--yielding to everything yet being weak to nothing 

~student of the i-ching

yeah.. me too..

Perhaps this may provide useful insight or simply mean nothing ;-) . The goal is to allow what is relevant, & let the rest go ..

... I used to be a huge skeptic of such oracle type 'things' & still don't take most of it 'literally'. [esp. the ‘McDonalized' versions of 'let me tell you your future'.. makes little sense intuitively. ].

Nobody can read our minds or predict a future that is yet to be created, no?

There is something to inner-resonance though.. as one becomes more in-tuned with the clarity (source, ground of being, consciousness..) within, it's as if the ability to decode the messages being offered through the universe, becomes easier.

[interesting how spiritual material lose meaning when trying to describe it ;-)]

Beautiful things can arise when one makes the unconditional leap to the unknown and go beyond 'perceptions' & pre-conceived notions of who people are or what 'things' mean. 

Yet, it is very important to not blindly do what others do for the sake of doing it. Do it only if it is a personal direct experience and a benefit in the now.

One's intuitive self knows the answer of what resonates.. let that be the only guide. 

Helpful to know the difference between ego and consciousness when evaluating 'resonance'.

Many times we make choices out of fear or prejudice and mistake it for 'inner knowing'.

Consciousness speaks to us via many messengers. I've learned to focus on the words and what resonates within in experiencing those words, regardless of the stories behind the 'instrument'  (ex. person, song, artwork) through which the message came.

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Q. What is the true path?

A. ::
The true path is whatever gets you there.
The true path is whatever actually sets you Free.
That means whatever path that is successful in this life. "In this life" means now.
That which you can realize the success of in this moment.
The true path is that path which is perfectly successful.

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Q. What Kind of Practice Can Prepare One for Enlightenment?

A. ::
Spiritual practice is not necessarily a preparation for Enlightenment.
The only true preparation for Enlightenment is humility.
A humble person, who is truly sincere, is fully prepared.
Spiritual practice does not necessarily lead to humility.

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from the book Enlightenment is a Secret

-Andrew Cohen

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I CHING
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the goal: to surrender >>>> yielding>>> humility >>>>renunciation>>>clarity >>>empowerment>>>participation>>> awakening>>participation>>>...evolution of consciousness

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I also find resonance in  andrew cohen's reference to 'evolutionary enlightenment'.  It's amazing how the material related to this manifests through what I continue to unfold in my i-ching practice.  The I Ching allows us to be receptive and engaged at the edge of experience & in relationship to the world around us.

I am finding a good sign of the *integrity of a teaching is that it connects from a level of consciousness and there is no conflict to apparent 'different schools of thought', sometimes regardless of who is saying it. The ultimate test of itnegrity is our own inner knowing, does it resonate within your consciousness self as true?

The comparisons aren't made on an intellectual mind level, but tied in from a place the mind can't even perceive (how can the mind experience that which is outside the realm of the mind?. Similarly,  how can the wave possibly know what the ocean is in it's vast majesty?). 

I am saying that when 'practice' or 'material' flow together, even from apparent diverse sources, it's because they are beyond the currents of the surface of the ocean (mind activity). They run deep and connect from the same source space.  So ther is no conflict. The mind makes conflict because it wants to be special & separate, not the source.

The i-ching offers a deep awareness of consciousness & the illuminates the blocks created by ego.

It offers the deepest surrender to awareness &  the flow of life.  It is a practical daily manifestation of what it takes to get to a place of proactively engaging in the life process.  

With the I Ching you become empowered to be your own master & creator of your own life.  & What would it mean to participate in life out of that empowering source?

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be willing to completely let go of your 'cherished perception' of yourself
& in the process you just may find yourself ;-)
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cherished perception ---> examples: 'i like, i don't like, i want, i am , i am going, i was there, how do others perceive me, i want others to like me, i want to be impressed by others, i want others to impress me'..

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the daily experiential i-ching practice as taught by Donald Marshall for example, directly engages one in releasing all 'cherished' perceptions and revealing the 'true-self' that is always there through it all. 

