The Reiki Cafe 

Dear Friends,

Is enlightenment over-rated? Is perhaps living a life truly devoted to loving others, and compassion for fellow living things enough?

Blessings,
Roxy

Roxy,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- one view is that Enlightment only becomes attainable once one has lived in the manner you suggest a sufficient enough number of lifetimes to resolve one's Karma

>:-}}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Namaste Roxy

Do laundry before enlightenment

Do laundry after enlightenment.

-zen proverb

Mal

mal,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- hence, "chop wood, carry water" before and after enlightenment

bagl

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Firekeeper,

But what about all the work we do and talk about on this board? Such as raising one's energy field, seeing the reality behind the illusion, and abolishing Ego? Is it totally meaningless, and compassion the only way? I'm beginning to think so.

Namaste,
Roxy

Dear Mal,

Yes, I'm sure that's very true. But I suspect that after enlightenment, menial chores take on a whole new meaning.

Blessings,
Roxy

roxy,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- one view might be that neither activity is menial

- that it is the Intention and Mindfulness (and compassion) that will pave one's way

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

roxy,

- do not all those things you mention serve the course of compassion?

- does not learning compassion help us see thru the veils spread by Ego and Shadow?

- so, with what Intention do you "raise your energy field"?? Whatever that means to you??

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

I read/heard somewher, that the buddist people emphasise reiki towardsenlightenment, rather that the healing of the body as we westerners do.
having said that, don't worry about enlighenment, thinking about it too much and you won't get it. gaining enligtenment and just then, thinking, wow this is enlitenmment, and just as quickly its gone. the thing to do then is to say, OH WELL!

Dear Firekeeper,

As for energy field, I don't know, it's kind of a generic term for different types of energy work people do to raise conciousness.

I had been spending a lot of time trying to do those things I mentioned, abolish Ego, see beyond the veil, and do that kind of energy work, with not much in the way of results. And working from that direction, I didn't find I improved my ability towards compassion any either. But I wasn't conciously working to do so.

At this point in my life, I'm making a concious effort to improve my capacity for love and compassion, and acting on such ideals, while doing my best to keep free of expectations of rewards from such actions. Also, I've been working on eliminatingn negativity from my thought processes. Right now, all that other stuff that I'd been led to believe in seems superficial now. Perhaps if I just follow the way of compassion, those other things will fall into place? It's certainly not my motive now, I'm just wondering.

I'm a little frustrated and confused.

Namaste,
Roxy

Namaste Roxy

Menial activity is another opportunity to practice mindfulness. It is our resistance to it that costs us energy. That way, they are as relaxing as listening to music!

Mal

Dear Mal,
Excellent point, never thought of it that way. Light bulb went on above my head when I read your post...isnt that part of the process of enlightenment?

peace & joy,
holobon

Dear Mal,

I have to agree with you, I enjoy menial tasks. But I suspect that's closer to an enlightened point of view of them. Perhaps my language was faulty, but that's what I was trying to get across in the first place.

It's before you get to that state, that you consider them a real chore.

Blessings,
Roxy

Roxy,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- it sounds as if you are experiencing frustration with what seems to be lack of "answers" to your questions or lack 'results' of your efforts??

- frustraiton is a sign of attachment to 'outcomes', whatever they may be (or perhaps aversion to asking questions??)

>:-}}

- it seems many take compassion as somehow "selfless"

- ironically, compassionate action resolves our Karma (not someone elses) so, in some eyes we gain the most, in the long run, from our compassionate actions

bagl

- abolish Ego? Perhaps simply increase one's mindfulness of Ego - for it is from Ego that attachments and aversions are generated - these being dynamics that keep us in the cycle of death and rebirth

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Thanks Firekeeper,

That does help put things in perspective. I have been becoming attached to outcomes. It's the process after all that matters. And yes, resolving Karma.

I've made the decision of really spending my time developing compassion, and letting the other stuff go. I think I've been making things too complicated for myself.

Compassion Rocks!

Namaste,
Roxy

Otoharo!

Your questions and the answers you receive are interesting here. I would add this. You can not do anything in the mind. Mindfulness is rather, being able to not be in the mind. Be in your feelings, your true heart feelings which are love. Practice loving yourself. Look at your face in a mirror, love every feature.

From this loving stance, then comes love in all its outflow. You will discover enlightenment. Not seek it out.

finality

Namaste Roxy

Seeking to resolve our karma by developing compassion is also kind of selfish. Compassion should come out of selfless love. For eg., some people do social service in order to feel good about themselves. That, I would speculate, may not reduce your karma.

Mal

mal,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- I have already suggested that compassionate action is not 'selfless'

>:-}}

- that is the irony (not alll irony is a bad thing)

bagl

- and, the effects of the situation you offer will, I suspect, resolve some Karma

- Intention is always Key

- if one's Intention in "doing service" is to simply to allay guilt or foster some other Ego-building dynamic then, yes, this is different from a situation where someone "does service" out of feeling good about themselves, so to speak

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

And I'm going to sit in my bathrobe all day, and drink coffee. I'm taking a break. To heck with enlightenment, I'm going to veg!

Hi Roxy
Isn't that the actions of an elightened person? LOL

Namaste

Rob
Truth is not a property of language because language has not been able to express abstract ideas as efficiently as concrete items

Dear Mr. Rob,

Hey, if anyone would know, you would!

Great to see you.

Love,
Roxy

Roxy,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- perhaps a nice Karmamel to satisfy that sweet tooth??

bagl

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Firekeeper,

A Who?

Namaste,
Roxy

Dear Firekeeper and Mal,

I'm not sure Karma resolution is my motive. I feel if I just do what I believe in, my Karma will take care of itself.

Another point of view of life comes from my experience as an artist, and it works even if you don't believe in God, Karma, reincarnation, or any belief in an afterlife at all.

What do you really have that's yours in this life? Yourself, and your life. If you consider that your life is your creation, it can be a beautiful work of art depending on your actions. Maybe no one will ever see it but you, but most art is created by the artist for himself, anyway.

For me, the most beautiful actions are practicing love, kindness and compassion. Walking the walk, not just talking the talk. So whether my motive is selfless or selfish, I don't know or care. I'm just doing my artwork.

Blessings,
Roxy

Otoharo!

I love it!

finality