The anonymous self
Saturday, 15. March 2008, 16:08:50
N.B. This is a work in progress - after jotting down some points I thought I could elaborate on them later on.
To give a bit of background: a member of the Amida Shu and I were talking about the 12 step program that the AA followed and talked about coming up with a Pureland equivalent. Finally, after a couple of months, here is a 12 step program for those who are addicted to yourself.
The biggest addiction of all is the self. The Buddha knew this well and so he gave many teachings on non-self. The Pureland teachings are found from the Three Pureland Sutras and emphasis an 'other' power in our lives. The practice is devotional and centres around Amida Buddha. Amida means measureless and so this Buddha doesn't judge, doesn't measure, doesn't discriminate etc.
Here is a rough 12 step guide to help you with the problem of life – addiction to self.
To give a bit of background: a member of the Amida Shu and I were talking about the 12 step program that the AA followed and talked about coming up with a Pureland equivalent. Finally, after a couple of months, here is a 12 step program for those who are addicted to yourself.
The biggest addiction of all is the self. The Buddha knew this well and so he gave many teachings on non-self. The Pureland teachings are found from the Three Pureland Sutras and emphasis an 'other' power in our lives. The practice is devotional and centres around Amida Buddha. Amida means measureless and so this Buddha doesn't judge, doesn't measure, doesn't discriminate etc.
Here is a rough 12 step guide to help you with the problem of life – addiction to self.
- Step One
Admit that I am powerless over my habitual ways of reacting – I've made my feelings 'God' and am following them. I've managed to create a world of deceit and no longer want to fool myself that I am okay because deep down I know that I am not.
- Step Two
Intuit and feel that there is a compassionate force in the world – a mysterious power “Amida” that loves me and wants to help me.
- Step Three
Entrust myself to Amida and take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. The Buddha is the awakened one who understands that all things are dependent on causes and conditions. He saw that there is suffering and this he called the first noble truth. The easiest way to define Dharma is that it is good and eternal; loving actions have happened in the past and they are happening now and they will happen in the future. The Sangha is the community in which one can be open and honest about one's failings and also to share one's successes without shame.
- Step Four
This involves practicing two spiritual exercises:
a.Meditate on my past actions and take stock of what I have received, what I have done in return and what trouble I have caused.Meditate on the human condition – look at fears and desires, pain and pleasure, death and sex, hopes and worries, abilities and inabilities, strengths and weaknesses.
b.Feel Amida embrace you and bathe in Amida's love and warmth.
- Step Five
Offer whatever comes up in the meditation to Amida and see it received with love.
- Step Six
Look at habitual ways of reacting to situations and think about a different way of reacting. Look at the mistakes I made honestly and see that this is who I am and try and learn from them.
- Step Seven
Accept that I am limited, imperfect, cruel, hurtful, jealous, passionate, and deficient, this is what keeps me humble and modest. I don’t expect to be Amida or perfect.
- Step Eight
See that there is suffering all around me, even in those who seem perfect have experienced something distressing at some time in their life. This world is not perfect – accept that I will most likely try and seek distraction rather than witness that which is most painful to see.
- Step Nine
In feeling loved and accepted just as I am, I relax and am able to practice the eightfold noble path.
- Step Ten
Chant the nembutsu as a way of making Amida the centre of my attention. Continuous striving and effort must be made to put something than myself as the focus of my attention.
- Step Eleven
Keep the Buddha in mind and go to whatever services or activities that will keep my mind on something good and wholesome.
- Step Twelve
Feel blessed and live my life in Amida's grace. Practice saying thank you and appreciate my and others flaws.
What about Step One to Step Three, and then Two? And some intermediate steps please, for us bombu Susthama? (Yes...I'd like it on a plate!)
By imagemarie, # 19. March 2008, 20:42:05
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
It may seem like quite a leap but I think it would come normally if you reached the point of feeling extremely powerless. I'll think about this and then write some more later.
If you have any suggestions I'd be interested in hearing them.
By Susthama, # 20. March 2008, 06:56:17
I climbed into the plum tree
and ate the grapes I found there.
The owner of the garden called to me,
"Why are you eating my walnuts?"
By imagemarie, # 20. March 2008, 23:42:59
I liked what you wrote, it doesn't make sense- and probably not supposed to.
I've always struggled with words and meaning. It probably has something to do with my native tongue being Korean but then waking up to no one to speak it to and having to learn a completely different language. Now I've forgotten Korean completely. Unfortunately, my tongue and lips are not very co-operative - the words that appeared in my mind and the meaning I was wishing to convey get twisted and changed as soon as my tongue and lips get involved.
By Susthama, # 21. March 2008, 06:37:36
Often wish I could speak in A,B,C,D,E,F,G major and minor keys instead.
But then I'd be ineffective here too, as I'm no musician:whistle:
"Right speech?" ...oh boy!
By imagemarie, # 21. March 2008, 14:42:43
By Susthama, # 21. March 2008, 16:23:21