This week, I found myself being even more thankful for the ‘guru-less’ path this Book of Changes allows. Yet, it does not negate the immeasurable contributions and messages that come from so many awakened beings & teachers on the path.

One notable value of the I-Ching is that it allows the aspirant/student to have a ‘healthy’ & empowered approach toward all of life. (including teachers). It allows the development of a realistic expectation of what the role of the ‘guru/teacher’ is.

Think about it.. religions have been created around ‘awakened’ beings because people felt they could not themselves do what the awakened being did.   The Christ did not create Christianity nor did the Buddha create Buddhism etc…! What would the world look like if we let go of the ‘isms’?’ How would we relate spiritually in that context?

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Do many people really believe their enlightenment is dependent on another human being?  Is there validity in this theory?

I recently came upon some questionable & unpalatable material related to a popular teacher out there. This teacher’s books and talks have inspired me & elevated my awareness in a genuine way.

It occurred to me how interesting it was that most profound ‘spiritual’ guru/teachers (ex. Christ, Buddha, rumi, etc..) .... were equally criticized and tainted by others.

Yes, I am sure some scenarios on certain teachers are valid;  but I am also certain that not all stories are.

How do we decide what is real and what isn't? and how does that color the way in which we receive perfectly valid lessons and teachings?

Is listening to heart not mind enough?

I firmly believe that consciosuenss speaks to us through anyone & anything.  It’s about the teaching not the teacher.  It resonates deeply that if a teaching is ‘valid’ we hear it with heart.. and we know it when we hear it.   Regardless of who said it .

Do you believe that consciousness sends messages through everyone & everything?

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In this case, this is someone who’s books and teachings I’ve deeply respected. In fact, it never occurred to me to reference this person as a traditional ‘guru’ type as the critical reports are saying. Some reports are coming directly from disillusioned ex-students. 

Methinks that the validity or not of what is being said doesn’t negate the validity of the messages I received in reading the books or going to talks. This applies to any teacher.

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Perhaps the more pertinent question to be contemplated on is:
Why would anyone on the quest subject themselves to the victimization expressed on the ‘complaints site’ created for this person?

How does a spiritual aspirant hold strong to the quest and not become swayed or lost in the feeling that someone else can ‘save’ them?  What is the inner-guide in an aspirant and how much do they believe in it? Is their shattered disappointment the fault of the teacher?

What is a 'teacher's' responsibility to the student & the integrity of the teaching being transmitted?

As I pondered this, it occurred to me that the I-Ching offered a two-fold value in this regard:

1) guides in a pure & uncorrupted way by the essence of being a book not a human. [Doesn’t mean a human teacher is not immensely valuable on the path, but realty is that an unhealthy relationship w/ anyone --- can take one off tangent and can be energy consuming vs. nourishing. & let’s face it -- we only have so much time available to us in this life.

2) it also teaches one to be more discriminatory and realistic about all the ‘products’ out in the spiritual market-place. (i.e. teachers, methods, ideas, places, things).

Goes back to the question, what is the context through which we journey through the spiritual realm?  & What or who is the ultimate guide here?

the I-Ching offers daily personal messages (you get them yourself based on you daily 'reading').  There are 64 possible messages relating to 64 factes of relating to others and to life. Each day you are guided through the book and your own personal divinaiton (you do it yourself) on what to focus on. 

want to learn how? feel free to send a message. there is nothing to lose, much to gain. free of charge. what are my motives you may ask?  ---simply cuz it is so beautifully profoundly simply and empowering for any seeker desiring freedom , growth, discipline, flexibility & clarity.

here's an example of what the core message of a 'reading'/divination can look like.

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52. Kên / Keeping Still, Mountain

True quiet means keeping still when the time has come to keep still,
and going forward when the time has come to go forward.

In this way rest and movement are in agreement with the demands of the time,
and thus there is light in life.

  ...When a man has thus become calm,he may turn to the outside world.
He no longer sees in it the struggle and tumult of individual beings,
and therefore he has that true peace of mind
which is needed for understanding the great laws of the universe
and for acting in harmony with them.

Whoever acts from these deep levels
makes no mistakes.

(the i-ching -  wilhelm's version...)

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