Conversations For Transformation: Essays Inspired By The Ideas Of Werner Erhard

Conversations For Transformation

Essays By Laurence Platt

Inspired By The Ideas Of Werner Erhard

And More




Werner Erhard Quote Experience

Carmel By The Sea, California, USA

March 13, 2008



This essay, Werner Erhard Quote Experience, is the third in the octology The Werner Erhard Experience: I am indebted to John Denver and to Raul Julia and to Anthony Zerbe and to James Cromwell and to Richard Feynman and to Palmer Kelly who inspired this conversation, and to Michael Jensen and to David Rindl and to Reg Leonard and to Josh Cohen and to John Taylor and to Anne Peterson and to Palmer Kelly and to Anna Taglieri and to Joseph "Joe" Kempin and to Bruce Hyde and to Drew Kopp and to Mark Harris and to Sanford "Sandy" Robbins who contributed material.


Werner Erhard speaks transformation like a possibility.

Don't collapse this distinction with a "how to". I'm not talking about him giving instructions  here, although in some situations there may be instructions. I'm asserting when Werner speaks, that's transformation.

I've assembled this catalog of Werner's quotes over the thirty some years I've known him. Of course, there are volumes  more I've not captured. But these ones got  me enough for me to want to write them down.

It's often been noted how futile it is to hunt butterflies. Once you've captured them, they've lost the very quality they had which made you want to own them in the first place: their freedom.

So it is with Werner's quotes. By writing them down I've taken them out of the domain of transformation ie out of the domain of the spoken word, out of the domain of speaking  and listening, and put them into a mere close approximation  to transformation ie into the domain of the written word, into the domain of writing  and reading. When I write them down they lose some of the very quality which made them noteworthy in the first place.

What I've written down is an accurate recreation of Werner's words. But it's only an approximation to his up close and personal, face to face  transformation he constitutes in them when he speaks them. My written word is not his spoken word. That is to say the written word is not the domain of transformation.

There's no significance to the order in which I've listed these quotes. This is simply the order in which they first appeared in these Conversations For Transformation.

They need no setup nor introduction. Transformation is each and every one of them. Each and every one of them is transformation. Also notice transformation is holographic. So any piece  of any of Werner's quotes is transformation too, all of it - all of it, that is, if you're a listening  for all of it.

