What a glorious article to read first thing on this new year’s morning. Thank you Caroline, long may you continue to prompt thoughtful digressions through your writing. I’ve saved this one for revisiting.
Greetings from a little way inland, at an ancient crossing place on an island in the Hampshire Avon. What a joyful weaving of words, images and feelings you have given us as a gift to begin the new year! So many things that I have also been pondering and contemplating. I so enjoy your eloquence in communicating and connecting to share your explorations.
I was going to email this reply then I thought others might find it interesting to ponder on or discuss, disagree, etc which is why this Substack platform is so interesting.
Yes, the idea of ‘personal’ enlightenment or illumination is indeed an oxymoron as I see it too. Certain words as spiritual labels can really get in the way, at least in terms of how many appear to represent that state as ‘the ultimate destination.’ In the Taoist tradition I practise, personal enlightenment is perceived as a necessary step and just that, a step along the way of growing more and more fully alive. Effectively, you recognise and stabilise your individual essence ready for the long haul.
It confused me for years because so many writers seem to celebrate personal ‘enlightenment’ or ‘illumination’ as having massive significance, like an ultimate arrival. The minority however just give it a slight nod and say ‘now just keep going… get on with the real work,’ towards realising Universal enlightenment, unity with Tao, the two things are not the same.
I study with two different traditions and it became clear that the ‘personal illumination’ stage is a label for a necessary milestone that is passed, a bit like one of those ‘significant birthdays’ of youth, the 18th or 21st perhaps. There may be a sense of excitement, achievement, literally an extraordinary level of illumination and also a complete release into a sublime depth of vast and amorphous darkness. Yet that state of conscious awareness is also beyond YinYang, it is not just about light. Certain ‘veils’ will already have lifted by then and ceremonies can happen in some traditions, as may moments of Grace. My teacher in the Taoist tradition simply says it’s the starting point for the real work ‘continue… just keep going...’
Effectively clarifying and clearing all obstacles and also relaxing into the vast amorphous darkness. The task is to remove all internal obstacles to stable universal connection, maintaining clear physical presence and embodiment of all experiences of time and space and other dimensions of consciousness, to find all connections and release, to dissolve all obstacles and free the energy needed to sustain the full journey. That of becoming one with all and everything and nothing, of realising Tao.
Now that’s a very, very long journey ahead!
You might find this book (linked below) very interesting. It’s a new translation of the Daodejing by my friend Professor Alan Peatfield, who explores the ‘Oral Tradition’ lineage connected to this work, with our teacher Bruce Frantzis who is passing that tradition on. He answers Alan’s well crafted questions in the style of adept and teacher. The book came together over 15 years of writing and is a treasure trove that can be dipped into as well as read from cover to cover. I have done both and have it on Kindle as well as hard copy. Unusually for me, I currently prefer the e book version, but it’s good to have both.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful comment. I think you are much further along in Taoist practice than me, and I appreciate your insights. I am of the 'just keep going' school, where any so-called enlightenment experiences are not to be clung to in any way and special states are not to be sought. This year it behoves me to put down comparisons of different types of practice. Warm greetings to you from near the mouth of he Avon.
Thanks Caro, though I don’t think I’m further along in any direction... A funny side of it all is that the whole practice seems to be cyclical, non-linear and in a constant state of ‘just keep going…’ wherever we may find ourselves and however many times we consciously or unconsciously repeat any cycle. Often what we think we understand or have experienced is turned upside down, inside out, shaken and spun off in another direction.
A life in the creative arts seems like a good companion and full of similarities, the crafts of the art and the serendipitous moments. Things we create and then set aside to improve upon and may rediscover years later with new eyes and take in a new direction. Any experiences or creations are in a passing moment and to be released, dissolved and as you say, are not to be clung to or deliberately sought.
My own experiences involve a considerable amount of stumbling about and making what turn out to be mistakes, or maybe let’s call them learning opportunities. ‘Be careful what you wish for,’ being one of my teacher’s oft repeated phrases. Then encountering unexpected moments of grace and finding we have wandered into something that others like to label and define within a specific cultural context. We do indeed need to be lifted away from seriousness with some stumbles and trips and a good laugh with friends going through the same kinds of learning experiences. Out in nature is best of all, as the Ancients knew so well. I’m sure we’ll meet one day and play some push hands while we laugh at life.
My guess, and it is an intuitive guess of course, (albeit a ‘mind of man’ logical extrapolation passed back by the LH) is that the ‘just keep going…’ is probably unbounded by time or space or state of being or dimension and that it doesn’t have an ‘end’. The dissolving work of any true immortal, who/which (since Taoism is not human-centric) has merged with Tao, surely/possibly/intuitively continues as a conscious process through all dimensions for eternity.
Oh yes, sticking and sending hands, my favourite. Let’s play some time! The X3 bus stops in the middle of my village and I’m a few mins walk away. Sam will be here in August too.
Listening to your posts is soothing and so grounding for me. Thank you so much for sharing your words with the world. It's a better place because of people like you. ❤️ 😊
I woke up New Years day really needing to find my way on a few things. A week of nights with compass needle spinning and just a bit of the tang of being lost beginning to seep into the taste of everything. This piece touched all the directions I needed and combined with my own elemens in a way that stopped the spin and set North before me, not dead still, but navigable enough for times like these. Thanks for it.
It is good, as writing it, after reading Iain, was how I managed to stop my own compass needle spinning before Christmas. I hope the New Year finds you well and purposeful.
What a glorious article to read first thing on this new year’s morning. Thank you Caroline, long may you continue to prompt thoughtful digressions through your writing. I’ve saved this one for revisiting.
