11.15
Bredonborough.
A grey, damp day.
From an e-mail to a GC Special Study group…
The attention & emphasis specifically given to organic sensation is a characteristic of Mr. G’s teaching. I have only found one other reference to (what might be) sensing in a 12/13th. century work of Sufism (can’t remember the title). So, I assume that other ways judge the experience of sensing as a naturally-arising experience in developing a practice. Otherwise, something is clearly being lost.
Anyway, this is my take…
Sensation is always present, whether we are aware of it, or not.
A relaxed condition is rarely present, whether we are aware of it, or not.
Sensation is present for as long as we are alive. It is the defining & characteristic experience of being alive in a body.
If we bring our attention to sensing, the experience strengthens & becomes more tangible. Even, sometimes rarely, almost an experience of solidity: of being a material object, with the difference, a material object that is alive.
Relaxation, in our contemporary Western civilisation, is probably only likely as a result of intentionality, of bringing to bear the impulse of relaxation (as we say in the morning sitting).
Sensation precedes relaxing, but our experience of sensing is usually more likely during / after we bring our attention to relaxing. Common exceptions - during / following physical exertion; the spontaneous arising of sensation, ie a kind of noticing.
12.12 An e-mail to a Crafty…
All of us need to know that there is truth & reality available to us, within all the nonsense & stupidity that we experience on a daily basis. A reasonable person would despair, but hope is unreasonable So, we need hope.
When we touch something that we recognise as real, it contributes reality to our lives. For me, this is Guitar Craft. We are weak, frail creatures, and it is hard to maintain the practices that we know give us the best contact with what we value. Although we sometimes go away, what is real does not, and waits for us until we are able to return.
16.26 Practising. And the sun has broken through I…
II...
17.39 In response to a pal with a Crafty background re: the tithing proposal…
Disposable income? We don’t have any! So, what might we consider our disposable income to be? I asked my bookkeeper’s advice & came to a figure that felt right, even though none of is strictly available to be disposed of!
So, tithing involves conscience.
A donation has value, and is different. I opened myself up to a piece of work, to raise money for Claymont, in 1978. What was given was production on The Roches album, and the advance went to Claymont…
I’m not presently considering setting up income-raising opportunities... and I’m not primarily looking at creating an income stream, which is nevertheless a useful outcome.
18.28
Adopt the form;
Hold the space;
Discharge the function.
19.18 An e-frenzy & the inbox is down to186. Enough.
20.58 More practising. Practising is good.
Evening skies I…
II...
III...
IV...
"Process is Intelligence getting to know itself."