All that said, here they are. This is Werner Erhard:
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LOVE IS GRANTING ANOTHER THE SPACE TO BE THE WAY THEY ARE AND THE WAY THEY AREN'T SO THEY CAN CHANGE IF THEY WANT TO AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO.
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THE TRUTH BELIEVED IS A LIE.
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WHEN YOU'RE UP TO YOUR ASS IN ALLIGATORS, IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER YOUR INITIAL OBJECTIVE WAS TO DRAIN THE SWAMP.
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IF YOU KEEP SAYING IT THE WAY IT REALLY IS, EVENTUALLY YOUR WORD IS LAW IN THE UNIVERSE.
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INTERESTING PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED.
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EXPERIENCE IS SIMPLY EVIDENCE THAT I AM HERE.
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HAPPINESS IS A FUNCTION OF ACCEPTING WHAT IS.
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A TRANSFORMED INDIVIDUAL DEMANDS TRANSFORMED RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE ONLY IN SUCH A CONTEXT CAN HE OR SHE NATURALLY EXPRESS A TRANSFORMED INDIVIDUALITY.
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WHAT I HAVE IS A PLACE TO STAND. NOT THE RIGHT PLACE, FOR I DO NOT PRETEND TO KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT EVEN FOR MYSELF, LET ALONE OTHERS, BUT A PLACE I AM WILLING TO TRY OUT TO SEE IF IT LEAVES ME AS A CLEARING WHERE THE TRUTH CAN MORE POWERFULLY GO TO WORK.
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WHAT WE ARE ENGAGED IN CREATING IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF PEOPLES' LIVES AND OF LIFE ITSELF. THIS CONTEXT OF TRANSFORMATION IS A CONTEXT OF FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY, OF EMPOWERMENT AND HUMAN JOY, OF CONTRIBUTION AND OF PARTICIPATION. PARTICIPATION IN THIS TRANSFORMATION IS, FOR ME, THE FULLEST EXPRESSION OF BEING.
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RESPONSIBILITY BEGINS WITH THE WILLINGNESS TO BE CAUSE IN THE MATTER OF ONE'S LIFE. ULTIMATELY, IT IS A CONTEXT FROM WHICH ONE CHOOSES TO LIVE. RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT BURDEN, FAULT, PRAISE, BLAME, CREDIT, SHAME OR GUILT. IN RESPONSIBILITY, THERE IS NO EVALUATION OF GOOD OR BAD, RIGHT OR WRONG. THERE IS SIMPLY WHAT'S SO, AND YOUR STAND. BEING RESPONSIBLE STARTS WITH THE WILLINGNESS TO DEAL WITH A SITUATION FROM THE VIEW OF LIFE THAT YOU ARE THE GENERATOR OF WHAT YOU DO, WHAT YOU HAVE AND WHAT YOU ARE. THAT IS NOT THE TRUTH. IT IS A PLACE TO STAND. NO ONE CAN MAKE YOU RESPONSIBLE, NOR CAN YOU IMPOSE RESPONSIBILITY ON ANOTHER. IT IS A GRACE YOU GIVE YOURSELF - AN EMPOWERING CONTEXT THAT LEAVES YOU WITH A SAY IN THE MATTER OF LIFE.
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YOU AND I WANT OUR LIVES TO MATTER. WE WANT OUR LIVES TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE, TO BE OF GENUINE CONSEQUENCE IN THE WORLD. WE KNOW THAT THERE IS NO SATISFACTION IN MERELY GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS, EVEN IF THOSE MOTIONS MAKE US SUCCESSFUL, OR EVEN IF WE HAVE ARRANGED TO MAKE THOSE MOTIONS PLEASANT. WE WANT TO KNOW WE HAVE MADE SOME IMPACT ON THE WORLD. IN FACT, YOU AND I WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE. WE WANT TO MAKE THE WORLD WORK.
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ONE CREATES FROM NOTHING. IF YOU TRY TO CREATE FROM SOMETHING YOU'RE JUST CHANGING SOMETHING. SO IN ORDER TO CREATE SOMETHING YOU FIRST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CREATE NOTHING. TO MAKE SURE A PERSON DOESN'T FIND OUT WHO HE IS, CONVINCE HIM THAT HE CAN'T REALLY MAKE ANYTHING DISAPPEAR. ALL THAT'S LEFT THEN IS TO RESIST, SOLVE, FIX, HELP OR CHANGE THINGS. THAT'S TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF SOMETHING.
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THE WAY TO HANDLE A MONSTER IS TO GIVE IT LOTS OF SPACE.
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YOUR LIFE WORKS TO THE DEGREE YOU KEEP YOUR AGREEMENTS.
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THERE ISN'T ANYBODY WHO SHOWS UP WITH TENNIS SHOES AND A TENNIS RACQUET WHO CAN'T PLAY TENNIS AT THE LEVEL OF SELF-EXPRESSION. THEY MAY NOT PLAY AT THE LEVEL OF CHAMPION BUT THERE ISN'T ANYBODY WHO CAN'T PLAY AT THE LEVEL OF SELF-EXPRESSION.
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YOU CAN START OFF ANYWHERE YOU LIKE AS LONG AS WHERE YOU END UP IS LEAVING EVERYBODY WITH MORE POWER.
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YOUR LIFE AND MY LIFE HAVE TURNED OUT, AND ONCE YOU GET THAT, LIFE GOES ON FROM A POSITION OF HAVING TURNED OUT. THAT'S CALLED PLAYING THE GAME FROM WIN.
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HEROES ARE ORDINARY MEN AND WOMEN WHO DARE TO SEE AND MEET THE CALL OF A POSSIBILITY BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES. BREAKTHROUGHS ARE CREATED BY SUCH HEROES, BY MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL STAND FOR THE RESULT WHILE IT IS ONLY A POSSIBILITY - PEOPLE WHO WILL ACT TO MAKE POSSIBILITY REAL.
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WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GO TO FIND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEW ERA WHEN WHO YOU HAVE BEEN BEING IS INSUFFICIENT FOR YOUR LIFE?
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WHAT HAPPENED TO ME ON THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE WAS I REALIZED I KNEW NOTHING. EVERYTHING I THOUGHT I KNEW I ONLY KNEW "IN ORDER TO".
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BUILDING A STRATEGY TO AVOID THE ALMOST CERTAIN FUTURE BINDS YOU AS MUCH TO THE ALMOST CERTAIN FUTURE AS COMMITTING TO IT.
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I WANT YOU TO SHIFT YOUR PERSPECTIVE FROM LIVING YOUR LIFE, TO BEING AN ACTOR PLAYING THE LEAD ROLE IN A PLAY CALLED "YOUR LIFE".
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MY NOTION ABOUT SERVICE IS THAT SERVICE IS ACTUALLY THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH YOU HAVE A COMMITMENT TO THE PERSON. NOW I DON'T MEAN TO THE PERSON'S BODY OR TO THE PERSON'S PERSONALITY OR TO THE PERSON'S STOMACH OR TO THE PERSON'S ALMOST ANYTHING. WHAT I MEAN IN FACT IS THAT FOR ME WHAT SERVICE IS ABOUT IS BEING COMMITTED TO THE OTHER BEING, TO THE OTHER PERSON SPIRITUALLY, TO WHO THE PERSON IS. NOW THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU ARE IN FACT COMMITTED TO THE OTHER PERSON, YOU ARE ONLY AS VALUABLE AS HOW YOU CAN DEAL WITH THE OTHER PERSON'S STUFF, THEIR EVIDENCE, THEIR MANIFESTATION, AND THAT'S WHAT SERVICE IS ALL ABOUT. SERVICE IS ABOUT KNOWING WHO THE OTHER PERSON IS, AND BEING ABLE TO TOLERATE GIVING SPACE TO THEIR GARBAGE. WHAT MOST PEOPLE DO IS TO GIVE SPACE TO PEOPLE'S QUALITY AND DEAL WITH THEIR GARBAGE. ACTUALLY, YOU SHOULD DO IT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. DEAL WITH WHO THEY ARE AND GIVE SPACE TO THEIR GARBAGE. KEEP INTERACTING WITH THEM AS IF THEY WERE GOD. AND EVERY TIME YOU GET GARBAGE FROM THEM, GIVE SPACE TO THE GARBAGE AND GO BACK AND INTERACT WITH THEM AS IF THEY WERE GOD.
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PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN THIS WORK BECAUSE OF THE VALUE THEY EXPERIENCE IN THEIR LIVES UNTIL THEIR LIVES OUTSIDE OF THEIR PARTICIPATION BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM THAN FOCUSING ON GROWTH, OR THEIR LIVES BECOME SO DEMANDING THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO PARTICIPATE. IT IS TOTALLY APPROPRIATE FOR PEOPLE TO STOP PARTICIPATING AT SOME POINT, AND FOCUS ON GETTING ON WITH THEIR LIVES AND INTERESTS. A NUMBER OF STUDIES ON GRADUATES DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE THEY RECEIVED KEEPS ON BEING OF VALUE IN THEIR LIVES EVEN AFTER THEY STOP PARTICIPATING, AND THAT THEY CONTINUE TO GROW ON THE FOUNDATION THAT THEY CREATED FOR THEMSELVES OUT OF THEIR PARTICIPATION.
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YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO LOOKING FOR LOVE WHEN IT IS WHERE YOU COME FROM.
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WE ALL HAVE RELATIONSHIPS, AND IF YOU CAN COMPLETE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PARENTS, YOU CAN HAVE INCREDIBLE RELATIONSHIPS, MAGICAL RELATIONSHIPS, MIRACULOUS RELATIONSHIPS.
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WHAT YOU RESIST PERSISTS.
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IN THIS CONVERSATION WE DISCOVER ANOTHER POSSIBILITY: LIVING IN A WAY, NOW, MOMENT TO MOMENT, THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO LIFE. WE DISCOVER THAT AS HUMAN BEINGS WE CAN LIVE IN A POSSIBILITY INSTEAD OF IN WHAT WE HAVE INHERITED, THAT INSTEAD OF JUST BEING A HUMAN BEING BECAUSE WE WERE BORN THAT WAY, WE CAN DECLARE THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING FOR HUMAN BEINGS. THIS IS THE WORK OF TRANSFORMATION: BRINGING FORTH A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING HUMAN. WHAT WE CREATE TOGETHER IS A RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH OUR WORK CAN SHOW UP AS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. I WELCOME THE UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK GLOBALLY ON THAT WHICH CONCERNS US ALL AS HUMAN BEINGS.
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DISTINCTIONS HAVE A SHORT HALF-LIFE, AND NEED TO BE RECREATED FROM TIME TO TIME.
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MASTERY IS NOT ABOUT BEING IN AN AESTHETIC PLACE OF LOVE AND KINDNESS. THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF MASTERY. MASTERY IS ABOUT HAVING THE WORLD SHOWING UP AS IT IS. AND 'I' IS JUST ANOTHER PIECE IN THE WORLD.
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IT'S MUCH EASIER TO RIDE THE HORSE IN THE DIRECTION HE'S GOING.
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THE ONE THING I'M CLEAR ABOUT IS EVERYONE IS CAPABLE OF BEING GREAT. NOT COMPARED TO SOMEONE ELSE. I MEAN GREAT FOR YOURSELF. I'M COMMITTED TO YOU REALIZING YOU'RE GREAT.
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WHO YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY "I" IS NOT YOU. IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT SHOWS UP FOR YOU.
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MASTERY IS WHEN WHAT'S THERE IS ALL THAT'S THERE.
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"I" IS NOT ME. IT'S SIMPLY SOMETHING THAT SHOWS UP FOR ME. BE OPEN TO THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING WITH THIS THING CALLED "I" SO YOU'RE MOVED TO TEARS BY IT. YOU CAN'T MASTER LIFE UNTIL YOU MASTER "I".
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THE PATHWAY TO HAVING ISN'T WANTING. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING, YOU NEED TO HAVE A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP WITH IT OTHER THAN WANTING IT, IN ORDER TO HAVE IT.
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HERE IS WHERE IT IS. NOW IS WHEN IT IS. YOU ARE WHAT IT IS. CELEBRATE!
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WHAT WE WANT TO GET TO IS TO HAVE THE AESTHETIC EXPERIENCE OF LOVE, KINDNESS, AND JOY BECOME ORDINARY.
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THE GATES TO THE TEMPLE OF TRUTH ARE GUARDED BY TWO DRAGONS: PARADOX AND CONFUSION.
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WHAT I MEAN BY "PATTERNED BEHAVIOR" IS ONE'S HABITUAL WAY OF REPRESENTING ONESELF, OFTEN THOUGHT OF AS "JUST THE WAY I AM".
