From Problem/Solution Thinking to Well-Being

[Ariel]

Use this thread to discuss the following blog post:

From Problem/Solution Thinking to Well-Being

[deeprivernz]

Hi Ariel
Enjoyed your account of your musings in the wilderness.

Seems like a lot of what you described is the old - is the glass half full or half empty?

Everything I do fails. Everything. No matter how spiritual, wise, or sneaky it may seem. Everything fails.

I feel that my life can be described by that quote except with the word 'succeed' substituted for your word 'fails'.
At the end of my '40 days and 40 nights' in the wilderness (well, 4 actually! ) the three words "IT DOESN'T MATTER! came barrelling out of the heavens. This fits in nicely with what you found re the oil spill etc.

Next time you go off to sit in the wilderness try it with no food or water. Adds a whole different aspect.

[Jinzang]

Thanks so much, posts like this are really helpful. I hear you are headed out on another meditation retreat. When you find the time I would appreciate it if you could give an explanation of how to meditate in the wilderness, dealing with problems like bugs, weather, finding a good site, and so on. I would like to hear any tips you have

[Jinzang]

I feel that my life can be described by that quote except with the word 'succeed' substituted for your word 'fails'.

This is not meant as a crticism, but in my practice I've found that you succeed by failing. For example, when you look for your ego, you don't find it. It would be pretty awful if you succeeded in finding it.

Back in my martial arts days we talked about investing in loss. Back then I took it to mean getting the sh*t beat out of you until you could do the technique properly. Now I'm understanding it in a different way, that you have to be willing to lose everything, because as long as you aren't willing, you're still invested in illusion.

[deeprivernz]

Hey Jinzang
With reference to how to cope in the wilderness, I know you are asking Ariel but I'll put in my pennies worth as well. Really feel into where feels right for you. Ask other 'spiritual' people for ideas but go where is right for YOU, not them. For me I had intended going up into the mountains but then found a Maori 'tapu' site on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Another tip is listen to other's ideas on how to do it but do it how YOU want to. I let go of every one of other people's suggestions. (And of course you must let go of mine too! )
Perhaps the main one I let go of was that of intending to 'meditate' whilst there. As it was, my mind did what it needed to and maybe it was meditating but not in any formal sense. Basically I allowed the real ME to guide me to a very succesful (dare I use that word? ) conclusion. Why label it as a 'meditation retreat'? That only restricts the possibility of the 'un-known' to enter which, in my experience, is what brings about change.

For example, when you look for your ego, you don't find it. It would be pretty awful if you succeeded in finding it.

Oh boy - do you have a few hours for me to demolish this statement????
Unwittingly, I think, you have used a word which totally describes my feelings around my ego. I am in awe of it. It is awe-full which is the derivation of the word awful which somehow has lost it's original meaning. Why deny my ego? Why try to get rid of it? Why not recognise it for what it is as a very valid part of Who I Am. I have found it to be this incredible life force which enables me, at the age of 64 to still virtually run up mountains, dance the night away and live life to the full the way I never did when denying my ego! It also frees me up to write nice things about myself!

Oh - here's something I have observed over the years - when I use the word 'you' when I am really talking about myself, I am denying a part of myself by trying to disassociate from what I am writing. I now know that it was my own fear of owning my true self (including my ego) which made me do it. I might start off using "I" but then changed to "you" once the fear started kicking in.
You tried to answer my words by describing your experiences and wisdom around the subject. Why then did you use the word 'you' most of the way through. The fact is that what you said is your truth, not mine so why try and foist it off onto me? Why not just say "I" instead of "you"

but in my practice I've found that you succeed by failing.

(Note the shift from 'I' to "you" when failing is mentioned.)
Actually I was never in your practice so how could I fail?
I have found that by taking ownership of my reality I can feel the difference. Try it, it might work for you too!

You did ask for tips on going out into the wilderness. I see everything I have written here as some tips from my experiences of venturing forth into my wilderness, both external and internal.
They may help you, maybe not - only you will know. So be it.

River

[Roger Gietzen]

My two cents on wilderness excursions.
I agree with riverz on finding a locale. Ask around for local backpacking spots that don't get a lot of traffic. Or just keep your eyes open and let your heart guide you. That is definitely part of the adventure.
In regards to bugs you can think about it in two ways. Internally bugs offer a opportunity to surrender and allow yourself to experience discomfort. Its unlikely that any real physical harm can come from allowing yourself to be feasted on. Bugs really seem to be messengers for the Universe that way. When I've backpacked in the past I amazed at how they preferential attack certain people quite more. I've worried if they are picking up on a fear and offering an opportunity for that person to embrace and digest that blockage.
That being said bugs can very quite a bit depending on season and location (they are often sparse at colder times and areas exposed to heavy frequent winds... like lakes sides). And as much as I try to surrender to them ( I don't use bug spray and just brush them off usually instead of going for the kill), there have been times that I was overwhelmed. Usually those moments are short, for example at dusk and dawn. And so I have been known to spend time in my nicely sealed tent at those times of days to avoid the onslaught. Where ever you go you'll get an idea as to the time of day or location that is best to avoid.
So I usually use a combination of picking a good spot, but try my best to surrender to what comes up.
Hope that's helpful.

[unmanifested]

Hi all,

I just discovered this site and relatively new to its type of content. I made a pretty radical shift in my mind about 18 months ago. I still consider myself something of a sapling, but that's OK, as growth is an ongoing process.

In any event, I found this to be a lovely piece of writing. My two cents... You might define "perfection" as that which cannot be changed. Each passing moment is the only way it can possibly be. As it cannot be changed, each moment is perfect. In theory, all of this makes absolute sense, but it's putting theory into practice that's the hard part. One has to learn to accept things that the ego considers "bad," "good," and so on to achieve that awareness of "well-being." I have had glimpses, and I can feel that it's the truth.

[lordkevin]

Thanks for the nice information in this post post dear...

[RobertCook]

Thanks to all for wonderful information. This discussion is helped me greatly.Thanks for sharing information.

[tentionfree]

Dear at the end of my '40 days and 40 nights' in the wilderness (well, 4 actually! ) the three words "IT DOESN'T MATTER! came barrelling out of the heavens. This fits in nicely with what you found re the oil spill etc..............