iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

PessoaBrain @pessoabrain.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Reposted by Wystan

The relationship between writing and thinking is a fundamental one and getting more attention given that we can (presumably) offload our writing to AI systems. I often find that we don't really understand things sufficiently well if we can't write it in ways that others understand.

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Wystan @wystantbs.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Seeking to step out of birth and death, This tangle you are tightens: Its end before your beginning is missed. Looking obscures seeing, But if you don't once look back, Where no eye can be, You'll never see! How difficult!

Some older meditation manuals are written for use by both teachers and students, and you'll find offhand lines going something like: "If at this point the disciple has not been introduced to the view that all is the magical appearance of one's own mind, introduce it now." 😄

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Who is reading these words? What is this? Where is reading occurring? ❤️ Wrong answers only.

Ever tried to find the exact boundary of these skinbags we call our selves on the level of sensation? Weird.

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An illuminating exercise: pair Do Nothing with free-writing. You can alternate this way between an unfixated state and automatic writing until they merge. Any time you notice the intention to control attention or direct the stream of thought or expression arise, drop it. Enjoy!

Wystan @wystantbs.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Saturday, March 8 12-6PM Pacific, 3-9PM Eastern www.wystantbs.com/intensives

wystantbs.com

Intensives — Wystan's

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Wystan @wystantbs.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

In this one cycle of breath you may notice self and world arise and vanish. Here and gone, here and gone. Amazing! I'll be leading a Zoom intensive focused on refining mindfulness of breathing this Saturday, which I invite anyone interested to join, info and link below.❤️

Wystan @wystantbs.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Post-mortem pondering put to rest:

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Wystan @wystantbs.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Eventually the ever insistent urge for abstraction away from this wears thin and mind, wearied from endless fabrications, rests open and free. Amazing!

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How long to sit came up a few times on retreat: I notice diminishing returns past 90 minutes. Sitting truly motionless for that duration is a good goal. Past that, unless you're in hard/formless jhana territory and the body's out of the picture, best to break sessions up. YMMV

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Attachments to positive experiences and realizations which arise when engaging wholeheartedly in practice are only this mind showing its habits. How good to see oneself clearly, to know without doubt what here remains to let go!

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Afflictive reactions which arise when attempting to live harmoniously with others are only this mind showing its habits. How good to see oneself clearly, to know without doubt what here remains to let go!

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Hindrances which arise when attempting to unify with an object in meditation are only this mind showing its habits. How good to see oneself clearly, to know without doubt what here remains to let go!

Wystan @wystantbs.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Death is certain; only the time is uncertain. Knowing this, how will I pass these the few hours of this life? Remember, remember.

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Recorded thoughts on the importance and function of retreat practice: youtu.be/AHijhjFElPs?...

youtu.be

Why Retreat?

YouTube video by WystanTBS

Wystan @wystantbs.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Stepping into an online retreat with Leigh Brasington tomorrow and soon after beginning a year-long immersion in Rangjung Dorje's presentation of Dzogchen. Good friends, teachers, and community on this path make all the difference. May all be well. ❤️

Wystan @wystantbs.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Nothing quite like old masters spilling steaming Zen tea:

Wystan @wystantbs.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

"Therefore, if the proliferation and decline of the Teachings Are measured, not by the realization of reality itself Or by actions that accord with the Dharma, But instead by numbers of people, Genealogy, physical appearance or power, That is nothing but delusion and stupidity."

Wystan @wystantbs.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Short video reflecting on and encouraging going all-in on practice: youtu.be/pwyCUbl1Hjc?...

youtu.be

Encouraging Coming Undone

YouTube video by WystanTBS

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Wystan @wystantbs.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

😆Hakuin heckling the Heart Sutra is gold:

Reposted by Wystan

METTA HOLIDAY! Saturday, December 21, 12-6PM Pacific, 3-9PM Eastern. Drop in for time immersing, saturating, and suffusing in loving awareness extending to all, offered on donation. www.wystantbs.com/intensives

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Discussing cessation with Stephen Snyder our connection cut out repeatedly. Very funny!

