awouldbehipster's practice notes

"There is such a sharp difference between Witnessing and depersonalization. In the former you are nonattached; in the latter, detached. In the former, you have a ground of equanimity from which you engage passionately in everything that arises; in the latter, you are numb, unable to feel passion for anything. In the former, you see everything with intense clarity and bright luminosity; in the latter, it's like you are looking at the world through the wrong end of a telescope." ~Ken Wilber, One Taste

In conversing about Witnessing (2nd gear) with fellow meditators, some are weary of it due to thinking that it's a distant state, removed from reality, cold, indifferent, etc. I think the above quotation is an excellent description of some of the differences between depersonalization and Witnessing.

In my own words, a crucial difference between Witnessing and depersonalization is that Witnessing is equanimous, while depersonalization is indifferent. Those who know the Pali literature know that indifference is the "near enemy" of equanimity (one of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment). In the same way, depersonalization is the near enemy of Witnessing.

As of late, I feel strongly that surrender is the name of the game. The practice unfolds in such a way as to allow us to let go into what has always already been the case.

A year ago, I would have fiercely recoiled after reading a statement like the one I wrote above. Who knows what I'll think tomorrow? Nobody knows.

When enlightened folks say, "All I know for sure is that I know nothing," I believe there is a subtle pun, be it intentional or otherwise. For, what we awaken to is what our own natural wakefulness, which is a nothing which knows, or a knowing-nothing (what Shinzen Young calls the "Divine Nothing," or "Zero"). Enlightened folks know this "nothing" which knows, and thus, all they really know for certain is that they know nothing.

Eh, but what do I know?

~Jackson

"Eh, but what do I know?

~Jackson"

Stop me if you've heard this story:

The Rabbi, and the Cantor were in the synagogue, and the Rabbi began to pray: 'Have mercy on me, Lord-- I am nothing but dust and ashes!'

The Cantor, not to be irreverent, joined in: 'Have mercy on me, Lord-- I am nothing but dust and ashes!'

From the back of the room came the voice of the janitor, inspired by the others' example: 'Have mercy on me, Lord-- I am nothing but dust and ashes!'

At this, the Cantor turned to the Rabbi and said, 'Look who thinks he's nothing but dust and ashes!'

-- so are you claiming to have attained knowledge of NOTHING?!

"Stop me if you've heard this story:

The Rabbi, and the Cantor were in the synagogue, and the Rabbi began to pray: 'Have mercy on me, Lord-- I am nothing but dust and ashes!'

The Cantor, not to be irreverent, joined in: 'Have mercy on me, Lord-- I am nothing but dust and ashes!'

From the back of the room came the voice of the janitor, inspired by the others' example: 'Have mercy on me, Lord-- I am nothing but dust and ashes!'

At this, the Cantor turned to the Rabbi and said, 'Look who thinks he's nothing but dust and ashes!'

-- so are you claiming to have attained knowledge of NOTHING?!
"

Hi roomy,

Not sure if that was a serious question or not, being that you prefaced it with a joke (and a good one at that!).

For me, realization comes in glimpses. I am in no way stabilized in non-dual awareness. So, 'attained'? Not quite. Glimpsed? Absolutely. This shouldn't come as a surprise. It is our birthright, after all.

~Jackson

Well, I guess I see delight and absolute earnestness as being nondual-- so, yes!

Just wanted to play!

"Well, I guess I see delight and absolute earnestness as being nondual-- so, yes!

Just wanted to play!"

Stop by anytime.

I think now would be a good time to lock this thread and start 'part two' of my practice notes.

The new thread can be found here: kennethfolkdharma.wetpaint.com/thread/38...notes+%28part+two%29