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WHILE NO ONE WANTS TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY IT, WHO EACH OF US IS AND THE FUNDAMENTAL CHOICES EACH OF US MAKES IN LIFE, SEEM TO MATTER VERY LITTLE. EVEN ACTS OF GREAT COURAGE AND INTELLIGENCE, WHILE ADMIRABLE AND EVEN INSPIRING, EXIST IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE APPARENT UNWORKABILITY OF THE WORLD AT LARGE. OUR GREATEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT, WALKING ON THE MOON, WHILE GALVANIZING THE WORLD FOR A MOMENT, DID NOT FUNDAMENTALLY ALTER PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE OF THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES AND IN THE WORLD. SOMETIME AROUND NOW - IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED FIVE YEARS AGO OR FIFTY YEARS AGO, BUT SOMETIME AROUND NOW  - THE RULES FOR LIVING SUCCESSFULLY ON EARTH SHIFTED, AND AN OPPORTUNITY, UNSEEN BEFORE, BEGAN TO REVEAL ITSELF. THIS OPPORTUNITY IS A CONTEXT - A PARTICULAR SPACE OR PARADIGM, A WAY OF BEING - WHICH UNEXPECTEDLY CREATES THE POSSIBILITY FOR A PERSON'S LIFE TO TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IN THIS CONTEXT, THE WAY EACH OF US ANSWERS THE QUESTION "WHAT IS MY LIFE REALLY GOING TO BE ABOUT?" CAN LITERALLY ALTER THE COURSE OF HUMANITY. THE POSSIBILITY TO CREATE THE CONTEXT IN WHICH PEOPLE'S LIVES REALLY MATTER IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST PROFOUND OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE TO ANYONE, EVER.
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YOU AND I GO THROUGH LIFE, AND YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MUCH OF THE TIME IN LIFE THE QUESTION "HOW CAN I LIVE AND HAVE INTEGRITY AT THE SAME TIME?" IS PRESENT. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE WITH INTEGRITY. USUALLY THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONFLICT BETWEEN INTEGRITY AND LIVING. THE FACT IS YOU GIVE UP YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU COMPROMISE INTEGRITY.
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QUICK! GET ON WITH IT! LIFE IS ALMOST OVER!
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POWER DOESN'T COME FROM KNOWLEDGE. WHAT PEOPLE KNOW DOESN'T MAKE THEM POWERFUL. IT'S BEING PRESENT TO WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH THAT GIVES YOU POWER.
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NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING.
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OUR WORK IS NOT A CLASS IN PHILOSOPHY. IT'S NOT A THEOLOGICAL DISCUSSION NOR IS IT A DISCUSSION ABOUT HISTORY OR ANTHROPOLOGY OR SOCIOLOGY. ITS INTENTION IS TO LITERALLY IMPACT, LIKE BREAK OPEN, LIKE EMPOWER US IN OUR EVERYDAY BEING IN THE WORLD.
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TODAY REALLY IS A DAY FOR MIRACLES. AND IT'S NOTHING THAT I'M GOING TO DO. IT'S THAT I'VE REALLY GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU. MAN, I REALLY KNOW YOU! AND I AM ABSOLUTELY COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY BY WHO YOU ARE. I AM SO DEEPLY AND COMPLETELY IN LOVE WITH YOU THAT IT'S PUT ME INTO A SPACE OF ECSTASY, AND IT'S ALL I WANT TO DO IS TO SHARE THAT EXPERIENCE WITH YOU TODAY.
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WHATEVER COMPETENCE I MAY HAVE COMES FROM MY HAVING TRAINED MYSELF TO BE OUT THERE WITH WHAT I AM DEALING WITH INSTEAD OF BEING IN HERE TRYING TO DEAL WITH WHAT IS OUT THERE.
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I DO NOT PUT WHAT I THINK I KNOW FROM MY LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE AS A LENS BETWEEN ME AND WHAT I AM DEALING WITH. I KEEP WHAT I KNOW, SO TO SPEAK, ABOVE THE SPACE BETWEEN ME AND WHAT I AM DEALING WITH SO THAT IT SHINES SOME LIGHT ON WHAT I AM DEALING WITH RATHER THAN BEING A FILTER.
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HOW CAN SOMEONE WHO IS DOROTHY ESCAPE FROM DOROTHY? YOU CANNOT DO THAT BY TRAVELING IN SPACE AND TIME.
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I DO LIVE IN A MONASTERY. MY MONASTERY IS THE WHOLE WORLD.
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MOST PEOPLE DON'T MAKE ANY DISTINCTION BETWEEN AN EXPERIENCE AND A MEMORY OF AN EXPERIENCE. THEY TREAT THEM BOTH THE SAME. AND WHAT'S WORSE IS THEY DON'T KNOW THEY TREAT THEM BOTH THE SAME. THAT'S CALLED BLINDNESS. TO NOT KNOW IS ONE THING. TO NOT KNOW THAT YOU DON'T KNOW, THAT'S TRAGIC.
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IN THE WORK OF TRANSFORMATION, THE EPISTEMOLOGY IS ALTERED FROM A WELL‑CONCEIVED BELIEF SYSTEM TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN BELIEF, TO A CONTEXT IN WHICH ONE IS SENSITIVE TO THE DANGERS OF ANY AND ALL BELIEF SYSTEMS.
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I SUSPECT ALL CODIFICATIONS, PARTICULARLY MY OWN. IN PRESENTING MY OWN IDEAS, I EMPHASIZE THEIR EPISTEMOLOGICAL CONTEXT. I HOLD THEM AS POINTERS TO THE TRUTH, NOT AS THE TRUTH ITSELF.
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YOU AND I POSSESS WITHIN OURSELVES, AT EVERY MOMENT OF OUR LIVES, UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE POWER TO TRANSFORM THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES.
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WHAT IS IT TO BE A HUMAN BEING? WHAT'S THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING FOR HUMAN BEINGS?
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IF YOU KEEP SWITCHING THE CHEESE, EVENTUALLY THE RAT LAYS DOWN IN FRONT OF THE TUNNELS AND DIES.
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THERE IS NO "THE ANSWERS".
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IF YOU DON'T TAKE IT OUT INTO THE WORLD, YOU DIDN'T GET IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
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TRANSFORMATION ISN'T EASY. IF TRANSFORMATION WERE EASY, THE WHOLE WORLD WOULD BE TRANSFORMED BY NOW.
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THE USE OF FORCE IS THE NEGATION OF POWER. THE PERSON YOU REFER TO WHEN YOU SAY "I", THAT PERSON'S WEAPON IS FORCE. WHATEVER YOU ARE OTHER THAN THE THING CALLED "I", THAT'S POWER.
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YOU NEED TO GET CLEAR THE UNIVERSE DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT.
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I SAW THAT EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT. IT WAS  ALRIGHT; IT ALWAYS HAD BEEN ALRIGHT; IT ALWAYS WOULD BE ALRIGHT - NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENED. I DIDN'T JUST THINK THIS: SUDDENLY I KNEW  IT. NOT ONLY WAS I NO LONGER CONCERNED ABOUT SUCCESS; I WAS NO LONGER EVEN CONCERNED ABOUT ACHIEVING  SATISFACTION. I WAS SATISFIED. I WAS NO LONGER CONCERNED WITH MY REPUTATION; I WAS CONCERNED ONLY WITH THE TRUTH.
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THERE WON'T BE AN EARTHQUAKE BECAUSE I SAY  THERE WON'T BE AN EARTHQUAKE. AND IF I CHANGE MY MIND, YOU'LL KNOW BECAUSE YOU'LL HEAR THE RUMBLE.
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AS STUPID AS IT SOUNDS, IT'S TRUE THERE'S A SENSE OF JOY WITH SIMPLY BEING WITH WHAT'S THERE.
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TRANSFORMATION SHOWS UP IN MY MOUTH.
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I WANT YOU TO LOOK OUT FROM THE POSSIBILITY THAT OUR WORK, THAT OUR RELATIONSHIPS, THAT OUR FAMILIES, THAT OUR BELIEFS, THAT OUR WANTS AND DON'T WANTS HAVE US, RATHER THAN THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
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FOR ME THIS IS A PRACTICAL MATTER. INSTEAD OF HAVING THE ANSWER ABOUT GOD LIKE SOME GUY OR SOME THING OR SOME EXPLANATION OR SOME ANYTHING, I HAVE A SPACE OF POSSIBILITY LIKE AN OPENNESS, LIKE A PLACE FOR GOD TO SHOW UP IN MY LIFE.
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THE PHYSICAL UNIVERSE IS MY GURU.
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BUT THAT IS LIKE SAYING THAT THE HOLE IN THE SAND LOOKS LIKE THE STICK THAT YOU MADE THE HOLE IN THE SAND WITH. HOLES IN THE SAND AND STICKS ARE WORLDS APART. TO PUT WHAT HAPPENED INTO LANGUAGE WOULD BE LIKE TRYING TO DESCRIBE A STICK BY TELLING YOU ABOUT THE HOLE IN THE SAND.
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WHAT IF LOVE WAS A CONTEXT, A SPACE, A CLEARING IN WHICH LIFE SHOWS UP? WHAT IF LOVE WAS A STAND, A DECLARATION? WHAT IF YOU WERE YOUR WORD AND YOU SAID "I LOVE YOU" TO SOMEBODY?
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IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN READING A BOOK ON RIDING A BICYCLE, SITTING ON A BICYCLE AND FALLING OFF ABOUT TWENTY OR THIRTY TIMES, AND THAT MOMENT WHEN IT ALL KIND OF CLICKS, AND SUDDENLY YOU CAN BALANCE ON A BICYCLE.
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LIFE IS A GAME. IN ORDER TO HAVE A GAME, SOMETHING HAS TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN SOMETHING ELSE. IF WHAT ALREADY IS, IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT ISN'T, THE GAME IS OVER. SO LIFE IS A GAME IN WHICH WHAT ISN'T IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT IS. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL.
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THANK YOU FOR COMMUNICATING. I GOT IT TOTALLY AND I LOVE YOU ABSOLUTELY.
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CREATION IS A MATTER OF DISTINCTION.
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TALK ISN'T CHEAP: YOU CHEAPEN TALK.
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I'M INVITING YOU TO STAND IN THE POSSIBILITY, LIKE A SPACE, LIKE AN OPENING, LIKE A CLEARING, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE NEEDS. NEEDS HAVE YOU.
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TO DO NOTHING MEANS TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THAT'S THE WAY TO DO NOTHING. IF YOU DO WHAT YOU'RE NOT DOING, THAT'S DOING SOMETHING. IF YOU STOP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THAT'S DOING SOMETHING. BUT DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING - THAT'S DOING NOTHING.
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A MIRACLE IS SOMETHING THAT VALIDATES WHO YOU ARE RATHER THAN DIMINISHES WHO YOU ARE.
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THE LOGIC SYSTEM OF THE MIND IS "EVERYTHING IS THE SAME AS EVERYTHING ELSE ... EXCEPT NOT ALWAYS.".
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ALWAYS BE OPEN TO BEING RELATED TO EVERYONE YOU HAVE BEEN RELATED TO.
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I AM COMMITTED TO THAT THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT WHICH HUMAN BEINGS ARE UNAWARE, THE AWARENESS OF WHICH WOULD TRANSFORM LIFE FOR HUMAN BEINGS.
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YOU AND I HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING AT A COACHING LEVEL, NOT AN EXPLANATORY LEVEL. I'M NOT INTERESTED IN EXPLANATION. IT'S NOT MY FIELD. MY FIELD IS NOT EXPLANATION. IT'S GENERATION. MY FIELD IS COACHING, NOT JOURNALIZING.
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HUMAN BEINGS DID NOT HAVE RIGHTS. YOU AND I DON'T KNOW THAT HUMAN BEINGS CREATED, FROM NOTHING, THE DOMAIN OF HUMAN RIGHTS. THEY CALLED IT UP. THEY LANGUAGED IT. THEY COMMUNICATED IT. AND COMMUNICATION HAS THAT POWER. IT HAS THE POWER NOT ONLY TO REPRESENT AND NOT ONLY TO EVOKE BUT LITERALLY TO BRING INTO BEING. AND TO KNOW YOURSELF ... TO KNOW YOUR SELF  ... AS A CONTEXT CREATOR IS TO TRANSFORM THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE.
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THE ACCESS TO LIFE AS IT IS LIVED IS SOMETHING CALLED WONDER. THE PROCESS IS TO BRACKET WHAT YOU BELIEVE AND THINK, TO PUT IT ASIDE, AND STAND IN WONDER OF WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH AS IT IS LIVED.