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This is because your training and practice are still insufficient. There is a proverb, 'At home a tiger, in public a pussy-cat.' In one's own home one plays the tyrant, but one step outside and one dwindles to the uncertainty of a cat in strange surroundings. Very awkward!" - Daibi on Torei

'When alone, think you are in the midst of others — you will not then behave carelessly.' For though your heart may be wide and free when quietly by yourself and your very body may feel spacious, yet you tense up when meeting a crowd and experience a kind of coercion.

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But seeing just once into one's True Nature is not enough. Dedicated effort and real determination are necessary until insight has become familiar and can be used freely. Master Hakuin says in his Flour-Milling Song,

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Only then do insight and its function match, and wisdom is in accord with action. Bodhidharma said, 'Many know the way, few walk it.'

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"Though this Great Matter of seeing into one's nature calls for the crushing of one's bones, it is not uncommonly difficult to get it clear. What is hard to achieve is to have it function freely and clearly, always and everywhere, in motion and in rest, in good and adverse circumstances.

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Without knowing anything about a particular person's proclivities, a practice path I'd happily recommend to just about anyone: Metta -> Jhana -> Vipassana -> Nondual practice(s).

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A long, informative, and entertaining journey to, "lol idk, maybe."

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At all times, if I'm paying attention.🙇

Expelled some bile and threw it up on the stack. Cathartic. Reflecting and expressing feelings regarding full-time teaching. wystan.substack.com/p/reflecting...

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Tonight, last one of the year, holding open space for practice and discussion, resuming 8th of January. www.wystantbs.com/drop-into-op...

Loved this, passing massive nenju around while all intoning the Komyo Shingon.

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Wystan @wystantbs.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Whatever your beliefs, ritual magic is 🔥. Goma a few days ago: body, speech, and mind ablaze invoking Fudo Myoo's power for others' benefit. All intoning his mantra, translated: Homage to the all-encompassing Vajras! O violent one of great wrath, destroy! hūṃ traṭ hāṃ māṃ.

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Some people practice both, and depending on the lineage there can be some admixture, so while the methods may differ the fruition and function is the same. Maybe I should bite the bullet and invite Meido Roshi to talk mikkyo...

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Wystan @wystantbs.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Iconographical tidbits: Fudo's blue-black coloring is due to his wading into the muck and shit of samsara endlessly in service to all sentience. He brandishes a sword of prajna to cut delusion, his lasso of samadhi binds affliction, his wrath blazes, burning all suffering.

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Wystan @wystantbs.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Say what you will about the Bodhisattvayana. Never out of a job! There being no beings to liberate, all Buddha by nature, most miss the memo, so a tap and a nod are needed here and there.

Thinking in public, same old troubles: The structure of my neurotic tendencies makes retreat training relatively easy and enjoyable. The home-front is where more gears grind and stick, residues linger and stink. Before arriving back home tonight, giving intention to shift this.

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"Is Fudō Myōō real? In a Buddhist view, he's about as real as you are." ☀️💎🌈

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Was lucid for a portion last night. Later, caught in illusion again, chased by a murderer, I shoved her away and woke up, my body having made the shoving motion, my hands outstretched. I rarely have 'bad' dreams anymore, and when they happen I always wake up. Practice.🙂

🔥Short Shugendo retreat at Korinji completed.🔥 Delightful ritual and mantra practice connecting and embodying Fudo Myoo. Syllables still vibrating in my bones. Already looking forward to returning for sesshin and further mikkyo training. 🙏🙇‍♂️ My attempt at his seed-syllable:

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but somehow they become divested of the will to respond to any unfavorable stimuli angrily enough to say, "Damn it!" - Suzuki Shosan, 1579-1655

"In training in Zen in recent years many people seem to have forgotten that Zen includes a great spirit of bravery and great strength. Therefore, those who train in Zen become tender-hearted, admirable-looking, desireless, and good-natured,