In studying J.G. Bennet’s seven lines of work (specifically the third line about service) our group discovered more about identification and how it keeps us from true service and sacrifice. Service cannot exist without assimilation and struggle (the first two lines). With anything, we must learn to assimilate information through our own experience, which is in direct relation to how we understand and implement intentional inner struggle. If we are to be of service, by the very definition, we must break the spell of identification with the role we are playing. This calls us to look at duty and the … [read more]
Identification
Opinions
As we get skilled at self-observation, we may discover how utterly opinionated we are. We see the prevalence of opinions in our lives and how they justify our behavior. If I can see my opinions for what they are, I have a chance to work with them. I begin to make the effort to detach from that opinion since I now see it as just that: an opinion. Opinion is based on our likes and dislikes but is a more cemented version that has developed into a belief. We seem very attached to our opinions because they have formed over … [read more]
Likes, Dislikes, Judgement and Fear
Every week, people from our Tuesday night group bring in self-observations based on a designated theme. This month we have focused on the idea of like and dislike. When we focus our efforts on noticing how we like or dislike something, it can lead us to understand what is behind judgement, namely fear. Like and dislike is judgement. We form opinions and beliefs around our likes and dislikes. This isn’t just about our preferences. Our likes and dislikes form what we believe should and shouldn’t be, and so when things don’t go according to what we think is appropriate behavior, … [read more]
The Emotional Body
The emotional body is something we can study by observing how we live in the world through our feelings. It is an energetic body that steers an important function in us. When this body is not fortified through the proper channels, it wreaks havoc on our system. There is much to be said about emotions, false emotions, reactivity, and actual feeling. Observing what is deeply enmeshed with thought becomes a means by which we allow our emotional body to resonate at its proper frequency. This body can become an important tool and portal through which our higher centers can be … [read more]
Sacrifice
The third source of transformation according to John G. Bennett is sacrifice. Sacrifice is a misunderstood concept, to say the least, and perhaps is more easily understood by doing it. There is a reason the idea and act of sacrifice comes after learning and struggle. It requires more from us. We come to know what we can bear and when we bear something, great rewards ensue. We cannot, however, approach sacrifice with the idea of reward in mind for then it is no longer a sacrifice. The very definition of sacrifice is deliberately releasing attachment without any expectations. The other … [read more]
Right Effort and The Power of Struggle
Right effort and the power of struggle is the second source of transformation in John Bennett’s book, Transformation. There are countless writings on right effort from the Zoroastrian tradition to Buddhist teachings. We all struggle with something, but much of that is avoidable, if we learn the deeper meaning of right effort. To intentionally struggle with our own negative states is the path, but this gets completely misunderstood. This article is an attempt to clarify the meaning of conscious labor and intentional suffering. We are familiar with the saying no pain, no gain, but many frown upon this in the … [read more]