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LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT TAKING THAT STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN. TAKING THAT STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN IS ACTUALLY A LOT LESS COURAGEOUS THAN TAKING A STEP FROM  THE UNKNOWN.
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ALL THAT'S HERE FOR ME IS YOU.
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HERE WE ARE WITH NOTHING GOING ON.
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THE WAY A SITUATION OCCURS FOR ME (SHOWS UP FOR ME) IS COLORED AND SHAPED BY MY CONTEXT FOR THAT SITUATION, AND MY WAY OF BEING AND ACTING ARE NATURALLY NECESSARILY CORRELATED WITH (IN‑A‑DANCE‑WITH) THE WAY THAT SITUATION OCCURS FOR ME.
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YOU CAN TAKE YOUR WORD BACK, AND WHAT YOU GET THEN IS YOUR OLD LIFE BACK.
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SUPPOSE YOU HAD NO PAST. THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING PLACE TO BE IN.
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IT'S ALL YOURS NOW.
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LIFE IS EMPTY AND MEANINGLESS, AND IT'S EMPTY AND MEANINGLESS THAT IT'S EMPTY AND MEANINGLESS.
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AN UNTRANSFORMED LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING.
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JUST LIKE THE FRONT AND THE BACK OF THE HAND, BEING AND ACTION ARE DISTINCT YET INSEPARABLE.
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BE DIRECTED BY THE UNANSWERED QUESTION. LET THE UNANSWERED QUESTION DIRECT YOU.
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HEALTH IS A FUNCTION OF PARTICIPATION.
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UNDERSTANDING IS THE BOOBY PRIZE.
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WITHOUT INTEGRITY NOTHING WORKS.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
KEEP SHARING.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
IF GOD TOLD YOU EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS YOU WERE TO DO, YOU WOULD BE HAPPY DOING IT NO MATTER WHAT IT WAS. WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO. BE HAPPY.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
TODAY IS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
OPINIONS DON'T FORWARD THE ACTION.
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THINGS ARE THE WAY THEY ARE, AND THEY AREN'T THE WAY THEY AREN'T.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
JUST SHOW UP.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THE OCCURRING WORLD INCLUDES THE WAY IN WHICH OBJECTS, OTHERS, AND YOU YOURSELF OCCUR FOR YOU IN THIS OR THAT SITUATION. THE OCCURRING WORLD IS THE WORLD YOU LIVE IN, THE ONE YOU RESPOND TO OR REACT TO. IT IS THIS WORLD WITH WHICH YOUR MIND, BODY, FEELINGS, AND ACTIONS ARE CORRELATED.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THE SOURCE OF WHAT PEOPLE DO AND WHAT THEY DON'T DO IS THAT PEOPLE'S ACTIONS ARE IN A NATURALLY, NECESSARILY DIRECTLY CONNECTED DANCE WITH THE WAY THE CIRCUMSTANCES ON WHICH AND IN WHICH THEY ARE PERFORMING OCCUR  (SHOW UP) FOR THEM.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
IF YOU'RE GOING TO WRITE A BOOK THEN WRITE A BOOK. IF YOU'RE NOT THEN DON'T.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
WHAT IS IS, WHAT ISN'T ISN'T.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS, OR IT DOESN'T.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
WHAT YOU GOT IS WHAT YOU CHOSE. TO MOVE ON, CHOOSE IT.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THIS IS IT. THERE ARE NO HIDDEN MEANINGS. ALL THAT MYSTICAL STUFF IS JUST WHAT'S SO. A MASTER IS SOMEONE WHO FOUND OUT.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
I AM COMMITTED TO YOUR COMMITMENT.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THERE ARE ONLY TWO THINGS IN THE WORLD: NOTHING, AND SEMANTICS.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
IT IS ULTIMATE EGO TO SUPPOSE THAT YOU CAN FUNCTION WITHOUT EGO. I SAW THAT I COULD LET MY EGO BE, AND THAT WHEN I DID SO, IT WOULD LET ME BE. IT WOULD NO LONGER IMPEDE ME. INSTEAD OF MY EGO'S RUNNING THE SHOW, I COULD RUN THE SHOW. IT WAS A MATTER OF MY BEING WILLING TO BE AT CAUSE WITH MY OWN EGO, TO HOLD IT AS SOMETHING THAT BELONGED TO ME - NOT TO RESIST OR TRY TO GET RID OF IT, NOT TO TRY TO PROVE THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ONE, NOR FALL INTO IT, SUBMIT TO IT, OR LET IT RUN ME. NOW THIS WAS A MATTER, IN PART, OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR JACK ROSENBERG AND FOR WERNER ERHARD. IT WAS ALL OVER FOR WERNER ERHARD. AND YET NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, I COULD USE THAT PARTICULAR PERSONALITY, WERNER ERHARD, AS A MEANS OF EXPRESSION, AS A WAY TO EXPRESS THE SELF.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
BE. DO. HAVE.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU GET CLEAR FOR YOURSELF THAT YOUR ONLY ACCESS TO IMPACTING LIFE IS ACTION. THE WORLD DOES NOT CARE WHAT YOU INTEND, HOW COMMITTED YOU ARE, HOW YOU FEEL, OR WHAT YOU THINK, AND CERTAINLY IT HAS NO INTEREST IN WHAT YOU WANT AND DON'T WANT. TAKE A LOOK AT LIFE AS IT IS LIVED AND SEE FOR YOURSELF THAT THE WORLD ONLY MOVES FOR YOU WHEN YOU ACT.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL GIVE UP ANYTHING - THEIR JOBS, THEIR MONEY, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR HEALTH - TO GET IT, ANYTHING EXCEPT THE ONE AND ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP IN ORDER TO GET IT: THE CONVICTION THAT YOU HAVEN'T GOT IT.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THE PATH TO AUTHENTICITY IS BEING AUTHENTIC ABOUT YOUR INAUTHENTICITIES.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THE BEING OF HUMAN BEINGS IS A MECHANISM, THE END OF WHICH, THE PURPOSE, THE DESIGN FUNCTION OF WHICH IS SURVIVAL. YOU SEE NOW, YOU CAN'T HEAR IT  BECAUSE YOU KNOW  IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT. YOU'RE JUST SURE  IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT. IT ISN'T GOING TO WORK OUT. REALLY! IT IS NOT  GOING TO WORK OUT. THIS IS ALL THERE IS. THIS, THIS WHAT YOU GOT, IS WHAT THERE IS - NEVER MIND THE FAIRY TALE. THIS IS IT!  IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK OUT BECAUSE IT HAS ALREADY WORKED OUT!  THIS IS THE WAY IT WORKED OUT. YOU DON'T LIKE  THAT? TOO BAD  ...
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
STOP DOING THAT. JUST DO THE EXERCISE.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
LIKE UNCLE REMUS SAID, IF YOU CAN'T SAY SOMETHING GOOD, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
IF IT IS TRUE THAT THE FUTURE INTO WHICH YOU ARE LIVING GIVES YOU BEING AND ACTION IN THE PRESENT, AND IF ONE PUTS THE PAST INTO THE FUTURE, IT WILL APPEAR AS THOUGH WHO I AM IN THE PRESENT IS GIVEN BY THE PAST.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THIS IS WHERE A MASTER LIVES: OUT‑HERE, LIVING WHERE LIFE ACTUALLY HAPPENS.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU CAN ONLY KNOW BY CREATING THEM FOR YOURSELF.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
YOU DON'T ASK "WHY ME?"  WHEN IT'S RAINING.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
IF GOD HAD MEANT MAN TO FLY, HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM WINGS.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
WHEN YOU'VE SAID ALL OF THE BAD THINGS AND ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS YOU HAVEN'T BEEN SAYING, YOU WILL FIND THAT WHAT YOU'VE REALLY BEEN WITHHOLDING IS "I LOVE YOU.".
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
MY KNOWLEDGE IS LIKE A WALL OF BRICKS. EVERYTHING I KNOW IS A BRICK IN THE WALL, EACH GIVEN BY EVERY OTHER BRICK AND BY THE TOTALITY OF THE WALL ITSELF. IF SOMETHING NEW DOESN'T FIT WITH EVERY OTHER BRICK AND WITH THE TOTALITY OF THE WALL ITSELF, THEN IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
YOU HAVE TO BE BIG TO BE SMALL.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
CHOICE IS TO SELECT FREELY AND AFTER CONSIDERATION.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
TRANSFORMATION IS THE SPACE IN WHICH THE EVENT  "TRANSFORMATION" OCCURS.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
GOD'S GREATEST WORK WASN'T CREATING THE UNIVERSE: IT WAS DISAPPEARING INTO IT AFTERWARDS.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
YOU'RE GOD IN YOUR UNIVERSE. YOU CAUSED IT. YOU PRETENDED NOT TO CAUSE IT SO THAT YOU COULD PLAY IN IT, AND YOU CAN REMEMBER YOU CAUSED IT ANY TIME YOU WANT TO.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THERE IS NOTHING MUCH YOU CAN DO ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR LIFE. ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE ABSOLUTE CONTROL OVER IN YOUR LIFE IS THE CONTEXT FOR YOUR LIFE. WE HAVE ALMOST NO AWARENESS OF CONTEXT.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
PEOPLE GENERALLY ARE UNAWARE THAT THE COST OF THEIR OUT‑OF‑INTEGRITY BEHAVIOR IS A DIMINUTION OF THEMSELVES IE THAT THEIR OUT‑OF‑INTEGRITY BEHAVIOR LEAVES THEM A SMALLER PERSON (LEAVES THEM WITH LESS POWER, AND THEREFORE WITH THE NEED FOR MORE FORCE).
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
TO TAKE THE STAND THAT YOU ARE CAUSE IN THE MATTER CONTRASTS WITH IT BEING YOUR FAULT, OR THAT YOU FAILED, OR THAT YOU ARE TO BLAME, OR EVEN THAT YOU DID IT. THAT YOU ARE THE CAUSE OF EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE IS A PLACE TO STAND FROM WHICH TO VIEW AND DEAL WITH LIFE - A PLACE THAT EXISTS SOLELY AS A MATTER OF YOUR CHOICE. THE STAND THAT ONE IS CAUSE IN THE MATTER IS A DECLARATION, NOT AN ASSERTION OF FACT. IT SIMPLY SAYS "YOU CAN COUNT ON ME (AND, I CAN COUNT ON ME) TO LOOK AT AND DEAL WITH LIFE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF MY BEING CAUSE IN THE MATTER.". WHEN YOU HAVE TAKEN THE STAND (DECLARED) THAT YOU ARE CAUSE IN THE MATTER OF YOUR LIFE, IT MEANS THAT YOU GIVE UP THE RIGHT TO ASSIGN CAUSE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES, OR TO OTHERS. THAT IS YOU GIVE UP THE RIGHT TO BE A VICTIM. YOU ALSO GIVE UP THE RIGHT TO ASSIGN CAUSE TO THE WAXING AND WANING OF YOUR STATE OF MIND - ALL OF WHICH, WHILE UNDOUBTEDLY SOOTHING, LEAVE YOU HELPLESS (AT THE EFFECT OF). AT THE SAME TIME TAKING THIS STAND DOES NOT PREVENT YOU FROM HOLDING OTHERS RESPONSIBLE.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
TRANSFORMATION IS BEING IN A CONVERSATION FOR TRANSFORMATION. WHEN YOU ARE NO LONGER IN A CONVERSATION FOR TRANSFORMATION, YOU ARE NO LONGER TRANSFORMED.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
REINVENTING YOURSELF INTO AN IMPOSSIBLE FUTURE DOESN'T ALTER HOW LIFE TURNS OUT. IT ALTERS WHO YOU ARE BEING AND WHAT IS AVAILABLE, WHILE LIFE TURNS OUT THE WAY IT DOES.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THE ONLY THING YOU ARE GOING TO DO TODAY IS: WHAT YOU DO TODAY. THEREFORE, THE ONLY THING THERE IS TO DO TODAY IS: WHAT YOU DO TODAY. THAT'S ALL THERE WAS TO DO WHEN YOU STARTED NO MATTER WHAT YOU THOUGHT OR THINK.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
BY TAKING A STAND ON YOURSELF AS OUT‑HERE, YOU WILL ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE YOURSELF BEING OUT‐HERE, AND INTERACTING WITH LIFE WHERE LIFE ACTUALLY HAPPENS. THAT IS THE STAND THAT A MASTER TAKES ON HIMSELF OR HERSELF, AND THAT IS WHAT ALLOWS AN ORDINARY PERSON TO FUNCTION AS A MASTER. IT IS FROM THIS STAND THAT A MASTER ENCOUNTERS LIFE. IT IS FROM THIS STAND THAT A MASTER EXPERIENCES, COMPREHENDS, AND UNDERSTANDS LIFE. IT IS FROM THIS STAND THAT A MASTER INTERACTS WITH LIFE. AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES A MASTER A MASTER.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
