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chase public acceptance by going along with the rules and fashions of the moment.
Otherwise they try to rise above these by becoming trendsetters themselves.
By acquiring fame or other forms of power, individuals can attain dominance over
others temporarily. Sooner or later, however, everyone is confronted with both
failure and aloneness.
Psychological dimension On the psychological dimension (Eigenwelt) individuals relate
to themselves and in this way create a personal world. This dimension includes views
about their own character, their past experience and their future possibilities.
Contradictions here are often experienced in terms of personal strengths and
weaknesses. People search for a sense of identity, a feeling of being substantial and
having a self. But inevitably many events will confront them with evidence to the
contrary and plunge them into a state of confusion or disintegration. Activity and
passivity are an important polarity here. Self-affirmation and resolution go with
the former and surrender and yielding with the latter. Facing the final dissolution
of self that comes with personal loss and the facing of death might bring anxiety
and confusion to many who have not yet given up their sense of self-importance.
Spiritual dimension On the spiritual dimension (Überwelt) (van Deurzen, 1984)
individuals relate to the unknown and thus create a sense of an ideal world, an
ideology and a philosophical outlook. It is here that they find meaning by putting
all the pieces of the puzzle together for themselves. For some people this is
done by adhering to a religion or other prescriptive world view, for others it is
about discovering or attributing meaning in a more secular or personal way. The
contradictions that have to be faced on this dimension are often related to the
tension between purpose and absurdity, hope and despair. People create their
values in search of something that matters enough to live or die for, something that
may even have ultimate and universal validity. Usually the aim is the conquest of a
soul, or something that will substantially surpass mortality (as for instance in having
contributed something valuable to humankind). Facing the void and the possibility of
nothingness are the indispensable counterparts of this quest for the eternal.
Story of rain boots and umbrellas.
The first point. - Train in the preliminaries. These are known as the  ordinary
foundations to spiritual practice and they are the firm basis on which understanding
is developed.
Usually in Tibetan Buddhism we pray to the lineage and the Buddhas and
Colin Moore  Seven Points of Mind Training  Golden Buddha, Thursday, 12 January 2012 4
enlightened beings to help us in our practice but we can visualise that in whatever
way we find helpful. So for Christians it could be Jesus or God, for others who
perhaps do not have a conventional faith it may just be a ball of light that
represents the very best in ourselves or in those we trust and aspire to be like.
Really it s up to you  whatever inspires you most. We feel that light comes from
them and enters into us through our fontanel  the top of the head and fills us with
the light and we have a happy feeling of bliss and satisfaction.
1. The precious human birth  traditionally in Buddhism this is taken to mean that a
fully endowed human birth is in fact very rare. What this means is that, apart from
just being lucky enough to be born human as opposed to something else we also
have  leisure, freedoms and assets . Time, possibility and the means to do many
things. At the same time we need to be aware that this form is easily destroyed.
Not just by dying but also through unfortunate circumstances like stress, lack of
freedoms and assets. So we should really appreciate what we have.
A I recognise and appreciate the health, wealth that I currently enjoy.
B Ditto the happiness and the ease that I currently enjoy.
C Ditto the opportunities and fulfilments that I enjoy.
2. Death and impermanence- the universe and everything in it is impermanent,
endlessly creative destructive, endless process.
3. Particularly impermanent are the lives of beings which are like water bubbles.
We ourselves are impermanent and everyone and everything we encounter is.
4. Samsaric existence is suffering. An endless stress reaction cycle of attachment-
desire, aversion  hatred avoidance which pushes and pulls us out of our clear, calm
and sensitive centre of the cyclone.
Homework
Do the visualisation meditation at the beginning then begin to go through all the
things that you are grateful for in your life  counting your blessings.
Be aware that everything and everyone is impermanent. Appreciate the people and
the things in your life knowing that we do not know when we will die nor when they
might die.
Notice when and how we get so caught up in the stresses and strains of our life
that we lose our centre, our mindfulness. Notice if you can at the time or as soon as
possible afterwards the bodily sensations and feelings connected to that.
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