Basic Awake Space.

Hey guys!

Some of you might be interested in Scott Kiloby's take on awakening to our true nature. He's pretty good - seems authentic. His message is clear, uncomplicated and uncontrived.

Check out some of his vids - he has tons on his site. The first explores the view that awakening to our fundamental nature is neither the negation nor affirmation of any possible label or conceptual position we can contrive. The others explore that which we are in an attempt to point to that which apprehends such labels and all possible experiences and sensations here and now.

Enjoy!



www.kiloby.com/videos.php?offset=0&videoid=4

www.kiloby.com/videos.php?offset=0&videoid=34

www.kiloby.com/videos.php?offset=0&videoid=130

www.kiloby.com/videos.php?offset=0&videoid=131

www.kiloby.com/videos.php?offset=0&videoid=97

www.kiloby.com/videos.php?offset=0&videoid=97

Hey Adam,
Thanks for posting the video links. Although I haven't watched them yet, I did visit Scott Kiloby's website: www.kiloby.com/index.php Looks interesting, pretty straight forward approach.
I'll check out the videos tomorrow.

[edit - added website link

Removed duplicate post. Error, internet lagged.

Hey Tina, you're welcome!

In kind regards,

Adam.

I just finished watching the videos... (btw, I've watched other videos from him previously - If I recall correctly, it was you who posted those on a diff thread here at KFD). He does have a nice way of presenting his message. His message resonates with what I've learned and practice.
His videos are definitely worth viewing and recommend to others interested in this path.
- Tina

Hey Tina!

Was wondering how your Taoist priest studies are coming along? I was enroled in that same Taoist ordination program for a while, but gave it away - as I lost interest in the 'process' of learning new things, and instead, became focused on Zaowang - just sitting - and realizing our fundamental nature. After that, 'learning' traditional priest and qigong healing stuff seemed too contrived, which I'm not saying it is, just that it seemed so. Too much mental activity and not enough still clarity of pristine luminosity.

How's it going for you? Would you recommend the ordination program to others? I find the Taoist view to be profoundly spot on. That said, there is much diversity in Taoism - with extremes from Zaowang to ritualized ceremonial magic.

In kind regards,

Adam.

Hi Adam,
Thanks for asking! My Daoist priest studies are coming along great.
Yeah, I recall when you were in the program.

Basically, like all things - it's what one makes of it.
Overall, I think it's a good program - allows for the student to be autonomous in their chosen direction. I've noticed a good amount of diversity amongst students interests... some are interested in the ritual/ceremony or "academic" aspects, while others are more interested in inner cultivation. I think for most of us, Zuowang ("just sitting" meditation practice) and realizing our fundamental nature - is the foundation and core focus in our training. It certainly is for me.
I'm not into the thingy-ness of rituals, so I rarely include that into my practice (and if I do include it, it's very informal and minimalized).

Shifu Michael's teaching focus is on the Zuowang practice, as well as interest in maintaining authentic Quanzhen Daoist practices (that originated in China). However, he does incorporate additional Rinzai (and Soto) Zen texts to supplement our training.

Personally, in addition to the Daoist program, I've added Nyingma Buddhism and Dzogchen practices... and even found a fairly local Nyingma sangha which I now attend a few times a month.
For awhile, I lost interest in the qigong training, but my interest is presently renewed, and I'm finding it to provide a nice balance to my practice.

Would I recommend the program? Yes.
I think compared to some of the other Daoist programs available, it's comparatively much more economical than most. I like the flexibility of the program, and I think Michael is an approachable teacher who prefers simplicity and directness rather than indulgence in intellectualizing. Btw, that was one of the first things I learned when I initially began the training - to drop the intellectualizing!
- Tina

Hey Tina!

Thanks for sharing! I enjoy hearing the success stories.

In kind regards,

Adam.