WHAT I MEAN BY "BEING COMMITTED TO SOMETHING BIGGER THAN ONESELF" IS BEING COMMITTED IN A WAY THAT SHAPES ONE'S BEING AND ACTIONS SO THAT THOSE ACTIONS ARE IN THE SERVICE OF REALIZING SOMETHING BEYOND ONE'S PERSONAL CONCERNS FOR ONESELF - BEYOND A DIRECT PERSONAL PAYOFF.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP ANYTHING TO GET ENLIGHTENED. YOU AND I BOTH KNOW PEOPLE WHO'VE GIVEN UP WEALTH, GIVEN UP JOBS, FAMILIES, THEIR HEALTH, GIVE UP TALKING, GIVE UP SEX, GIVE UP YOU NAME IT, THEY WILL GIVE IT UP. THERE'S ONLY ONE THING PEOPLE WILL NOT GIVE UP TO GET ENLIGHTENED. THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY KNOW TO HOLD ON TO THIS THING THAT THEY WILL NOT GIVE UP NO MATTER WHAT. THE ONE THING PEOPLE WILL NOT GIVE UP TO GET ENLIGHTENED IS THE IDEA THAT THEY'RE NOT ENLIGHTENED.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM SURE ABOUT IS THAT EVERY ONE OF US, IN THE PROCESS OF GROWING UP, DECIDES THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN NEVER BE. AND THEN WE DECIDE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE TO COMPENSATE FOR WHAT WE CAN NEVER BE.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
I DON'T BELIEVE IN WHAT I'M DOING AT ALL. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO BELIEF IN WHAT I'M DOING. I ALREADY KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO TURN OUT. THE WAY IT TURNS OUT IS FAIT ACCOMPLI. I MEAN THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THE WAY IT TURNS OUT. I KNOW EXACTLY HOW IT'S GOING TO TURN OUT. YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO TURN OUT EXACTLY LIKE IT TURNS OUT. IT'S BEEN DOING THAT FOR EONS. SO YOU SAY "BUT THEN WERNER: WHAT'S YOUR MOTIVE? WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ALL THOSE HOURS FOR?". I'M NOT MOTIVATED. THERE ISN'T ANY MOTIVE. THERE'S NO DAMN VISION  MOTIVATING ME. YOU KNOW, IF I STOPPED DOING IT TOMORROW, IT WOULDN'T MAKE A DAMN BIT OF DIFFERENCE. AND IF I KEEP DOING IT RIGHT TO THE END, IT WON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS WHAT HAPPENS. BUT THAT DOESN'T FIT INTO OUR STRUCTURE. THAT DOESN'T FIT INTO OUR CATEGORIES.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
WORDS MEAN THINGS, LIKE THEY'RE NUMBERS: IF YOU ADD NUMBERS TOGETHER YOU GET ANSWERS, IF YOU ADD WORDS TOGETHER YOU GET ANSWERS, IF YOU ADD THE WRONG WORDS TOGETHER YOU GET THE WRONG ANSWERS.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
WHAT EST  IS ABOUT IS TRANSFORMATION. EST  IS ABOUT THE SELF BEING SELF. AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU UNCOVER OR DISCOVER OR RECOVER WHEN YOU DISCOVER THAT YOU ARE YOUR SELF IS THAT ABSOLUTELY EVERYBODY IS THEMSELF, AND THAT YOU CAN'T GET TRANSFORMED BECAUSE IN ORDER TO GET TRANSFORMED YOU'D HAVE TO BE NOT TRANSFORMED, AND IF YOU'RE NOT TRANSFORMED YOU CAN NEVER BE TRANSFORMED BECAUSE TRANSFORMATION DOESN'T HAVE A BEGINNING, MIDDLE, OR END.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
WE HUMAN BEINGS, WE'RE KIND OF WIRED TO BE ADMIRED. WE WANT TO LOOK GOOD. WE WANT PEOPLE TO THINK WELL OF US. AND SO WE TRY TO BE AUTHENTIC. WE TRY TO BE REAL WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS IS ADMIRED BY OTHERS, IS IF YOU'RE AUTHENTIC - IF YOU'RE KIND OF A PHONY, YOU KNOW NOBODY'S GOING TO ADMIRE YOU. SO WE WANT TO BE AUTHENTIC. THE BEGINNING OF ALL AUTHENTICITY IS TO BE AUTHENTIC ABOUT YOUR INAUTHENTICITY. AND THAT'S HOW YOU START TO GET AN HONEST VIEW OF YOURSELF.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB HOLDING DOWN THE FLOOR, SWEETHEART!
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE EFFECT OF TIME, PEOPLE WHO CAN'T CREATE TIME, PEOPLE WHO CAN'T MANAGE TIME, PEOPLE WHO CAN'T MOVE TIME AROUND, PEOPLE WHO CAN'T HANDLE TIME, PEOPLE WHO ARE OVERWHELMED BY TIME, HAVE NO MASTERY AND NO BASIS FOR MASTERY. THE BASIS FOR MASTERY IN THE WORLD IS BEING ABLE TO HANDLE TIME.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
ACTION IS ALWAYS A CLOSELY CONNECTED NATURAL CORRELATE OF (MUTUALLY ARISING WITH) THE WAY IN WHICH THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THE PERFORMER IS DEALING WITH OCCUR FOR (ARE EXPERIENCED BY) THAT PERFORMER. THIS CORRELATION BETWEEN ACTION AND THE WAY IN WHICH THE CIRCUMSTANCES OCCUR FOR THE PERFORMER, IS THE SOURCE OF PERFORMANCE. BECAUSE THE WAY IN WHICH THE CIRCUMSTANCES OCCUR FOR THE PERFORMER IS AT LEAST SHAPED BY LANGUAGE, AND IS IN ANY CASE ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE THROUGH LANGUAGE, LANGUAGE PROVIDES ACTIONABLE ACCESS TO THE SOURCE OF PERFORMANCE. WHEN THROUGH THE USE OF LANGUAGE THE OCCURRING IS ALTERED, THE CORRELATED ACTION (AND THEREFORE PERFORMANCE) IS ALTERED.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
HAPPINESS IS ALMOST NOT WORTH TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE THE INSTANT YOU TURN HAPPINESS INTO A GOAL, IT ISN'T ATTAINABLE ANY MORE. IN OTHER WORDS, HAPPINESS ISN'T SOMETHING YOU CAN WORK TOWARD. IT ISN'T SOMETHING YOU CAN PUT SOMEPLACE AND OVERCOME BARRIERS TO GET TO. IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN AN INSTANT. AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT YOU CAN ALTER YOUR STATE OF HAPPINESS BY SIMPLY CHOOSING TO BE WILLING TO HAVE IT BE THE WAY IT IS.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
EVERYONE'S IN LOVE WITH EVERYONE.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
TRANSFORMATION LIVES IN ACCOUNTABILITY. WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, WITHOUT COMMITTED SPEAKING, WITHOUT PROMISES AND DECLARATIONS, THERE IS NO TRANSFORMATION; THERE IS, AT BEST, PEAK FEELINGS.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU. WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS THAT I KNOW YOU LOVE ME.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
A PERSON OR HUMAN ENTITY IS IN INTEGRITY WHEN HE, SHE OR IT HONORS THEIR WORD. WHETHER YOU LIKE  INTEGRITY OR NOT AS WE HAVE DEFINED IT, IS A NORMATIVE  VALUE JUDGMENT ON YOUR PART. HOWEVER, THE EFFECT  OF INTEGRITY (OR THE LACK OF IT) ON VALUE, PRODUCTIVITY, QUALITY OF LIFE ETC, IS A PURELY POSITIVE PROPOSITION.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT ME ON A PEDESTAL, CLIMB UP HERE WITH ME.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THE PURPOSE IS LIFE AND THAT IT BE, COMPLETELY. THE COMMITMENT IS: ALIVENESS. SO WHAT! TUUM EST (IT'S UP TO YOU).
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
WITHOUT BEING A MAN OR WOMAN OF INTEGRITY YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT BEING A LEADER. AND, BEING A PERSON OF INTEGRITY IS A NEVER‑ENDING ENDEAVOR. BEING A PERSON OF INTEGRITY IS A MOUNTAIN WITH NO TOP - YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO LOVE THE CLIMB.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
YOUR POWER IS A FUNCTION OF VELOCITY - THAT IS TO SAY, YOUR POWER IS A FUNCTION OF THE RATE AT WHICH YOU TRANSLATE INTENTION INTO REALITY. MOST OF US DISEMPOWER OURSELVES BY FINDING A WAY TO SLOW, IMPEDE, OR MAKE MORE COMPLEX THAN NECESSARY THE PROCESS OF TRANSLATING INTENTION INTO REALITY.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THIS IS OUR HOME, OUR LIVING ROOM. WE INVITE YOU IN, WELCOME YOU TO USE IT AND MAKE IT YOUR OWN FOR AS LONG AS YOU LIKE. THERE IS NO EFFORT NECESSARY TO GET YOU IN. OUR SURVIVAL IS IN NO WAY DEPENDENT ON YOUR BEING IN. THERE IS ONLY THE INTENTION TO COMMUNICATE THE INVITATION CLEARLY AND TO DISPLAY THE WELCOME MAT CLEARLY. IF YOU PASS BY OR CHOOSE TO LEAVE, DO SO WITH OUR BLESSINGS, GOOD WISHES AND SUPPORT.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
ROCKS ARE HARD, WATER IS WET, AND MOTHER IS MOTHER.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
TRANSFORMATION IS SIMPLE BUT IT'S NOT EASY.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
IF A NEW CONTEXT IS REQUIRED, THAT IS, IF A FUTURE BEYOND WHAT IS POSSIBLE GIVEN BY THE PAST IS REQUIRED, THAT IS, IF DOING MORE OR BETTER OR DIFFERENT, OR EVEN CHANGING, IS INSUFFICIENT TO REALIZING SUCCESS (FULFILLING THE CONCERNS OF THE RELEVANT PARTIES), THEN WITHOUT LEADERSHIP, WHATEVER GETS DONE WILL RESULT IN SOMETHING LESS THAN SUCCESS. WITHOUT A NEW CONTEXT, THAT IS WITHOUT A "TRANSFORMATION" OF THE FUTURE INTO WHICH YOU AND THE PEOPLE YOU ARE LEADING ARE LIVING, THE FUTURE WHEN REALIZED WILL BE MORE OF THE SAME. IT MAY BE BETTER, DIFFERENT, OR EVEN A CHANGE, BUT NO MATTER WHAT THE VARIATION, IT WILL STILL BE MORE OF THE PAST. REMEMBER, THE CONTEXT IS DECISIVE.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
UNTIL WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT IS CREATED BY YOU, YOU AREN'T LIVING YOUR LIFE: YOU ARE LIVING SOME INHERITED LIFE.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
I WANT TO DIRECT PEOPLE TO THE FACT THAT, GIVEN THAT WHO THEY ARE REALLY IS THEIR WORD, BEING A MAN OR WOMAN OF INTEGRITY LEAVES ONE BEING WHOLE AND COMPLETE.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
AT LEAST IN THE MATTER OF INTEGRITY, WHO YOU ARE IS YOUR WORD, NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS. HOWEVER IN A VERY REAL SENSE, WHO YOU ARE - PERIOD - IS YOUR WORD.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THE SET OF CONDITIONS THAT CONSTITUTES A SITUATION YOU ARE DEALING WITH INCLUDES NOT ONLY WHAT IS ORDINARILY THOUGHT OF AS "THE FACTS", BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY INCLUDES THE WAY OF BEING AND ACTING OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE SITUATION AND OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE SITUATION. IN ADDITION, THE CONDITIONS THAT CONSTITUTE A SITUATION YOU ARE DEALING WITH INCLUDE WHAT OUTCOMES ARE SEEN AS POSSIBLE, AND WHAT SHOW UP AS POSSIBLE ACTIONS FOR REALIZING THOSE OUTCOMES. THE WAY IN WHICH ALL OF THE FOREGOING OCCURS FOR ONE DEPENDS ON THE CONTEXT ONE HAS FOR THAT SITUATION.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
LIFE IS KIND OF LIKE A MONOPOLY GAME, AND YOU CAN'T PLAY A MONOPOLY GAME UNLESS YOU HAVE A PIECE - A SCOTTIE DOG, OR A TOP HAT, OR WHATEVER IT IS - AND IN LIFE, I NEED ONE OF THESE, AND A PERSONALITY, AND A MIND, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
IT'S MINE, ALL MINE!
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
NOW I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T MAKE DISTINCTIONS: WHEN YOU DON'T MAKE DISTINCTIONS YOU WIND UP DRIVING YOUR AUTOMOBILE DOWN THE HIGHWAY OF LIFE WITH YOUR HANDS ON THE REAR VIEW MIRROR INSTEAD OF ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF ACCIDENTS, AND A WHOLE BIG EXPLANATION ABOUT HOW DRIVING IS VERY TOUGH.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
LIVING IS REALLY PRETTY SIMPLE. LIVING HAPPENS RIGHT NOW; IT DOESN'T HAPPEN BACK THEN, AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OUT THERE. LIVING IS NOT THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE. LIVING IS THE PROCESS OF EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
USUALLY WE THINK OF POSSIBILITY AS OPTIONS. WHILE THIS IS IN SOME SENSE TRUE, POSSIBILITY ALSO EXISTS ON A DEEPER LEVEL OF ABSTRACTION, A LEVEL WHICH ACTUALLY DEFINES WHICH OPTIONS ARE PERMISSIBLE. SO TO BRING FORTH POSSIBILITY IS TO BRING FORTH A DOMAIN IN WHICH NEW OPTIONS BECOME POSSIBLE. IT IS NOT SIMPLY FINDING NEW OPTIONS WITHIN THE SAME RANGE OF OPTIONS: IT ACTUALLY PRODUCES WHOLE NEW RANGES OF OPTIONS. IT IS ACTUALLY THE BRINGING FORTH OF POSSIBILITY ITSELF. IT IS A DISTINCTLY HUMAN ACT, FAR MORE HUMAN THAN SIMPLY CHOOSING BETWEEN THE OPTIONS WITH WHICH ONE IS PRESENTED. IT IS THE ACT OF BRINGING FORTH WHOLE RANGES OF OPTIONS, OPTIONS WITH WHICH YOU WERE NOT PRESENTED AND YET WHICH YOU CAUSED TO BE. IN OUR WORK, WE ASSOCIATE THIS DEEPER NOTION OF POSSIBILITY WITH CREATIVITY. POSSIBILITY SHOWS UP AS AN ACT OF CREATION, AS BRINGING FORTH. THIS ALSO EXISTS ONLY IN THE DOMAIN OF BEING. AT ITS HEART, OUR WORK IS THE OPENING UP, THE BRINGING FORTH OF A NEW DOMAIN OF POSSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
