Mystic Mountain Newsletter V

Many of are lost from time to time. This comes from the very human existence that we have been provided with. But, we are lost because of this human existence. We believe that we are good or bad based on our distorted perception. We think we are good because the kind of car, house, rank, job or girl that we have. We evaluate or define who we are by what we have. This can lead to deep rooted suffering. These are Ego based misinterpretations of reality. We are constantly struggling, not so much with our problems, but with our interpretation of the problems. The examples of this are endless and it all has to do with "Cause and Effect."

Firstly, we struggle with material wealth caused by increased prosperity. We become over-joyed by this enhancement in our life. Effect; we become depressed when its gone. So how can we overcome this problem? We must learn to take refuge in the four noble truths. The four Noble Truths explain the relationship between causes and their effects. Why should we believe in these? Well, it is a natural fact of life that each one of us has an innate desire to seek happiness and overcome suffering. It’s instinctive. And, if it is instinctive to seek happiness and overcome suffering then we must follow these Noble Truths because they provide the path to freedom from suffering by helping us to gain insight into the law of causality, of both happiness and suffering. One does not have to change religion to study Truth. One’s religion can incorporate the Truth as an additional means to decrease suffering. Your God didn’t create your suffering, you did!

One of the many falsehoods perceived by humans is the idea of independence. The understanding of this principle is really quite simple and yet we make it so complicated. This principle means that all things in this universe come to be as a result of interactions of causes and conditions. Everything is interdependent. Everything can be understood as parts or a whole and that whole depends upon the existence of parts. This not only occurs in the physical realm, but the non-physical as well. Consciousness can be seen as a result of temporal sequences. The Dalai Lama explains the third dimension of independent origination much easier than I can, so I will quote him.

"There is a third dimension to the meaning of independent origination, which is that all things and events – everything, in fact - arise solely as the result of mere coming together of many factors which make them up. When you analyze things by breaking them down into their many constitutive parts, you come to understand that it is simply in dependence of other factors that anything comes into being. Therefore; there is nothing that has an intrinsic identity of its own. Whatever identity we give things is contingent on the interaction between our perception and reality itself."

With this in mind, we are able to appreciate the workings of "Karma," the karmic law of cause and effect which governs human actions. Karma explains how experiences of suffering arise out of negative thoughts, words, and actions and how, similarly, joy arises out of positive thoughts, words, and actions. The more we concentrate on this ideology, the deeper the view we attain. The deeper the view, the deeper the understanding results of our thoughts, words and actions.

Sensei has often talked about thought, word and deed as a vital influence for the ninja to create a positive outcome. Many students have thought about going to Japan to train. They fantasize about training with the master. But unless they put the thoughts and words into action, the deed will never be possible and very little will change.

This is not only the way things are for warriors, but also the way things are for everyone else in a changing world where skills and fluidity are essential tools of survival. We strive to be consciously aware of our state of mind, but once we practice this for a time, it becomes natural to be aware. To develop this is not as simple as the push of a button. It must be put into practice.

"Just keep going!"

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