Report 104 Metaphor as/and Ways of Knowing

When I stepped away from the Ways of Knowing workshop in March, my intention had been to attend occasionally. It didn't work out that way for a few different reasons. I was majorly squeezed for time, one, and also my feeling was that with only a few of us really looking into our daily lives and writing reports, the sessions themselves didn't have quite the momentum and cohesiveness that they wanted to. I was benefited tremendously by our keeping the workshop going, and the attention that Gaya, Dao, Zen, Mitsu, myself and others put into the topics, meeting not just on Thursdays but for smaller practice discussions often in voice, is something I appreciate enormously.

However, when a handful are doing reports, and the session is open, then an inclusive discussion rightfully reflects the pull of the larger group. It is easier to discuss general topics in a general way rather than to be personal. I continued to find the way of discussion in WoK, rather terrific... always something that I read twice or stop with to consider. But, what I find that I *require* in my life at this moment, is to make room for practice to get as direct and personal as it can get, moreso than discussion.

So, I'm hesitant.If there is anything in the world I'm interested in personally, it is whether a group/session can be focused and cohesive without being 'driven'. I remember a dear friend telling me once that when he stayed with a group of monks, there was a sense with time that the group practices... and in this I took to mean almost a blending of selves and dropping of ego within relationship, itself reflected everyone's personal devotion and practice. I'm at a rather sensitive time in my life and am not really interested in being driven or driving, more in learning to be better mannered and gentle somehow, to walk along sharing heart notes, and to be at the service of what some call 'the magic in the middle'.

On the topic of metaphor, not much to add to Bruce's wonderful examples. Our I-Ching discussion of the difference between koans and metaphor, I found to be very helpful. If we know all metaphors fall short, then there isn't a need to be too picky I think. Rather there is something else that is pointed to.