Report 25

In last week's report I used the term 'empty threats' to describe limitations and perceived obstacles with regard to integrating the knowledge of codependent arising into daily life. I can't say I was ready to expound on what I'd begun to articulate when Stim asked me, so I'd like to try to do that here. :)

Obstacles, cages, chains, and limitations as empty threats is seeing that everything that appears is made up of incalculable number of factors. Seeing that those factors are not as linear or reliable as they at first seem, and that the linear and reliable impression is a matter of a seemingly reliable self perceiving them, means that I can begin to rest, in a way. There isn't an outside imposition going on, but reacting as though there is seems to reinforce the impression that there is. 

In some sense it is factoring in one's ignorance when approaching any and all 'things', because you *know* that if you take a moment to look further into something, it is ultimately not as weighty as it (at first glance) seems.

Looking at worry, for instance, if I am worried it is usually because I've not deeply considered the transience of what I'm worried about, or the worry itself. It is a habit of impatience, which I can address. The threat is 'serious' when I take 'myself' seriously, and it is funny that getting 'still', those obstacles can begin to 'move'.

So then developing refinement of concentration is where immediacy comes into play. Looking in a shallow way is a habit, not a necessary, or essential state, and at some level (a level I am attentive toward cultivating), all limitations are a matter of letting oneself rely on surface understanding moment to moment.

-I'm going to try not to edit this down too much because sometimes I'm hesitant to ask some things openly in workshops or take too much time to clarify things. I've been doing quite a bit of reading and listening to audio books on my own also, with this workshop as the guide.

 What I can describe is that I still see limitations, but also 'through them' rather like transparency layers on top of one another.