Monastic vs "ordinary" life styles Posted by Deirdre on July 12, 1998 at 11:51:32:
John, to answer your question on what it was that I sculpted that one time.. it was a cloaked, kneeling
women.. done in clay.. without any "study" I just worked with the clay until I saw an image then I
tried to clarify it. I didn't paint it or fire it.. just left it in it's original form. {go ahead
have fun with that - a therapist would!} {smile}.
On the issue of you're not being psychic.. I didn't say your were! However, I believe it is possible
that when we are more "mindful" more information is available to us. There is more space left
available for the "other" to clarify themself. The word "psychic" has such a entertainment quality to it that
I don't like to use it.. but I have seen more "knowledge" available to me when I am mindful
(and loving) -- knowledge that I haven't received verbally from another source. I am not sure that is
very clear.. but let's just say mindfulness + love = knowledge. Knowledge not attained by our "normal"
senses. This is an opinion based on some experiences I have shared with others.
Back to your class on egolessness.. and again going to the monastic description.. IMO it is much easier
to go off to a simple setting, where all of your (basic) needs are met -- where there are no decisions
that you must make(monastic) and live a mindful life.. the real challenge is in applying that mindfulness
to an "ordinary" life.. full of relationships husbands, wives, lovers, children, and requirements work
and other social demands! The real problem that I see here is that in the "ordinary" (at least here in
the United States!) life there is no outlet for allowing the mindful way of life to be studied and
assimilated. Actually, that is why I really appreciate this site! There ARE places becoming available
but it is still a very obscure AND unnecessary lifestyle when viewed from the "general" public.
Talk to you later
Deirdre
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