separation.
Let us go hand in hand.
Let us enter the presence of Truth.
Let it be our judge
And imprint its seal upon our union
For ever.

-Ibn Arabi

Soul Friends

There was a booth at the New Living Expo promoting a website called Soul Friends. When I looked at their discussion forum I saw a post asking what people thought a soul friend would look like, how they would support or push you and so forth. I can't help but think of how this view of soul really involves certain conditions, but if soul is just the simple essence of what we are then it's really kind of unconditional.

Actually, even or rather especially when we look at romantic relationships it often looks like it's really some kind of search for compatible conditioning, or that it has to meet a variety of conditions. Of course it's perfectly reasonable for some conditions to be met in this context, after all the nature of the relationship is itself one condition, and clearly a part of that is sexual attraction and such. But as always, you have to wonder just how much of it is mind stuff that people overlay which really ends up making them less than happy to say the least, and perhaps makes things more difficult than it needs to be. Like a lot of people I've thought that if I found "the one" it would be someone with a similar way of thinking, with some kind of spiritual interest and such. But when I was thinking about this post I had to recognize that I don't know that either! Sure, all things being equal - or rather IF all things were equal, from a statistical point of view matching those criteria makes things more likely, but as far as I can tell things are NOT equal in this world and there's just no way to really figure it out intellectually, even if you're on eHarmony. ;-)

But I think we do have some kind of instinct about it, but it might just be that believing in various ideas about the matter is what screws us up. If you want to look at the idea of soul friends or soul mates, at the very basic level it's to recognize that you and others are souls, not this aggregate of thoughts and impulses and such. Mind you I don't think it's even important for someone to subscribe to any idea of soul, but the actual recognition may be there in spite of that. In that sense it's like spiritual seeking, and the zen idea of taking the backward step. Seeking only takes you away from what you are, and if you forget that how likely is it to find someone you can relate to on that level? Of course this assumes that we're interested in that kind of relationship, there are plenty of beautiful delusions we can indulge in if we're not.

"Bitch"

I've been groovin to the song "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks today. To me it's just beautiful and pretty much reflects how I feel, pretty much everything except the title and not in terms of anyone in particular but just life itself. At one point when I was into that kind of teachings I had the thought that enlightenment is being in love with the world, but today I thought it's really being in love with life with all the ups and downs. Call me crazy but it's kind of like life gets jealous in a sense, you gotta love it ALL in order not to suffer, and that's where the beauty lies. Anyway here are the lyrics, and you can always find a video on Youtube for the music:

I hate the world today
You're so good to me
I know but I can't change
Tried to tell you
But you look at me like maybe
I'm an angel underneath
Innocent and sweet
Yesterday I cried
You must have been relieved to see
The softer side
I can understand how you'd be so confused
I don't envy you
I'm a little bit of everything
All rolled into one

Chorus:
I'm a bitch, I'm a lover
I'm a child, I'm a mother
I'm a sinner, I'm a saint
I do not feel ashamed
I'm your hell, I'm your dream
I'm nothing in between
You know you wouldn't want it any other way

So take me as I am
This may mean
You'll have to be a stronger man
Rest assured that
When I start to make you nervous
And I'm going to extremes
Tomorrow I will change
And today won't mean a thing

Chorus:
I'm a bitch, I'm a lover
I'm a child, I'm a mother
I'm a sinner, I'm a saint
I do not feel ashamed
I'm your hell, I'm your dream
I'm nothing in between
You know you wouldn't want it any other way

Just when you think, you got me figured out
The season's already changing
I think it's cool, you do what you do
And don't try to save me

Chorus:
I'm a bitch, I'm a lover
I'm a child, I'm a mother
I'm a sinner, I'm a saint
I do not feel ashamed
I'm your hell, I'm your dream
I'm nothing in between
You know you wouldn't want it any other way

I'm a bitch, I'm a tease
I'm a goddess on my knees
When you hurt, when you suffer
I'm your angel undercover
I've been numb, I'm revived
Can't say I'm not alive
You know I wouldn't want it any other way

Finding the Flower

I was replying to a post my new online friend Oti wrote about beauty, we were talking about the role of contemplation in appreciating beauty and I made the point that while it can be immediate and direct it does also unfold and flower. Right after that I saw the book "The People Look Like Flowers At Last" by Charles Bukowski on the endcap at the library. Here is "Fingernails; Nostrils; Shoelaces":

the gas line is leaking, the bird is gone from the

cage, the skyline is dotted with vultures;

Benny finally got off the stuff and Betty now has a job

as a waitress; and

the chimney sweep was quite delicate as he

giggled up through the

soot.

I walked miles through the city and recognized

nothing as a giant claw ate at my

stomach while the inside of my head felt

airy as if I was about to go

mad.

it's not so much that nothing means

anything but more that it keeps meaning

nothing,

there's no release, just gurus and self-

appointed gods and hucksters.

the more people say, the less there is

to say.

even the best books are dry sawdust.

I watch the boxing matches and take copious

notes on futility.

then the gate springs open again

and there are the beautiful silks

and powerful horses riding

agains the sky.

such sadness: everything trying to

break through into

blossom.

every day should be a miracle instead

of a machination.

in my hand rests the last bluebird.

the shades roar like lions and the walls

rattle, dance around my

head.

then her eyes look at me, love breaks my

bones and I

laugh.