IF YOU COULD REALLY ACCEPT THAT YOU WEREN'T OK, YOU COULD STOP PROVING YOU WERE OK. IF YOU COULD STOP PROVING THAT YOU WERE OK, YOU COULD GET THAT IT WAS OK NOT TO BE OK. IF YOU COULD GET THAT IT WAS OK NOT TO BE OK, YOU COULD GET THAT YOU WERE OK THE WAY YOU ARE. YOU'RE OK, GET IT?
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE PRIVILEGE TO COUNT SOME GREAT MEN AND WOMEN AMONG MY FRIENDS. THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM: THEY CANNOT GET THEIR STUDENTS TO BE MASTERS AS THEY ARE - EVEN STUDENTS WITH ALL THE INTELLECTUAL EQUIPMENT YOU CAN IMAGINE. I TELL THEM THAT THE REASON WHY THEY CAN'T TURN THEIR STUDENTS INTO MASTERS IS THAT THEY ARE FIBBING TO THEMSELVES ABOUT THE SOURCE OF THEIR OWN MASTERY. THEY ATTRIBUTE THEIR OWN MASTERY TO EVERYTHING OTHER THAN ITS ACTUAL SOURCE: CREATION. CREATING AND BEING, EXIST IN THE SAME DOMAIN. AND THERE IS A DISCIPLINE TO BEING, TO CREATION. THE DOMAIN OF BEING HAS ITS OWN RIGOR. BEING IS APPROACHABLE. IT IS MASTERABLE. IT'S NOT NEBULOUS.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
WHAT ONE DOES WITH PERSONALITY IS NOT AVOID IT, OR IGNORE IT, OR SUPPRESS IT, OR SHOVE IT OUT OF THE WAY, BUT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT, COMPLETE ONE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE'S PERSONALITY, TRANSCEND IT, AND THEREFORE INCLUDE IT AS A CONTENT IN THE CONTEXT WHICH ONE IS WHEN ONE TRANSCENDS ONE'S PERSONALITY. SO, RATHER THAN TO DO AWAY WITH THE PERSONALITY, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I WOULD NOT DO AWAY WITH THE PERSONALITY. ONE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, CAUSE IT, INSTEAD OF BE THE EFFECT OF IT. ESSENTIALLY ONE WOULD COMPLETE ONE'S PERSONALITY AS A WAY OF BEING UNATTACHED TO IT.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
I AM "I AM".
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
I'M PRETTY CERTAIN THAT WHEN PEOPLE GET STUCK IN GRIEF OR AS VICTIMS, THAT WHAT KEEPS THEM STUCK IS THE SIGNIFICANCE - NOT WHAT HAPPENED. YOU KNOW, THAT'S A TERRIBLE THING TO SAY TO SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN VICTIMIZED, TO SOMEBODY WHO'S LOST SOMEONE CLOSE TO THEM. BUT I'M SORRY: I KNOW THAT THAT'S WHERE I'VE GOT TO GET ULTIMATELY.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN WE GIVE OUR WORD, OUR WORD IS SO TO SPEAK IN OUR MOUTHS (AND IF WE ARE AWAKE, THEN ALSO IN OUR EARS IN BEING AWARE THAT WE HAVE JUST GIVEN OUR WORD). WHEN ONE IS GIVING ONE'S WORD, ONE'S WORD EXISTS IN ONE'S MOUTH, BUT EXISTS THERE ONLY FOR THE DURATION ONE IS SPEAKING. THE QUESTION IS WHERE DOES YOUR WORD GO - WHERE DOES YOUR WORD EXIST - AFTER YOU HAVE CLOSED YOUR MOUTH? MORE CRITICALLY, THE QUESTION IS WHERE IS YOUR WORD WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR YOU TO KEEP YOUR WORD?
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WHEN MY INTEGRITY IS LACKING, I AM CLEAR THAT I JUST GOT TO BE A BIT SMALLER AS A PERSON. THAT KEEPS ME WORKING ON MY INTEGRITY. AND THE THING ABOUT INTEGRITY IS IT'S A MOUNTAIN WITH NO TOP.
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AND, BY THE WAY, YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT HAVING INTEGRITY UNTIL ANY "OUT‑OF‑INTEGRITY" OCCURS FOR YOU AS A DIMINUTION OF YOURSELF.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
WHAT INTEGRITY ACTUALLY IS, AND THE WAY INTEGRITY FUNCTIONS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE WAY IT FUNCTIONS, IS MISIDENTIFIED  BY VIRTUALLY ALL PEOPLE, AND AS A RESULT THEY EXPLAIN THE DAMAGE [A RESULT OF THEIR OWN OUT‑OF‑INTEGRITY BEHAVIOR] AS COMING FROM SOME CAUSE OTHER THAN THEIR OUT‑OF‑INTEGRITY BEHAVIOR, OR THEY EXPLAIN AWAY THE DAMAGE AS "THAT'S JUST A PART OF THE WAY PEOPLE, LIFE, BUSINESS, OR THE WORLD IS.". AS A RESULT OF THIS MISIDENTIFICATION, JUST WHAT INTEGRITY IS, AS WELL AS WHAT IT IS TO ACT WITH INTEGRITY OR ACT WITHOUT INTEGRITY, AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF EITHER TYPE OF ACTION, IS FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES INVISIBLE.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
WITH PRACTICE YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF ACTUALLY STARTING TO LIVE OUT‑HERE WHERE LIFE ACTUALLY HAPPENS. WHEN YOU ARE PRACTICING BEING OUT‑HERE, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOU INTERNALLY WILL STOP BEING WHO YOU ARE FOR YOURSELF. AS A RESULT YOU WILL HAVE MUCH LESS ATTENTION ON, AND BE MUCH LESS BOTHERED BY, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOU INTERNALLY. AND, YOU (THE YOU THAT YOU REFER TO WHEN YOU SAY "I" OR "ME") WILL SIMPLY BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHOWS UP FOR YOU IN THE CLEARING FOR LIFE THAT YOU ACTUALLY ARE.
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WE CAN'T ALWAYS DICTATE OUR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT WE ARE ALWAYS FREE TO CHOOSE TO WHAT WE WILL COMMIT OUR LIVES. ONE CAN ALLOW LIFE TO BE USED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES OR ONE CAN TAKE THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CHOOSE TO BE FREE. EACH OF US MAKES THE CHOICE TO EITHER BE FASCINATED BY THE SOAP OPERA, THE FOLLY OF BEING HUMAN, OR TO CELEBRATE LIFE, THE DIGNITY OF LIFE, AND THE WORTH OF EACH INDIVIDUAL. BECAUSE EACH OF US IS, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, NOTHING MORE THAN AN ORDINARY HUMAN BEING, A MAN'S UNIQUE STORY IS ULTIMATELY TRIVIAL. LIFE CAN ALWAYS BE TOLD AS A STORY, BUT NO MATTER HOW ENGROSSING, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES A STORY MAKE? RELIEVING ANOTHER'S SUFFERING, CONTRIBUTING TO ANOTHER'S JOY IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE GREAT PRIVILEGES IN LIFE, BUT EVEN THIS IS NOT IN ITSELF UNCOMMON. I'VE TRIED TO LIVE MY LIFE SO THAT MY LIFE COULD BE A PLACE WHERE THE TRUTH COULD GO TO WORK. WILL THE INSIGHTS INTO THE NATURE OF BEING HUMAN, AND BEYOND THAT, NEW POSSIBILITIES OF BEING FOR HUMAN BEINGS RESULT IN ANY LASTING VALUE FOR LIFE? ONLY TIME WILL TELL. IF THERE IS ANYTHING UNCOMMON, IT IS NOT THE MAN BUT THE IDEAS THAT HAVE TAKEN ROOT IN THE LIFE OF THE MAN.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THE WAY IT IS, IS ENOUGH. WHO YOU ARE IS ENOUGH. THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO DO IS BE.
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WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GET THAT THE REALITY THAT SHOWS UP FOR YOU IS NOT WHAT IS ACTUALLY OUT THERE, YOU WILL LIKELY EXPERIENCE IT AS AN "A‑HA!"  REALIZATION (AN EINZIG), AND ONE THAT COMES AS SOMETHING OF A SHOCK FOR YOU. AND, WHEN YOU BEGIN TO LIVE THAT EVERY SHRED OF WHAT SHOWS UP FOR YOU AS REALITY IS BEING WHOLLY GENERATED BY YOUR BRAIN, YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD, OTHERS, AND YOURSELF WILL SHIFT DRAMATICALLY. THIS IS THE ENTRÉE INTO MASTERING LEADER AND LEADERSHIP AS A CONTEXT THAT LEAVES YOU BEING A LEADER AND EFFECTIVELY EXERCISING LEADERSHIP AS YOUR NATURAL SELF‑EXPRESSION.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHEN YOU STEP INTO PEOPLE'S LIVES.
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A PERSON'S "WAY OF BEING" IS WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEM INTERNALLY. IT IS MADE UP OF SOME COMBINATION OF THAT PERSON'S MENTAL STATE (THEIR ATTITUDE OR STATE OF MIND), EMOTIONAL STATE (THEIR FEELINGS OR EMOTIONS), BODILY STATE (THEIR BODY SENSATIONS), [AND] THOUGHTS AND THOUGHT PROCESSES (AND THAT INCLUDES MEMORIES THAT MIGHT BE PRESENT). IN OTHER WORDS, A PERSON'S WAY OF BEING IS WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEM INTERNALLY IN A GIVEN MOMENT OR IN A GIVEN SITUATION.
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IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE A LEADER, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A VERY LOOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS THING YOU CALL "I" OR "ME". MAYBE THAT WHOLE THING IN ME AROUND WHICH THE UNIVERSE REVOLVES ISN'T SO CENTRAL! MAYBE LIFE IS NOT ABOUT THE SELF BUT ABOUT SELF‑TRANSCENDENCE.
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[LIFE SENTENCES] ARE WHATEVER WE MAKE UP AS CHILDREN IN MOMENTS OF WHAT IS - FOR A CHILD - REAL STRESS OR THREAT. IF YOU DO EVERYTHING TO GET THOSE LIFE SENTENCES OUT OF YOUR FUTURE, YOU CAN CREATE SOMETHING.
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[IN THE] SPACE OF BEING ALLOWED TO BE, I CAN CREATE A FUTURE THAT GIVES ME A CURRENT ERA THAT IS FULL OF LIFE WITH THE EXACT SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. WHEN I CREATE A NEW FUTURE FOR MYSELF, MY CIRCUMSTANCES DON'T CHANGE AT ALL. THEY ARE STILL THE SAME OLD CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT THEY NOW EXIST IN A NEW LIGHT.
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I SAW THAT THERE WERE NO HIDDEN MEANINGS, THAT EVERYTHING WAS JUST THE WAY THAT IT IS, AND THAT I WAS ALREADY ALRIGHT.
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IN CHINESE ART THE ORCHID SYMBOLIZES LOVE, BEAUTY, ELEGANCE, REFINEMENT, MANY DESCENDANTS, AND THE PERFECT HUMAN BEING.
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IT'S OK THE WAY IT IS.
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YOU ARE A MACHINE.
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THERE IS SOMETHING I DO NOT KNOW, THE KNOWING OF WHICH COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.
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I USED TO BE DIFFERENT; NOW I AM THE SAME.
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WHAT ARE YOU PRESENT TO NOW?
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I HAD THE REALIZATION THAT WHAT MY LIFE WAS ABOUT WAS REALLY MEANINGLESS, IT WAS EMPTY, AND THIS REALIZATION THAT THE THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WERE SO SIGNIFICANT LIKE LOOKING GOOD AND WINNING, JUST THE NORMAL THINGS THAT I GUESS MOST PEOPLE THINK ARE IMPORTANT, THAT THEY REALLY HAD NO IMPORTANCE, THAT IT WAS ALL EMPTY AND MEANINGLESS. WHEN I BROKE THROUGH THE SADNESS, BROKE THROUGH THE SENSE OF DESPAIR OF HAVING WASTED MY LIFE, I ALL OF A SUDDEN REALIZED "MY GOD! I'M FREE!".
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EGO IS THE FUNCTIONING OF ONE'S POINT OF VIEW IN THE ATTEMPT TO CAUSE THAT POINT OF VIEW TO SURVIVE. THE VERB "TO EGO"  MEANS "TO PERPETUATE ONE'S OWN POINT OF VIEW".
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PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF BEING OUT OF INTEGRITY IS THE LOSS OF YOURSELF. IN A VERY REAL SENSE YOU ARE YOUR WORD. WHEN YOU HONOR YOUR WORD TO YOURSELF AND OTHERS: YOU ARE AT PEACE WITH YOURSELF, AND THEREFORE ACT FROM A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE AT PEACE WITH OTHERS AND THE WORLD, EVEN THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH OR MIGHT THREATEN YOU; YOU LIVE WITHOUT FEAR FOR YOUR SELFHOOD, THAT IS WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON; THERE IS NO FEAR OF LOSING THE ADMIRATION OF OTHERS; YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE RIGHT; YOU ACT WITH HUMILITY.
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I'M UNWILLING TO PAY THE COST OF CARRYING A RESENTMENT (OR WHATEVER) AROUND, SO I DRAW ON THE INTELLIGENCE OF FORGIVING.
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CONTRIBUTING IS INDELICATE. YOU TAKE A RISK WHEN YOU ARE WILLING TO PLAY AS IF YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AS IF YOUR LIFE MAKES A DIFFERENCE, AS IF LIFE ITSELF MAKES A DIFFERENCE. AT THAT LEVEL THE GAME GETS FAST, DIFFICULT, AND EVEN A LITTLE DANGEROUS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE WITH THE ISSUES BEFORE YOU, FOR BEING WILLING TO MAKE MISTAKES AND NOT BE STOPPED BY ANY OF IT. IT TAKES REAL HEART AND COURAGE AND COMMITMENT TO MAKE YOUR VISION A REALITY. THANK YOU FOR BEING THAT BIG.
