Blogs - Hidden Recess

The postman

Yesterday I watched Kevin Kostner again in the film "The postman". It wasn't well received by all critics, but I rather like it and was struck by how the hero of a post-apocalyptic world, stumbling across a dead postman whilst on the run from the evil army of 8, dons his outfit and… Continue

Added by Michael Larkin on July 23, 2009 at 7:43pm — 8 Comments

The way to a real teacher

Are there any accounts of any modern day seeker meeting with, and recognising, a teacher? and being accepted? A chronicle of their mind states whilst they are grappling with words, concepts, ideas? Irina Tweedie's 'Chasm of fire' deals with this theme, but,this is more about her experiences under the guidance of her teacher than before she found him. I am interested in their experiences before this stage, what actually led them to the teacher. From the above book; '"Why did you come to me?" He a… Continue

Added by Rajan Arulganesan on July 15, 2009 at 9:29am — 20 Comments

Iblis Hero or Villain

Partly it was the last musings on fear that got me to thinking on the 'problem' of 'evil'. If everything is God/The One/Allah; where does shaytan/the devil fit into the scheme of things? It is an interesting experience coming to Sufism from a western background and even though I have i… Continue

Added by Kareana Kee on July 12, 2009 at 12:00pm — 15 Comments

Musings on fear

Premise: fear can only exist where there is vulnerability. Hmm. Some things are definitely vulnerable - such as the body. The mind, too. Still, we can in some circumstances ignore these seemingly legitimate causes for fear. For example, when protecting the life of a loved one… Continue

Added by Michael Larkin on July 4, 2009 at 4:19am — 31 Comments

meditation as psychotherapy

Is it harmful in the long run for one's spiritual development to use yoga and meditation techniques as psychotherapeutic tools? I have always been tempted to seek out a yoga instructor or meditation advisor to calm my psychological and emotional unbalance, but,been fearful that this may simply treat the superficial 'existential' crisis and create a false sense of well being. The doctors are always Prozac happy and I do not want to go down this route. Is it better, in the long run to persevere wi… Continue

Added by Rajan Arulganesan on June 25, 2009 at 10:41am — 35 Comments

Who am I? What am I doing here? Where am I going?

Let's start with the basics. Can I answer any of these questions? Er... no, actually. I can make up all sorts of stories: I'm a Blugbatter beast from planet alpha-prime of Proxima centauri; I'm here to observe you strange humans because… Continue

Added by Michael Larkin on June 18, 2009 at 6:00pm — 16 Comments

A wire brush

My father used to make wood sculptures by taking a large chunk of wood with a heavy grain and burning its surface with an acetylene torch. He then took a wire brush and scraped away the charcoal, leaving the grain of the wood, the bones of the wood, exposed with great beauty.… Continue

Added by Mike MacLeod on June 16, 2009 at 11:31am — 3 Comments

The Global consciousness project

This blog post might seem to be a complete non-sequitur, but it relates to Mike's recent blog post about belief. I don't intend to say very much myself, but leave it up to you, if you have time and inclination, to follow it up. First, what is the Global Consciousness Project? Well, if you… Continue

Added by Michael Larkin on June 13, 2009 at 5:06am — No Comments

The River of Consciousness

A man is standing in the middle-point of a small river, waist-deep, looking downstream. He can see, from this vantage point, the water flowing past him, and the banks of the river on each side. Downstream, he sees several smaller creeks emptying into it on each side. The waters meet the water in "his" river and color it where they enter, but they mix into the greater river. After a while the man wonders where the creeks come from, and with monumental effort turns around and sees creeks flowing… Continue

Added by Mike MacLeod on June 11, 2009 at 1:59am — 1 Comment

Belief

For a good long time I have struggled with the concepts of belief, disbelief, skepticism, knowledge, understanding, and others that orbit around what we call epistemology. My main interest is in belief. I have passionate feelings about it, dating back to the rabid atheist days of my youth, and I have somehow managed to preserve my dislike for the concept through many intellectual twists and turns. A comprehensive essay on its interrelationships with human psychology is beyond the scope of a bl… Continue

Added by Mike MacLeod on June 11, 2009 at 1:56am — 18 Comments

The Traveler (reposted)

I thought it might be appropriate to revisit this lovely poem. I forget who brought it here first, but thank you again. The Traveler A hundred years I slept beneath a thorn, Until the tree was root and branches of my thought, Until white petals blossomed in my crown. A thousand years I floated in a lake Until my brimful eye could hold The scattered moonlight and the burning cloud. Mine is the gaze that knows Eyebright, asphodel, the briar rose. I have seen the rainbow open, the sun cl… Continue

Added by Mike MacLeod on June 11, 2009 at 12:53am — 1 Comment

The Chief takes less than he is given And gives more than he has taken.

Give and Take The Chief takes less than he is given and gives more than he has taken. Kitab-i-Amu Daria (from wisdom of the idiots) It was a month to the day from the Yard Sale post to Hidden Recess closing. One conversation in that month was about expansion and contraction. Maybe a great contraction suggests an equally great expansion: pruning leads to growth. from the same book and because it has been a day of songs Tavern pledge 'It may be said: "They came in vain" Let it not… Continue

Added by Jane on June 10, 2009 at 6:58pm — 4 Comments

Overheard in the Dergah

The dervish looked at his Shaykh uncertainly. "O, my Shaykh, you know best. Can you tell us what is wrong with mankind in a single sentence?" The Shaykh looked out the window into the November evening as the line of cars and their headlights disappeared into the smoggy evening murk. "Yes, I can. Men are starving and they tear pictures of food out of magazines and eat them." Continue

Added by Mike MacLeod on June 10, 2009 at 2:31pm — 1 Comment

Way of Itlak and Sufism

The first book about Sufism I read was the groundbreaking - perhaps icebreaking is a better word - The Sufis from Shaykh Idries Shah. After digesting it, I headed to my local (but extensive) New Age book store to see what I could find to dine on next. Then as now I preferred prima… Continue

Added by Mike MacLeod on June 10, 2009 at 12:08pm — No Comments

What happened to Hidden Recess?

I just logged on to hidden recess and noticed it had apparently been deleted. So I created this, just temporarily, to find out what is going on, and what, if anything, previous members might like to do. Continue

Added by Michael Larkin on June 9, 2009 at 5:30pm — 17 Comments

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