Comments about 3rd Gear, The Direct Path, Eckhart Tolle, and the PCE

Hi all.

I've got to say, i'm really happy to see this, not only as it seems to unify a certain split that could (has?) occurred, but also because it seems to provide a reasonable model for some stuff that's happened to me; assuming i'm reading it right.

Would I be right in saying that this mode, certainly in it's non-abiding form, at least, can be said to be permeated by a sense of simple, child-like joy, innocence and wonder. It certainly seems like I've stumbled into this mode (or something superficially resembling it) a couple of times, notably whilst waiting in a busy London train terminus, and noticing the inherent goodness, truth and beauty in the faces of the crowd of stressed out commuters waiting for delayed trains.

That said, in the discussion to be found at interactivebuddha.com/podcasts.shtml between Daniel and Tarin, Daniel mentions the perceptual sampling that seems to happen in Filter mode, and the Absence of same when in AF/Direct perception mode. I'm curious--do other people's experiences line up with this description?

Thanks Kenneth.

Hi Kenneth.

Thanks for this. Quite helpful. I have more questions that come up.

So, does this then frame "the goal" of practice from your point of view? That a person should be in direct mode ultimately and move out when needed. Is that the point?

Also, question: Is direct mode nondual in its fullest expression? It sounds more dual. The reason I am asking is that I've always thought of 3rd gear as non-dual. One rests is the total awareness of non-difference or equality consciousness as much as possible. This version sounds more like, as you described before, the raisin eating Kabat-Zinn state of sensory immersion, which is dual. Or am I wrong?

Can you clarify? Which is the practice that most cultivates access to direct non-dual (not witnessing) awareness?

Mark

P.S. Do I get any brownie points for having asked the question that the teacher had been working six days diligently preparing for? I would say that seems warranted. Alternative rewards might include a sticker. Or perhaps face-time with your chosen form of the Deity. I'm open

I think it's like this (based on my experiments this weekend):

You wind up in a nondual state if you follow the instructions posted by Kenneth. There is no separating of experience into different components. There is no me and other. The mind isn't leaning.

The initial phase of resting the awareness on contractions/emotions and tuning into sensory experience is the method that leads you into the direct non-dual experience (where the awareness is not contracting and is wide open and all things are flowing at once).

So raisin eating mindfully is not the goal, but it helps bring about the state we are after. As you feel the state starting to slip, you return to the method (find the thing that is causing the contraction, rest awareness there, tune into the unmeditated sense perception, etc.).

*Personified versions of KDF and DhO kiss and make out*? I mean, *make up* (including unbanning Trent)

"P.S. Do I get any brownie points for having asked the question that the teacher had been working six days diligently preparing for? I would say that seems warranted. Alternative rewards might include a sticker. Or perhaps face-time with your chosen form of the Deity. I'm open

"

Hehe, I think you are more likely to get the Bodhidharma/Emperor Wu treatment. But I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

"...together with a student, I allow myself to tune into whatever mode or stratum of mind they are currently passing through. [...] I go to hell to meet people where they are.
The ability to leave the world of suffering behind once and for all does not equal the will to do so. I am not the only one here."

Adyashanti says he does this with his students also.

...literally SENSATIONAL! thank you kenneth. groundbreaking and grounding at once. feels right.

"But I soon realized that most people were not ready to hear about the direct path. It was absolutely essential, in order to meet people where they were, to scaffold their development by helping them get a few Paths under their belt, at which time they would be much better able to practice from a 3rd Gear point of view."

This is why I am here. I know a number of teachers who teach what they are currently doing as practice while pretending that everything they did to get where they are isn't necessary or useful, and what I see in some communities is lots of beginning students trying high-end practices for years and no transformation. Thanks for teaching what works.