Shanna #2

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/23/04 8:20:51 PM,

Chinese Medicine writes:

 

<< Could " feeling better " not be one step further toward enlightenment?

 

Or are you proposing it's an all-or-nothing leap? >>

 

Lon: No. Feeling is never more than feeling. Feelings cycle in a conditioned

way like the weather. How do you suppose Christ, Ghandi, King, etal. felt? In

enlightenment there is an unshakeable moral obligation and conviction. " I've

seen something and I'm not moving from it. " Usually when a person takes such a

stand the bullets start to fly. It doesn't necessarily feel good, right?

[Guest guest]

Chinese Medicine ,

Spiritpathpress@a... wrote:

>

> In a message dated 7/23/04 8:20:51 PM,

> Chinese Medicine writes:

>

> << Could " feeling better " not be one step further toward

enlightenment?

>

> Or are you proposing it's an all-or-nothing leap? >>

>

> Lon: No. Feeling is never more than feeling. Feelings cycle in a

conditioned

> way like the weather.

 

Feeling is our internal experience of ourselves and our environment.

I think it may be one of the only things we could consider " real "

and " ours " . Anything considered permanent, solid and unchanging is

just " maya " or illusion IMHO and the opinion of the Buddhists at

least (though I don't associate myself with any one religion in

particular). Our inner experience of feeling is the key to unlocking

our health I think.

 

In

> enlightenment there is an unshakeable moral obligation and

conviction. " I've

> seen something and I'm not moving from it. " Usually when a person

takes such a

> stand the bullets start to fly. It doesn't necessarily feel good,

right?

 

Not necessarily. In highest martial arts practice, I understand one

avoids confrontation and " flying bullets " . By " enlightenment " I am

assuming you mean " to be endowed with spiritual understanding " ;

dictionary definition. It seems to me that true understanding would

constitute alleviation of suffering, not intensification of it

with " bullets flying " . Of course the second definition has to do

with " The Enlightenment--A philosophical movement of the 18th

century, concerned with the critical examination of previously

accepted doctrines and institutions from the point of view of

rationalism. " Seems like you're floating between the two with

respect to patients healing and the cutting edge of CM.

I propose that patients are coming to us to " feel better " . This

would include increased spiritual understanding and better touch

with their inner selves and the ability to manifest such. But

becoming a long suffering Christ, Ghandi or King while laudable,

isn't that appetizing to most I think. I also think it's a slippery

slope when we start trying to define who is enlightented and who is

not and to what degree. I'm not sure I would consider the above

three people to have been truly enlightened.

 

Regarding your referece to " the absolute " , to my knowledge this is

an unattainable state by definition within the confines of life. One

is always walking around with some imbalance or other wheather

emotional, physical or spiritual because of the cyclic nature of

everything. Equilibrium equals death as has already been pointed

out. The seed of yin is always contained within yang at its nexus

and transforms eventually. As I tell my many " perfectionist "

patints, why strive so hard for " perfection " when the concept is

only a concept and holds no possibility for attainment by

definition. How about a vote for the simple alleviation of suffering

and taking joy in life where we can and cultivating the courage to

be where we are now in the moment? Have I misunderstood your points?

 

Zev:<< You are talking about

 

what in my opinion is an idealized state of perfect transmission of

 

truth through an abstract enlightened state. >>

 

Lon: Now we're getting somewhere. Except the state isn't abstract.

Any

endeavor, taiji, meditation, yoga, and CM- outside the context of

enlightenment-

can

never be anything more than about " feeling better " and is a false

path. A

path that, basically, caters to our narcississm that, in the

postmodern human,

is

the greatest motivating force. The Daoist cannon says " the only true

medicine

is consciousness " and I know this to be true.

 

 

Here, Here. If one's consciousness isn't in line with their actions

there is much suffering indeed. The Shen is primary in treatment and

diagnosis according to one of my teachers who said this on the first

day of my TCM education. However, IMHO in order to attain

enlightment we cannot strive toward such but must focus on the

alleviation of suffering for ourselves and others in the here and

now. Enlightenment is a state which may or may not descend on us in

a future here and now. In this way there is space for enlightenment

to exist, not as a state of perfection but as a dymanic process

which magnetically would allow us to return to it when suffering the

slings and arrows of existence. I do strive to help my patients get

closer to this ever elusive condition through modeling/teaching

compassion for self and other as the path to joy and contentment

(enlightenment?). But " absolute " ? A slippery slope I think as I have

said. I know needles can help but I think this is an organic process

which requires the active participation of the patient on and off

the table in the ever-present here and now. Are we in agreement?

 

Regards, Shanna

 

I have written two texts stating

that the highest purpose of medicine is to empower the fulfillment

of destiny

and attainment of enlightenment. And, I mean it.

Either we live in the presence of and constantly strive for the

absolute

or we do not. To back off even a little indicates lack of interest

and, at

least from my perspective, results in a living death of mediocrity.