Greetings from a little way inland, at an ancient crossing place on an island in the Hampshire Avon. What a joyful weaving of words, images and feelings you have given us as a gift to begin the new year! So many things that I have also been pondering and contemplating. I so enjoy your eloquence in communicating and connecting to share your explorations.
I was going to email this reply then I thought others might find it interesting to ponder on or discuss, disagree, etc which is why this Substack platform is so interesting.
Yes, the idea of ‘personal’ enlightenment or illumination is indeed an oxymoron as I see it too. Certain words as spiritual labels can really get in the way, at least in terms of how many appear to represent that state as ‘the ultimate destination.’ In the Taoist tradition I practise, personal enlightenment is perceived as a necessary step and just that, a step along the way of growing more and more fully alive. Effectively, you recognise and stabilise your individual essence ready for the long haul.
It confused me for years because so many writers seem to celebrate personal ‘enlightenment’ or ‘illumination’ as having massive significance, like an ultimate arrival. The minority however just give it a slight nod and say ‘now just keep going… get on with the real work,’ towards realising Universal enlightenment, unity with Tao, the two things are not the same.
I study with two different traditions and it became clear that the ‘personal illumination’ stage is a label for a necessary milestone that is passed, a bit like one of those ‘significant birthdays’ of youth, the 18th or 21st perhaps. There may be a sense of excitement, achievement, literally an extraordinary level of illumination and also a complete release into a sublime depth of vast and amorphous darkness. Yet that state of conscious awareness is also beyond YinYang, it is not just about light. Certain ‘veils’ will already have lifted by then and ceremonies can happen in some traditions, as may moments of Grace. My teacher in the Taoist tradition simply says it’s the starting point for the real work ‘continue… just keep going...’
Effectively clarifying and clearing all obstacles and also relaxing into the vast amorphous darkness. The task is to remove all internal obstacles to stable universal connection, maintaining clear physical presence and embodiment of all experiences of time and space and other dimensions of consciousness, to find all connections and release, to dissolve all obstacles and free the energy needed to sustain the full journey. That of becoming one with all and everything and nothing, of realising Tao.
Now that’s a very, very long journey ahead!
You might find this book (linked below) very interesting. It’s a new translation of the Daodejing by my friend Professor Alan Peatfield, who explores the ‘Oral Tradition’ lineage connected to this work, with our teacher Bruce Frantzis who is passing that tradition on. He answers Alan’s well crafted questions in the style of adept and teacher. The book came together over 15 years of writing and is a treasure trove that can be dipped into as well as read from cover to cover. I have done both and have it on Kindle as well as hard copy. Unusually for me, I currently prefer the e book version, but it’s good to have both.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daodejing-Oral-Tradition-Laozi-ebook/dp/B0BM5RHMS6?nodl=1&dplnkId=c23d3cf7-7986-4314-a4e6-e514a6b294f5
Thank you so much for this thoughtful comment. I think you are much further along in Taoist practice than me, and I appreciate your insights. I am of the 'just keep going' school, where any so-called enlightenment experiences are not to be clung to in any way and special states are not to be sought. This year it behoves me to put down comparisons of different types of practice. Warm greetings to you from near the mouth of he Avon.
Thanks Caro, though I don’t think I’m further along in any direction... A funny side of it all is that the whole practice seems to be cyclical, non-linear and in a constant state of ‘just keep going…’ wherever we may find ourselves and however many times we consciously or unconsciously repeat any cycle. Often what we think we understand or have experienced is turned upside down, inside out, shaken and spun off in another direction.
A life in the creative arts seems like a good companion and full of similarities, the crafts of the art and the serendipitous moments. Things we create and then set aside to improve upon and may rediscover years later with new eyes and take in a new direction. Any experiences or creations are in a passing moment and to be released, dissolved and as you say, are not to be clung to or deliberately sought.
My own experiences involve a considerable amount of stumbling about and making what turn out to be mistakes, or maybe let’s call them learning opportunities. ‘Be careful what you wish for,’ being one of my teacher’s oft repeated phrases. Then encountering unexpected moments of grace and finding we have wandered into something that others like to label and define within a specific cultural context. We do indeed need to be lifted away from seriousness with some stumbles and trips and a good laugh with friends going through the same kinds of learning experiences. Out in nature is best of all, as the Ancients knew so well. I’m sure we’ll meet one day and play some push hands while we laugh at life.
My guess, and it is an intuitive guess of course, (albeit a ‘mind of man’ logical extrapolation passed back by the LH) is that the ‘just keep going…’ is probably unbounded by time or space or state of being or dimension and that it doesn’t have an ‘end’. The dissolving work of any true immortal, who/which (since Taoism is not human-centric) has merged with Tao, surely/possibly/intuitively continues as a conscious process through all dimensions for eternity.
Yes! That last paragraph, especially.
It'll be good to push hands one day, or even, just do sticking. C,
Oh yes, sticking and sending hands, my favourite. Let’s play some time! The X3 bus stops in the middle of my village and I’m a few mins walk away. Sam will be here in August too.
Sensing 🤦♀️hands
Listening to your posts is soothing and so grounding for me. Thank you so much for sharing your words with the world. It's a better place because of people like you. ❤️ 😊
I woke up New Years day really needing to find my way on a few things. A week of nights with compass needle spinning and just a bit of the tang of being lost beginning to seep into the taste of everything. This piece touched all the directions I needed and combined with my own elemens in a way that stopped the spin and set North before me, not dead still, but navigable enough for times like these. Thanks for it.
I am so glad of that, Andrew.
It is good, as writing it, after reading Iain, was how I managed to stop my own compass needle spinning before Christmas. I hope the New Year finds you well and purposeful.