Sparcely guided energy body practice

Some of the common ways that the sense of self and sense of world are dependent and can be noticed; how the sense of self can be dependent aspects of the imaginal world; how the sense of self can relate to one’s worldview. This talk serves - in part - as an introduction to the imaginal practice talks.

Ways of looking as a foundation; terms in imaginal practice; figures and presences; callings; example of very simple image; autonomy; cautions for working with images; types of image; spirits in the Pali Canon; dismissive attitudes; assumptions based on knowing what is measurable; views on the reality status of imaginal and the material world; relationship to an image or a presence; wide spectrum of images; Henry Corbin and a sense of the divine in an image; risks.

Examples of images; God and gods as images; Iain McGilchrist on left brain right brain, and the world not being given before it’s experienced; image of selfless leader; Eucharistic imagination; example of embodying an image; fully and partially imaginal; characteristic or element of create/discover; further examples of images and being called; characteristic of loving and being loved; wild reported image; image with no figure; felt sense of spirit of place and a related image from a big transition; putting aside questions about the reality status of images; Rob Burbea’s list of elements or characteristics and the characteristics: two-ness, unfathomable quality, participation; different orientations of imaginal and insight practices.

Ways of relating to images; using or not using the list of characteristics; characteristics of eros and distinguishing it from clinging, energy body as a guide, theatre-like quality and the risk if this isn’t acknowledged, meaningfulness, two-ness, autonomy.

Julie Nelson and the romantic belief in knowledge from a perspective-free viewpoint; eros; conceptual framework / logos; psyche as heart mind or soul - not seen as nn entity; the interaction of eros psyche and logos; the characteristic of soulfulness; Jack Kornfield on an approach to images in psychedelic experience: how that differs from imaginal practice; working with characteristics that may not be present; other characteristics: the lattice, grace, trust, reverence, humility, values, beauty, duty, fulness of intention, participation; imaginal views of oneself; another dismissive attitude to imaginal practice; quotes related to imaginal practice from WH Auden and Henry Corbin; caution on talking about images with others; the six devas on Lantau Island, what they represent, and how we could relate to them.

Further possible characteristics of images: slightly less fabricated, sense of divinity, an unfathomable quality, soft and elastic edges, timelessness, sense that images can’t be fully captured or reduced, sense of other images being in the field, echoing or resonance between the image and oneself.

Selected world developments in the last year: genocide, change to the global rules based order, whales on the Australian East Coast, some progress on addressing climate breakdown; spring flowers: Impact of the standard Buddha image; Conditions that help engagement: 1. contentment and appreciation; Dr Doom and his view on the value of happiness; contentment and burnout; 2. Anger as being pivotal, types of anger; recent world changes related to anger; tempus nullius; risks and care in relation to anger; Aristotle on the value of anger; Mahakala as an image; 3. An inclusive way of looking; Mother Theresa and one’s family circle; Analyo Bhikkhu and the question of what can I do; 4. Equanimity: perspective of John Gray on the myth of progress in the field of ethics and politics - with examples; Philip Blom on a view of homo sapiens and the comedy of homo sapiens seeing itself as the ruler of nature; 5. A sense of duty and the soulful quality that can come with that; 6. Stories and images: Ursula Le Guin and the Ones who Walk Away from Omelas - with an interpretation; James Hillman and Michael Ventura from We’ve had a Hundred Years of Psychotherapy and the World’s Getting Worse; Kuan Yin as an image and how she is seen in the Buddhist Tsu Chi Charity Foundation.