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WE CAN CHOOSE TO BE AUDACIOUS ENOUGH TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENTIRE HUMAN FAMILY. WE CAN CHOOSE TO MAKE OUR LOVE FOR THE WORLD BE WHAT OUR LIVES ARE REALLY ABOUT. EACH OF US NOW HAS THE OPPORTUNITY, THE PRIVILEGE, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN CREATING A WORLD THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US. IT WILL REQUIRE COURAGE, AUDACITY, AND HEART. IT IS MUCH MORE RADICAL THAN A REVOLUTION - IT IS THE BEGINNING OF A TRANSFORMATION IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE ON OUR PLANET. WHAT WE CREATE TOGETHER IS A RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH OUR WORK CAN SHOW UP AS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. I WELCOME THE UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK GLOBALLY ON THAT WHICH CONCERNS US ALL AS HUMAN BEINGS.
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THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE ENCOUNTERED THROUGH SOME THEORY OR BELIEF AS CONTRASTED WITH LIFE ENCOUNTERED AS LIFE IS ACTUALLY LIVED. WHILE WE OFTEN ENCOUNTER AND COMPREHEND LIFE THROUGH SOME THEORY OR BELIEF, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US TO ENCOUNTER AND COMPREHEND LIFE AS IT IS ACTUALLY LIVED. AND AS A CONSEQUENCE, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US TO INTERACT WITH LIFE (THE WORLD, OTHERS, AND OURSELVES) AS LIFE IS ACTUALLY LIVED, RATHER THAN AS LIFE IS INTERACTED WITH WHEN ENCOUNTERED THROUGH SOME THEORY OR BELIEF.
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WHAT IS OUT THERE FOR YOU IS NOT WHAT IS OUT THERE - THAT IS, WHAT IS "OUT THERE FOR YOU" IS NOT THE SO-CALLED "OBJECTIVE REALITY". WHILE WE CAN CONFIDENTLY ASSUME THAT THERE IS AN OBJECTIVE REALITY OUT THERE, THAT IS NOT THE REALITY THAT SHOWS UP FOR YOU. WHAT SHOWS UP FOR YOU IS A "REALITY" GENERATED BY YOUR BRAIN. PUT IN ANOTHER WAY, WHILE WE ASSUME THAT WHAT WE PERCEIVE IS THE REALITY THAT IS ACTUALLY OUT THERE, IN FACT EVERY SHRED OF WHAT SHOWS UP FOR YOU AS REALITY IS BEING WHOLLY GENERATED BY YOUR BRAIN.
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FROM-THE-STANDS  ONE IS PROVIDED WITH CONCEPTUAL  ACCESS TO WHAT IS REAL, AND AS A RESULT ONE WINDS UP WITH WHAT IS REAL AS NOTHING MORE THAN AN UNDERSTANDING  OF, OR CONCEPTUAL  GRASP OF, WHAT IS REAL. WHEN BEING A LEADER AND EXERCISING LEADERSHIP EFFECTIVELY, YOUR WAY OF BEING  AND YOUR WAY OF ACTING  IS GIVEN BY THE REALITY IN WHICH YOU DWELL. WHEN YOUR WAY OF BEING AND ACTING ARE GIVEN BY A CONCEPTUAL REALITY, BEING A LEADER AND EXERCISING LEADERSHIP IS ANYTHING BUT NATURAL. IT MAY BE FIGURED OUT, REMEMBERED, FAKED UNTIL MADE, OR AUTOMATIC, BUT IT WILL NOT  BE NATURAL. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN YOUR WAY OF BEING  AND YOUR WAY OF ACTING  IS GIVEN BY THE REALITY IN WHICH YOU WILL ACTUALLY BE AND ACT (THE ON-THE-COURT REALITY), YOUR BEING AND ACTING IS A NATURAL  CORRELATE WITH WHAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY BEING IN AND ACTING ON.
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FOR YOU TO BE A LEADER AND EXERCISE LEADERSHIP AS YOUR NATURAL SELF-EXPRESSION, YOU WILL HAVE TO CREATE AND REALIZE FUTURES THAT WERE NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY. SUCH FUTURES EXIST ONLY IN LANGUAGE - THEY ARE NOT A DESCRIPTION OF A PREDICTABLE FUTURE OR A FUTURE THAT IS AN EXTENSION OF THE PAST. THEREFORE, TO CREATE AND REALIZE A FUTURE THAT WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY, YOU WILL NEED TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE POWER OF LANGUAGE BEYOND MERE ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF THE WORLD AS IT ALREADY EXISTS. IN OTHER WORDS, RATHER THAN SIMPLY USING LANGUAGE TO REPRESENT WHAT IS SO IN THE WORLD, YOU WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO USE LANGUAGE TO BRING SOMETHING NEW INTO EXISTENCE - THAT IS, RATHER THAN BEING LIMITED TO MAKING YOUR WORDS MATCH THE WORLD, YOU WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO USE LANGUAGE SO THAT THE WORLD COMES TO MATCH YOUR WORDS.
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CONSIDER THAT "WHO YOU WOUND UP BEING" IS SHAPED BY YOUR LISTENING - BY YOUR LISTENING AS, FOR EXAMPLE, AN AUSTRALIAN, A GERMAN, A KUWAITI, OR A NORTH AMERICAN, BY YOUR LISTENING AS EITHER A MALE OR A FEMALE, BY THE LISTENING OF YOUR RELIGION, BY THE LISTENING DEVELOPED AS PART OF YOUR FAMILY AS CONTRASTED WITH OTHER FAMILIES, BY THE IDIOSYNCRATIC LISTENING YOU DEVELOPED AS AN INDIVIDUAL, AND SO ON.
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I'M NOT JUST A GUY IN A DINER  ABOUT THIS ...
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I TRULY DID NEED TO BE EDUCATED. AND GOD DID TAKE ME AND EDUCATE ME - UNCONVENTIONALLY, AND VERY  PRIVATELY; FOR A LONG TIME NO ONE, INCLUDING MYSELF, KNEW THAT ANYTHING WAS HAPPENING.
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IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARILY POWERFUL ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, "WHERE IS MY WORD WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR ME TO KEEP MY WORD?", YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT BEING A PERSON OF INTEGRITY, MUCH LESS A LEADER AND REALIZING A CREATED FUTURE. IN ORDER TO REALIZE THE CREATED FUTURE, YOU WILL NEED A WAY TO KEEP THE WORD YOU GAVE REGARDING THE CREATED FUTURE IN EXISTENCE.
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IT'S ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE FOR PERSONS INTERESTED IN EST  TO BE INTERESTED ALSO IN ZEN.
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HERE'S MY VIEW: THERE'S NOTHING  I WANT PEOPLE TO LEARN FROM ME. IT'S WHAT YOU DISCOVER FOR YOURSELF THAT MAKES IT POWERFUL.
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TO BE A LEADER, AND TO EXERCISE LEADERSHIP EFFECTIVELY, YOU MUST BE MASTERFUL IN EMPOWERING OTHERS TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES ACTUAL ERRORS IN THEIR THINKING, AND MASTERFUL IN ENHANCING THEIR VALID THINKING. THIS IS LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE IF YOU LISTEN WITH "DO I AGREE OR DO I DISAGREE WITH WHAT IS BEING SAID?", OR "IS WHAT IS BEING SAID RIGHT OR WRONG, OR TRUE OR FALSE?".
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PEOPLE GO THROUGH LIFE THAT THEY ARE  WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM INTERNALLY.
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THE ONE THING WHICH I WOULD SAY IS MOST MISSING, AND IF PROVIDED WOULD MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN HAVING A WORKABLE WORLD, IS IF WE HAD A BREAKTHROUGH, A TRANSFORMATION IN WHAT IT IS TO BE A HUMAN BEING. AND THAT'S MY WHOLE STORY.
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AS AN ANALOGY, ONE'S WORLDVIEW CAN BE COMPARED TO A WALL OF BRICKS ON WHICH ONE SITS LIKE HUMPTY DUMPTY TO VIEW AND INTERACT WITH LIFE - THE WORLD, OTHERS, AND ONESELF. EACH BRICK IN YOUR WALL OF BRICKS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE COME TO BELIEVE OR ASSUME ABOUT SOME ASPECT OF LIFE, OR ABOUT THE WORLD, OTHERS, OR YOURSELF. SUCH BELIEFS AND ASSUMPTIONS INCLUDE UNEXAMINED IDEAS, BIASES, PREJUDICES, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL EMBEDDEDNESS, AND TAKEN-FOR-GRANTED ASSUMPTIONS. THESE BELIEFS AND ASSUMPTIONS ARE THE PRODUCT OF CONCLUSIONS, INTERPRETATIONS, OR DECISIONS (REMEMBERED OR NOT) THAT YOU HAVE MADE ABOUT YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCES, AND WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED FROM OR HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OTHERS THAT YOU BELIEVED. THE LIFE EXPERIENCES DURING WHICH YOU MADE THESE CONCLUSIONS, INTERPRETATIONS, OR DECISIONS INCLUDE THE EXPERIENCES YOU'VE HAD IN VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTS AND CULTURES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE ENVIRONMENTS AND CULTURES OF YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, RELIGION, COMMUNITIES, NATIONALITY, TRAINING, EDUCATION, AFFILIATIONS, CAREER, AND THE LIKE.
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THE MASTERY COURSE IS A STRUCTURE IN WHICH IT IS POSSIBLE TO DISCOVER FOR YOURSELF WHO YOU ARE REALLY. THIS STRUCTURE ALLOWS FOR THE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE MASTERY COURSE.
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SOMETHING'S HAPPENING BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS MOVING.
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WHO I AM IS THE SPACE IN WHICH THE EVENTS OF MY LIFE OCCUR (SHOW UP).
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MOST OF US ASSUME THAT EXTRAORDINARY LEADERS HAVE SOMETHING INSIDE THEM THAT MAKES THEM EXTRAORDINARY. THE FACT IS THAT EXTRAORDINARY LEADERS ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU AND ME. WHILE EXTRAORDINARY LEADERS ARE INNATELY ORDINARY, THEY DO SEE (EXPERIENCE) AND COMPREHEND (MAKE SENSE OF) LIFE (THE WORLD, OTHERS, AND THEMSELVES) DIFFERENTLY THAN MOST OF US DO. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THEY INTERACT WITH LEADERSHIP SITUATIONS DIFFERENTLY THAN MOST OF US DO. AND, IT IS THE WAY THEY INTERACT WITH LEADERSHIP SITUATIONS - THE WAY THEY INTERACT WITH THE WORLD, OTHERS, AND THEMSELVES - THAT MAKES THEM EXTRAORDINARY LEADERS.
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I HAVE TO BE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE POSSIBILITY THAT I WASTED MY LIFE ON WHAT I HAVE STOOD FOR AND KEEP STANDING FOR IT AS MY WORD.
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NOW IF YOU'LL JUST TAKE A HOLD OF THAT, IT WILL MAKE YOU FREE.
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EXPERIENCED EXPERIENCE DISAPPEARS.
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THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO BE EXTRAORDINARILY EFFECTIVE IN DEALING WITH LIFE AND AT THE SAME TIME ENJOY AN EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE. MOST OF US BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING EXTRA SPECIAL ABOUT SUCH PEOPLE - THAT IS, THERE IS SOMETHING EXTRA SPECIAL ABOUT PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO HAVE MASTERED LIFE. HOWEVER, WHILE INNATELY ORDINARY, MASTERS OF LIFE DO SEE LIFE AND MAKE SENSE OF LIFE DIFFERENTLY THAN MOST OF US DO. AND IT IS THIS UNIQUE WAY THAT THEY SEE (PERCEIVE) LIFE AND MAKE SENSE OF (COMPREHEND) LIFE THAT LEAVES THEM INTERACTING WITH LIFE AS A MASTER - THAT IS, NATURALLY BEING EXTRAORDINARILY EFFECTIVE WHILE ENJOYING AN EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE.
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ONE CRITICAL POINT ABOUT BEING A MASTER IN LIFE IS GETTING YOURSELF CLEAR THAT "WHO YOU HAVE KNOWN YOURSELF TO BE" IS NOT WHO YOU ARE. 'WHO YOU KNOW YOURSELF TO BE" IS SIMPLY ONE WAY OF BEING THAT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU, AND YOU ARE NOT STUCK WITH THAT WAY OF BEING.
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TALKING ABOUT  TRANSFORMATION IS NO MORE THAN A REPRESENTATION, AN IMAGE OF THE REAL THING. IT'S LIKE EATING THE MENU INSTEAD OF THE STEAK - NEITHER NURTURING NOR PROFOUND. IT IS IN BEING TRANSFORMED - IN BEING AUTHENTICALLY TRUE TO ONESELF - THAT ONE LIVES PASSIONATELY FREE, UNENCUMBERED, FEARLESS, COMMITTED. IT IS IN LIVING LIFE IN A TRANSFORMED WAY THAT THE STEAK AND ITS SIZZLE SHOW UP.
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A SUPERSTITION ISN'T A SUPERSTITION WHEN IT IS. A SUPERSTITION IS A SUPERSTITION WHEN IT ISN'T.
