Hey all, I just had a realization that is a bit strange to put into words, but is true nevertheless, and it's that true openness has no form. As in, there isn't any thing to do. Nothing requires being done as if. These are all things that occupy attention and mind, but real openness doesn't show up as absence. It doesn't really show up as anything at all except for what might "show up as a result of openness." Even making statements such at "un-attatchedness" refer to something "substantial," like "not doing the other stuff" or not doing the stuff that we call "closed," but what really is openess? It doesn't really seem to take any form at all. As in there isn't any "thing" or "action" that we could call openness. It's more like a blank piece of paper, or the empty space in which an object can exist.

I am reading Peters Unnecessary suffering book as well as I watched numerous of his latest Youtube talks and podcasts and I attended the recent online workshop; I keep hearing him mention the importance of controlling your thoughts. He usually explains this to mean just stop your thought. Stop doing the thought. There was one youtube video recently a month or so back where someone asked him what does he mean by that and if its like letting go of thoughts versus actually mentally stopping it and Peter said yes. Im now confused because in the book and other media he says to actually try to stop any further thoughts from popping up. To me stopping a thought and letting go of thoughts are two very different things, because the former involves me doing an activity (the stopping of a thought). and usually requires my concentration. The former results in silence for a brief second but its more mentally taxing and the thoughts can come back louder whereas the latter involves a more-so "non-doing", like in vipassana, it involves me not reacting to the thought in my head and remaining equanimous. The thought doesnt stop but sometimes i feel like im less controlled by it. Basically, I need some clarification on this topic. Thanks.

Hey, This is more of a "casual" kind of inquiry, anyone feel free to hop in, I just thought I'd share a real experiential consideration I'm beggining to actually contemplate called integrity. As an experience, what does that look like? Maybe it's easier to look at what NOT integrity is, and use that as a model to better help understand what alternative is, and if it's happening within us. I'd wager, from my own personal perspective, integrity can be described as one part not fighting against another. No disintegration. To become whole. No "split" in consciousness between one aspect and another. But the big thing is, what are REALLY the consequences, of having versus not having integrity? I'd say first off, obviously, is a certain kind of lack of self honesty that can go on. You literally have the one aspect, what your most genuine sense or observation of what is actually going on or true about anything, and if we have a SPLIT in our integrity, then you start to turn away" from that, as if. You literally have a split between "what is true," in your most honest perspective, and "whatever you're trying to do." Your "perceptions" or activities are not aligned with your Most honest perceptions or awareness, as goofy as that sounds. Then obviously, in your life, you lose an ability to be in touch with what you want or what you're trying to do. You know, the whole "I don't know what I want to do with my life" or "lacking motivation" thing. You have on the one hand this idea of something you want to attain, but then on the other you wanna sit on your ass. A spit. There's this misalignment that can come along, a "confused awareness" when a being is less "whole," if that makes sense. If you really want that, why aren't you working for it? Maybe you WANT to sit on your ass but don't admit that to yourself. Or maybe there's a more complex thing happening you need to be more honest with yourself enough to find out. And the big thing, I swear to God, is that this shit is really not moral. Seems more like a "fact" or principle. No a "system," just seems like when things are out of whack or "misaligned," shit is bound to happen.

This one day event was very useful. At 68 years of age, I'm not going to quit my job and leave my wife for 8 months to be an apprentice. I am fascinated by the idea of that level of immersion but I won't do it. That's why this one day dive into "4 principles" was so welcome. I felt I got a glimpse of what the apprenticeship program is about (which may or may not be true). I had several insights regarding my dishonesty with myself, how un-aligned with my goals I have been and most importantly, my practice of dropping out when achieving a goal gets difficult. It became clear to me for the first time HOW I get in my way. Kudos to Corentin (I hope I spelled the name correctly) who led the workshop. I'm impressed and grateful. The work with Cheng Hsin has changed how I live and operate in the world.

Hello, everyone. I have been doing contemplation for several months now. What is play What is relationship What is meaning What is culture Is it practical for me to contemplate on "Who/What am I?" as a start? Or shall I get good at contemplating on the "easier" ones first before I tackle the grand daddy of them all (Who am I?)? Thanks in advance.