2012.06.30 _ 81

"Dharma is not about credentials. It’s not about how many practices you’ve done, or how peaceful you can make your mind. It’s not about being in a community where you feel safe or enjoying the cachet of being a 'Buddhist.' It’s not even about accumulating teachings, empowerments, or 'spiritual accomplishments.' It’s about how naked you’re willing to be with your own life, and how much you’re willing to let go of your masks and your armor and live as a completely exposed, undefended, and open human person. " Reggie Ray

That sums up for me a lot of what we have been discussing this week at PAB. I felt so stupid today trying to negotiate a maze that our French teacher in SL had built for us, from instructions given in French . :) I don't have a good sense of direction and find arrow keys hard to manipulate. But being prepared to do things we aren't good at is beneficial I think. At least it might help prevent the onset of Alzheimers :)

When one "comes clean" and tells others of the masks he/she seems to "need" to negotiate life, is that an exposure? or a release of defenses? or simply an honest admitting that from time to time masks are needed in order to "carry on" ? I'm still leaning toward the use of masks as "statements" about who-we-think-we-might-be that we still feel we need and without which we could otherwise not negotiate the paths that seem - willy-nilly - to have befallen us. Compassion for the face . . . compassion for the mask.

Long "juggling masks" sort of talk with someone dear to me today... dancing lines of what wants to be shared and from what intention... what might need to come forward directly, indirectly, or be allowed to stay sleeping a while longer (how is that for cryptic, lol)

It is easy to glimpse another level of things when letting expression come forward, rather than measuring and strategizing about that. On some level masks are often so transparent as to be "emperor's new clothes" anyway.

Am a bit too easily knocked out of good habit making when taking up a fresh practice, such as the change in mantras I mentioned yesterday, but making note here and showing acceptance of the day as it has been.

Reading more of the lives of the being that was to become whom we know as The Buddha. The importance of constant giving is a theme throughout all I've read so far.

A new thing in a story today: an example of skilful means. Skilful or expedient means, upaya in Buddhist terminology, might be described as the end justifying the means, where the end is some spiritual advancement, saving from suffering, or some other Good Thing™.

What became clear is that Upaya is entirely context dependent. What device one chooses to use as expedient means is dependent on you, your resources, the other people involved, their background, culture, intelligence, the level of urgency... and so on.

Well my friends, are we bodhisattvas? The label's not important! Bodhisattva is as bodhisattva does. So what else is worth doing?