What Constitutes A "Practice"?

Figgles
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What Constitutes A "Practice"? Jul 15, 2021 17:47:08 GMT

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Post by Figgles on Jul 15, 2021 17:47:08 GMT

Zazeniac:Yes. Life is practice, every moment. But the notion that practice reinforces the sense of identifying with an svp is a product of delusion. In my opinion, it is the incessant arguments about methods(yes not practicing is also a method)or SR claims that are culpable.

Practice, my practice, is much about paying attention to the mental processes.

To categorize life itself, and 'not' practicing as a practice, is to completely gloss over the erroneous and false ideas inherent to practicing, to processes, to seeking. Inherent in the impetus towards any practice/process is the idea that SVP can do stuff to get rid of itself.

Your "paying attention to mental processes," will cease to "be a practice," when there's no longer a sense of trying/efforting, or a sense that you "should" pay attention so that you can achieve some state of being that you are currently not experiencing....when there is no longer a "reason/need/want" behind the impetus to be aware, attentive.

What is is it you are trying to acquire/achieve through practicing attentiveness to mental processes? So many practices can be circumvented if/when there's a sincere, honest interest in looking at the erroneous ideas behind the interest in practicing. Another 'practice' you say? No, it really isn't where there is sincere interest in looking....in which case, it will just happen.

Life...being aware, attentive to mind's content.....cease to be a practice, when there is natural impetus/interest in 'being aware and attentive' and no-one anymore 'who/that' is behind or beholden to that interest.

Practice = a sense of being a someone who is going to benefit through the activity/process.

Figgles
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What Constitutes A "Practice"? Jul 15, 2021 17:58:47 GMT

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Post by Figgles on Jul 15, 2021 17:58:47 GMT

Lolly: The non-dualists don't practice because they think practice implies means to an end, but it is more like it's true that I'm aware and this is how it is (as opposed to mental fabrications).

Grounded in nondual awareness, there is no longer any interest in practice as there is no longer the sense that there is something fundamentally amiss about this moment and it's ephemeral content.

That's what separates a practice from a naturally arising impetus to be....to act....the desire to achieve a particular outcome regarding state of being.

I see some seekers who engage in practice as being in denial about that 'desire to achieve a different state of being,' which is evident in their efforts to defend their practices as devoid of split-mind....devoid of seeking/seeker.

Last Edit: Jul 15, 2021 18:01:09 GMT by Figgles

Figgles
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What Constitutes A "Practice"? Jul 15, 2021 18:11:15 GMT

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Post by Figgles on Jul 15, 2021 18:11:15 GMT

The disruption or halting of the habitual, locked-in tendencies of mind that I talked about often seems to be the correlate of spiritual openings. If your practice facilitates that then that’s no bad thing.

Yes, the sage who advocates the futility of a practice/path is presenting a method of sorts. It says ‘look, there’s no need for a path or technique since oneness is already the case’. The very proclamation of this serves no other purpose than to provoke a new understanding. Its objective is, in effect, similar to self inquiry - it’s a way of looking anew in order to precipitate a shift in perception.

Sages do not 'advocate' the futility of path's processes. The futility of practice is an assertion, ultimately a pointer to Truth. It just sounds like a 'method' from the position of personhood within the dream of cause/effect.

I would never tell anyone 'not' to practice if that's what they feel compelled to do. It's important though to see what's behind the intent TO practice and that ultimately, practice does not cause SR/awakening.

I'd say if one is sincerely open to seeing the split-mind inherent to trying to practice oneself into seeing through the self, that itself is an auspicious position.

But generally, folks who have invested years into practice, feel the need to stand in defence of that investment...the last thing they want to see is the utter futility of the person trying to get rid of itself.

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What Constitutes A "Practice"? Jul 15, 2021 18:18:06 GMT

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Post by Figgles on Jul 15, 2021 18:18:06 GMT

There is no substitute for a genuine interest in looking/seeing, of being aware and attentive to the present and all mind's content, not for the purpose of achieving/gaining something that is currently lacking, but simply because of an intent/interest to be aware...to see clearly. period.

When present moment clarity, attentiveness is it's own reward and not considered a means to some end achievement, that's when 'being aware' ceases to be a practice.

And, the wild-card here is the fact that sincere interest cannot be manufactured or controlled. It's either there or it 'aint.

Last Edit: Jul 15, 2021 18:18:39 GMT by Figgles

Figgles
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What Constitutes A "Practice"? Jul 16, 2021 18:47:05 GMT

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Post by Figgles on Jul 16, 2021 18:47:05 GMT

Muttley: Niz was free and generous with his narrative and advised people to do one or the other or both of his path elements. But he was just as clear as to the limits of the meaning of that narrative, and on the mystery of grace. It's not about believing that the svp is false - that's irrelevant - or buying a story, and it doesn't matter what you think freedom is. Yes, it seems that people offering satsang contradict the point about causality, but that's applying logic where it doesn't belong. Try to get present to your interest in the topic. If it's so irrelevant, then why raise it at all?

Very nicely put.