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9/7/2010

Falling in

2 Comments

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Lately I have been noticing something interesting and somewhat paradoxical to the rational mind...that the way to fall into something, is generally to try and avoid it, or to get out.  And the way out, is to turn into the falling.  This is no surprise to anyone who has sat even with one of the most basic koans, 'cause how are you ever going to stop the bell without it, but its interesting to see how it confounds people.  A good friend of mine is making large downward spirals into her own depression by doing anything but going right into the heart of her depression and...ah, actually being depressed and seeing how that goes.   She is so afraid of her depression, that it seems to me like she is just getting more and more depressed.  Its been my experience that its at least a lot more interesting to see what is going on.  And Lord knows I have tried everything else in my life.  Er...like blogging when I should be logging purchase agreements. 

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2 Comments
Mike
9/8/2010 01:53:54 am

Had you ever suffered depression you would not likely be so glib in describing it as something to be experienced to see how it goes.

You might try jumping off of a cliff.

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Michael
9/8/2010 03:34:13 am

Mike,

Thanks for your comments. I think the emotion she is battling is frustration and disappointment. I have a hearty and personal respect for those battling depression.

Thanks for pointing that out.

Michael

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    “A Course on Koans” is the delusion-riddled work of Chris Kufu (“Wind in the Void”) Wilson, who began practicing Zen in 1967. He regards Taizan Maezumi, Robert Aitken, and David Weinstein as his root teachers. Each of them pecked at his shell until he “completed” the never-ending koan curriculum of the Harada-Yasutani lineage.

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