Posted by: almaas
in Diamond Approach on Jan 3, 2010
The Reclamation of Basic Trust
I have very much enjoyed reading Facets of Unity. I am very curious, however, about a relevant issue that I have not been able to discern within its pages. My understanding is that the loss of basic trust in the child results from the child’s perception of a loss of holding in the environment. The enlightened soul, however, is one in which basic trust predominates. External events that most of us would call terrible do not jeopardize or diminish the experience of basic trust of the enlightened soul. In the midst of these circumstances, the enlightened soul does not experience itself as helpless or choice-less.
Yet, the perspective offered in your book, along with my own observations of children, suggests that they do start out with a predominance of basic trust...but it is eventually lost. This suggests that there is some aspect in the enlightened soul that is either not present, or not as developed, in the soul of the child. In our common understanding we would say that the child simply does not have understanding and maturity. Yet, we might then ask: what is it that enables this understanding and maturity in enlightened soul? So, it appears that there needs to be some aspect that not only enables the development of understanding and maturity, but also allows for its retention...some kind of constituting factor. My questions, therefore, are:
1) Am I correct that there is a constituting factor present in the enlightened soul that is either not present or not as developed in the child soul?
2) If so, what does the Diamond Approach perspective explain this constituting factor to be, how does it arise and develop, and how does its presence enable the retention of basic trust in the enlightened soul?
The enlightened soul definitely includes an important factor not so present in childhood. This is the capacity for discrimination, the discerning knowingness. It exists in childhood in a very rudimentary manner. The infant is not dissociated from true nature but it does not have the discriminating and self reflective capacity to know this true nature and to recognize that it is its nature.
The lack of dissociation is the reason behind basic trust, for basic trust is fundamentally the implicit confidence that expresses the fact that we have a timeless true nature. Through ego development we become dissociated from our true nature, with a resulting limitation in our basic trust, yet this development is a stage necessary for the development of our discriminating capacity.
Posted by: almaas
in Diamond Approach on Dec 9, 2009
The Libidinal Soul as the Primary Barrier to Spiritual Development
In Spacecruiser Inquiry you refer to the libidinal soul as "the primary barrier to spiritual development." The spiritual traditions I have studied offer very little practical teaching about this critical barrier, and the consequences can be disastrous. Can you say more about the actual process of transforming the animal soul? More specifically, how do we confront our most primal and powerful drives, which are usually distorted and damaged by inner and outer coercion, and hold the ground of truth? What are the dynamics of this transformation? How is this different from sublimation?
Actually, the ancient traditions deal with the animal soul in a major way, but within their own cultures and contexts. It is usually done through renunciation, ascetism, moral discipline and monastic rules of conduct. Also, through the relationship between teacher and student. When these traditional teachings are taught in our modern culture the cultural norms and contexts are not present, and hence there is no good way to deal with such deep and central obstacle to realization.
Posted by: almaas
in Diamond Approach on Oct 4, 2009
Working with the Animal Soul
In Spacecruiser Inquiry you refer to the libidinal soul as "the primary barrier to spiritual development." The spiritual traditions I have studied offer very little practical teaching about this critical barrier, and the consequences can be disastrous. Can you say more about the actual process of transforming the animal soul? More specifically, how do we confront our most primal and powerful drives, which are usually distorted and damaged by inner and outer coercion, and hold the ground of truth? What are the dynamics of this transformation? How is this different from sublimation?
Posted by: almaas
in Diamond Approach on Sep 9, 2009
Tagged in: Untagged
The Question of Suffering is a Question of Understanding
Does the Diamond approach say anything about the meaning of the pain, loss and death that surrounds us in the world, some of which we cause to others in order to exist?
Is it not a major self indulgence (and a deflection) for me, a well-off western WASP to be searching for my essence, when, on my behalf, other people in the world are being killed to protect my wealth and life-style? Am I bringing peace to the world by this work and if so, how?
Finally, while my own pain and loss might be something I can be curious about, often it is just painful. Is there any purpose to be found in it? Ultimately, doesn't death render life meaningless, brutish and short for the tortured dissident, the war victim or even the chronic depressive?
Posted by: haj1155
in Diamond Approach on Sep 5, 2009
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Savoring the Fruit of the Path: Spiritual Maturity
Jack Kornfield and A.H. Almaas will be speaking on October 17th in San Francisco.
Click here for flyer and to order tickets
Posted by: haj1155
in Diamond Approach on Sep 5, 2009
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More Pictures from Asilomar 2009
6am on the computer
Posted by: haj1155
in Diamond Approach on Aug 22, 2009
The Paradox of the Fulcrum
Students of the Diamond Approach to Self-Realization talk about their experiences with The Fulcrum. The Fulcrum is the topic of this year's Ridhwan summer retreat.
The Fulcrum is a place of paradox where the dual and non-dual meet; where practice is realization and realization is practice; where non-doing and dynamism meet.
Posted by: haj1155
in Diamond Approach on Aug 16, 2009
Ridhwan Summer Retreat - The Fulcrum
Saturday, August 15
The summer retreat is taking my consciousness by storm. In general, I am finding that most of what I thought I knew is very limited... my understanding of "practice" is incomplete, my understanding of commitment is too.
Posted by: almaas
in Diamond Approach on Aug 11, 2009
If We Are Inauthentic, What Price Do We Pay?
Coming from a Roman Catholic background, I still differentiate between good and bad. I somehow feel that if I do not manage to live life to my True Nature (fast!) I will have failed and then what...?
If we do not learn to live the life of our true nature then it is some kind of waste. We would have wasted a precious opportunity to be real, authentic, to actually develop our potential and be real and mature human beings.
Diamond Approach
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