[Glass Joe]

I'm really glad this thread got bumped up. I heard of Jed McKenna and his two books but never got around to reading anything from him.

I too prefer the blunt, no-nonsense, no-hype approach. Has anyone here read any books by Wei Wu Wei? I think Wei’s books would probably have the same impact as Jed’s books (total nuclear mind meltdown ) but I'm not sure...

I liked Wei Wu Wei’s ideas on the "negative way" and “non-volitional living” and it sounds like Jed McKenna (and Tony Parsons) might be teaching some similar ideas too.

Originally Posted by Tekart

I think true enlightenment/awakening does not need intention/manifestation, and intention/manifestation would only keep you from awakening.

Yeah... I think there comes a point in everyone’s spiritual growth where intention-manifestation, although fun and VERY useful, is seen as totally irrelevant. Intention-Manifestation isn’t good or bad by itself, but eventually it’s seen as yet another tool/process/path that doesn’t get you anywhere anymore.

Here's my favorite quote that I think summarizes this:

It must be said here that those who are on the path are endeavoring to free themselves of all karma, not simply “bad” karma. For, if being under the influence of bad karma is to be bound to samsara (the wheel of birth and death) by iron chains, then being under the influence of good karma is to be bound to the wheel by gold chains. One must be free of all karma to reach “unexcelled, complete awakening”. Thus, Samyak-karmanta (complete action) is free, spontaneous, and uncontrived action. This is the same as the Hindu kriya, for as karma is action that requires further action, kriya is complete action, requiring no further action.
-- Alan Watts

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Originally Posted by Toine

Intention-manifestation is playing the game by the rules in a very skillful way, but true awaking is to stop playing the game altogether.

Originally Posted by Tekart

And so this is all part of the game as well isn't it? Tony Parsons said that there is nothing to gain. "This is it", we are already there, we just don't 'see' it, and apparently there is nothing you can do to see it or make it happen. THAT sucks huh?

There are so many different way to think about the game analogy that I'm not even sure where to begin.

I mean, from one perspective, I think you can look at it as setting the game aside once you realize that it's just a game. But from another perspective, I think you can look at it as realizing that the game has no outside or sidelines to it at all. Ever. ALL of it is a game.

Thoughts?