Lost Coin Class Notes for 7-15-08

-Daniel encourages rokusu sewing together, as a group. They should be hand sewn.

-People at one time worked together much more than we do now. We are much more isolated as a culture than we once were. Rokusu sewing can be a good opportunity to come together with a purpose.

-Daniel had his last talk at the  Zen Center. He received letters from people saying that they wish they had gone to more of his talks. Daniel encourages us to do what we want to do now--our time of life is limited, we need to take advantage of it. Daido Roshi is ill and Daniel may not get to see him again before he dies.

-A question was asked about why the 4th Way was kept secret. It was because of the idea that a teaching may lose its power if it's spread too thin. There are esoteric traditions in most religions that are steeped in secrecy--from Christianity, to Judaism, to Buddhism. Traditionally, in Buddhism, one didn't share one's koan study without anyone else; Daniel wants to maintain that tradition in Lost Coin.

-One of the central goals of Lost Coin is to go from being asleep to waking up. We often believe that other things or methods will wake us up, such as money, relationships, material possessions, etc. These will not wake us up.

-We operate under many laws of reality, whether we like it or not. Some of these laws are death, aging, and seeking pleasure rather than pain. In our quest to wake up we investigate or "fight" these laws. It's not "natural" to wake up. Most people live their entire lives without fighting these laws. This would be living a natural life. Higher aims are not natural.

-Observe yourself to wake up. Observing yourself is a special state that needs to be cultivated. Observe yourself very neutrally, like a camera.

-Exercise for this week: Observe your body--posture, voice, breath. When you are really observing yourself things will be brighter, more vivid. If that is not there, you are merely thinking about observing yourself. It is difficult to explain to someone that they are sleeping, it has to be experienced--felt.

-The 4th Way calls this idea of truly observing oneself and one's surroundings being in "shock" or "shocking" oneself. One of the ways that we often experience shock is by traveling to new places. Other ways to experience shock: not expressing negative emotion when it arises, and a spiritual/religious teacher can lead one to a state of shock.

-Part of fighting the laws of nature is being nice and kind to one another. This goes against the pleasure principle. When negative emotion comes up, simply notice it. Fear and anger are negative emotions--sadness is not.

-Conscious suffering can result in waking up.

-Adopt the idea of nothing is anyone else's fault. We are responsible for our experience. Relationships are a great place to feel like everything is someone else's fault. We often get out of relationships before we have a chance to experience many of the lessons they have to offer.

-Daniel left 4th Way because it was too intellectual--not enough emphasis on feeling. We are being taught what Gurdjieff taught.

-Daniel wants to teach people who are "in this world" (not a monastic setting). Our practice is all of life.