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ONCE SOMETHING IS DISCOVERED, YOU FIND YOURSELF ACTUALLY BEING KNOCKED BACK BY WHAT YOU HAVE DISCOVERED, SAYING "OH WOW!" OR WONDERING HOW YOU COULD NOT HAVE PERCEIVED WHAT YOU NOW PERCEIVE. YOU ARE BEING KNOCKED BACK, AS IF YOU OPENED YOUR REFRIGERATOR DOOR AND FOUND YOURSELF PEERING INTO THE GRAND CANYON. THIS IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS EINSICHT, OR AN "AHA EXPERIENCE".
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DO ARTISTS RETIRE?
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PEOPLE OFTEN DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS INVOLVED IN FORGIVING. THEY THINK THAT IF SOMEBODY DOES SOMETHING WRONG, AND YOU FORGIVE, THEM, THAT IS LIKE SAYING THAT IT WAS ALRIGHT TO DO IT THAT TIME - BUT DON'T DARE DO IT AGAIN. BUT LIFE DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY; AND IT'S STUPID OR HYPOCRITICAL TO FORGIVE SOMEONE ON THAT BASIS. IF SOMEBODY DOES SOMETHING, YOU CAN BE SURE THAT HE OR SHE WILL DO IT AGAIN. THAT IS WHY I PREFER TO TALK ABOUT "MAKING SPACE" AND "COMPLETION". TO THE EXTENT THAT FORGIVENESS IS INVOLVED, IT IS MORE LIKE SELF-FORGIVING AND SELF-ACCEPTANCE. WHEN YOU FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO CREATE THE SPACE FOR THAT THING TO EXIST. FOR WHATEVER YOU RESIST, AND FAIL TO MAKE SPACE FOR, WILL INDEED MANIFEST ITSELF IN YOU.
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THAT'S SOME GOOD LIGHT YOU'VE GOT COMING OUT OF YOUR FACE LAR.
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I DON'T TALK ABOUT GOD WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THEIR ASS FROM A HOLE IN THE GROUND.
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AN EPISTEMOLOGICAL MASTERY (A FROM-THE-STANDS MASTERY) OF A SUBJECT LEAVES ONE KNOWING. AN ONTOLOGICAL MASTERY (AN ON-THE-COURT MASTERY) OF A SUBJECT LEAVES ONE BEING.
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YOU COULD DESCRIBE THE UPCOMING "THE MASTERY COURSE" AS "THE NEWEST PIECE OF WORK".
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MEDITATION IS VALUABLE UNTIL IT'S USED LIKE ASPIRIN.
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AT THE BASE OF IT ALL, FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT'S SO, IS SO BY YOUR CONSIDERATION ALONE.
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I'M GOING OUT LIKE A SUPERNOVA.
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TRANSFORMATION IS GETTING TO SEE AS A POSSIBILITY WHO YOU MIGHT BE REALLY.
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IF YOU GOT IT, STAND UP.
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WHEN WE ARE BEING THE CLEARING FOR LIFE TO SHOW UP, AND OUR "I" OR "ME" SELF IS SIMPLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHOWS UP IN THE CLEARING, THAT LEAVES US FREE TO BE AND FREE TO ACT IN LIFE - FREE TO BE AND FREE TO ACT WITH WHATEVER WE ARE DEALING WITH IN ANY SITUATION.
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THERE ARE THOUGHTS.
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I AM A SORT OF REVOLUTIONARY. I HAVE A STRANGE AMBITION, THOUGH. I DON'T WANT ANY STATUES. WHAT I WANT IS FOR THE WORLD TO WORK. I WANT TO CREATE A CONTEXT IN WHICH GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION, AND FAMILIES ARE NURTURING. I WANT TO ENABLE, TO EMPOWER, THE INSTITUTIONS OF MAN. SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION DOESN'T ARGUE AGAINST SOCIAL CHANGE. RADICALISM AND RESISTANCE PRODUCE OBVIOUS VALUES. BUT AFTER A WHILE, SOCIAL CHANGE CHASES ITS OWN TAIL. SOCIAL CHANGE JUST PRODUCES SOCIAL CHANGE. AFTER MOST ORDINARY REVOLUTIONS, AFTER MOST SOCIAL CHANGE, THE WORLD STILL DOESN'T WORK. FOR THE WORLD TO WORK YOU MUST HAVE SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION, WHICH CREATES THE SPACE FOR EFFECTIVE SOCIAL CHANGE.
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OF ALL THE DISCIPLINES THAT I STUDIED, PRACTICED, LEARNED, ZEN WAS THE ESSENTIAL  ONE. IT WAS NOT SO MUCH AN INFLUENCE ON ME; RATHER, IT CREATED SPACE. IT ALLOWED THOSE THINGS THAT WERE THERE TO BE THERE. IT GAVE SOME FORM TO MY EXPERIENCE. AND IT BUILT UP IN ME THE CRITICAL MASS FROM WHICH WAS KINDLED THE EXPERIENCE THAT PRODUCED EST. ALTHOUGH THE EST  TRAINING IS NOT ZEN, NOR EVEN ANYTHING LIKE IT, SOME FEATURES OF EST  RESONATE WITH ZEN TEACHING AND PRACTICE. IT IS ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE FOR PERSONS INTERESTED IN EST  TO BE INTERESTED ALSO IN ZEN.
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THE TRUTH IS NOT FOUND IN A DIFFERENT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS AND ONLY FOUND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES YOU'VE GOT.
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LIFE IS ALREADY TOGETHER, AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IS EXPERIENCING IT BEING TOGETHER. THE STRIVING TO PUT IT TOGETHER IS THE DENIAL OF THE TRUTH THAT IT IS ACTUALLY ALREADY TOGETHER AND FURTHER STRIVING KEEPS YOU FROM GETTING IT TOGETHER.
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I MADE I UP. YOU CAN TOO.
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IT NEEDS TO BE SEEN THAT ZEN IS NOT A RELIGION IN THE WESTERN SENSE. NEITHER FOR THE MOST PART IS BUDDHISM. A ZEN PERSON PRACTICING ANY RELIGION WOULD PRACTICE IT WITH A ZEN QUALITY. SO THERE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY ZEN CHRISTIANS AND ZEN JEWS AND ZEN MUHAMMADANS AS WELL AS ZEN BUDDHISTS.
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I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNICATING WITH ME ON THE BASIS OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO SHARE AND CONTRIBUTE, RATHER THAN "IN ORDER TO" SOMETHING. FOR ME THERE IS NOTHING PRESUMPTUOUS IN YOUR SAYING "OUR RELATIONSHIP". I TAKE OUR RELATIONSHIP AS A GIFT FROM YOU. WHAT YOU SAY IS VERY HIGH CLASS ZEN. GOOD FOR YOU.
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DON'T CHANGE BELIEFS. TRANSFORM THE BELIEVER.
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IT TAKES ENORMOUS COURAGE TO APPROACH LIVING FROM A YOU AND ME CONTEXT. IT IS AUDACIOUS TO CREATE YOUR LIFE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN A WORLD THAT SAYS THAT YOU DON'T. IT TAKES A LOT OF HEART - OPENNESS TO YOUR OWN MAGNANIMITY, COMPASSION FOR YOURSELF, FOR YOUR OWN PETTINESS WHEN IT SHOWS ITSELF.
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WHAT IT'S ABOUT FOR ME IS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPTED IN THE PROGRAMS. AND WHAT IT'S ABOUT EVEN TODAY NOT IN EST  ANY MORE AND NOT EVEN IN LANDMARK'S PROGRAMS, BUT IT'S ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE THAT REAL INTEGRITY ACTUALLY MAKES.
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THAT FISH WALKING UP ON LAND FOR THE FIRST TIME, BROUGHT WITH IT ELEPHANTS AND EAGLES LIKE A POSSIBILITY.
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THERE IS NO "IS".
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STOP LEADING THE FORUM: BE  THE FORUM.
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YOU DON'T GET TO VOTE ON THE WAY IT IS. YOU ALREADY DID.
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CONTEXT IS DECISIVE.
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THE BEGINNING OF MASTERY IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE MASTERING AT LEAST COMES UP FOR YOU IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU HAVE FAILED WITH WHAT YOU ARE MASTERING, THAT IS TO SAY, YOU CONSISTENTLY IMMEDIATELY CATCH YOURSELF.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THE MOMENT WHEN YOU REALLY EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE CREATED YOURSELF BEING WHATEVER WAY YOU ARE, AT THAT SAME MOMENT YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO BE THAT WAY AGAIN.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
SADNESS IS SUPPOSED TO CURE BEING SAD.
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WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF CONTROL, BE  OUT OF CONTROL, OR YOU CAN CREATE  BEING OUT OF CONTROL, OR YOU CAN RE-CREATE  BEING OUT OF CONTROL.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
YOU DON'T THINK IT. IT THINKS YOU.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
STOP WAITING FOR GOD. SHE AIN'T COMING.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO DO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO. PEOPLE DON'T DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO; THEY DO WHAT THEY DO. YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU DO. AND YOU DON'T ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, DO YOU? THE ONLY TIME YOU DO WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO IS WHEN IT'S COINCIDENTALLY WHAT YOU DID.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
YOU HAVE TO BRING HAPPINESS TO LIFE. YOU DON'T GET HAPPINESS OUT OF LIFE. WHAT IS THERE TO BE HAPPY ABOUT? NOTHING. WHEN YOU CAN BE HAPPY ABOUT NOTHING. JUST BE HAPPY. YOU KNOW "I AM HAPPY" - THOSE WORDS ARE SACRED. IT'S LIKE A DECLARATION, IT'S LIKE A PLACE FROM WHICH I COME, IT'S LIKE A STAND I TAKE UPON MYSELF. IT'S NOT I AM PRETENDING TO BE HAPPY, IT'S NOT I AM ACTING HAPPY. NO. I AM HAPPY!
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
"WHAT I DID IS NOT OK (END OF STORY)" WORKS BETTER THAN "I APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT I DID.".
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CONSCIOUSNESS, THERE IS ONLY CONSCIOUS OF.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
GOD ONLY CREATES WHAT IS.
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I AM ALWAYS WITH YOU.
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HOW CAN THE LIGHT BE OFF WHEN IT'S ON?
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KEEP YOUR SOLE IN THE ROOM, FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS, AND TAKE WHAT YOU GET.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
LIFE IS A RIPOFF WHEN YOU EXPECT TO GET WHAT YOU WANT. LIFE WORKS WHEN YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU GOT. ACTUALLY WHAT YOU GOT IS WHAT YOU CHOSE. TO MOVE ON, CHOOSE IT.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
I'M HAPPY, AND THINGS ARE GOOD.
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I HAVE THE SPACE TO HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERYONE.
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THE TRAINING BEGINS WHEN YOU REGISTER.
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Latest -V: BEING FOR ME HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH ACTUALLY LOOKING.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
Latest -IV: WHAT IS THE WAY IN WHICH A MASTER OF LIFE SEES (PERCEIVES) LIFE? WHAT IS THE WAY IN WHICH A MASTER OF LIFE MAKES SENSE OF (COMPREHENDS) LIFE? THE WAY A MASTER OF LIFE INTERACTS WITH LIFE  IS THE NATURAL OUTCOME  OF THE WAY A MASTER SEES  AND MAKES SENSE OF LIFE.
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Latest -III: THERE'S A STORY ABOUT THE MAN WHO LISTENED TO EVERYBODY AND WOUND UP DEFEATING HIMSELF INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO HIS OWN EXPERIENCE.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
Latest -II: YOU HAVE A SENSE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING TRULY VALUABLE HERE. YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT'S BEYOND MY REACH, AND I'D LIKE TO LEAVE IT SO THAT PEOPLE STANDING ON WHATEVER IT IS THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE CREATED, THAT THEY CAN GET TO THAT MORE THAT'S BEYOND OUR REACH.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
Latest -I: I BEGAN TO TELL THE TRUTH UNFLINCHINGLY. IF I SAID THAT SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN, YOU COULD BET THAT IT WOULD - YOU COULD BET EVERYTHING YOU OWNED. WHEN YOU START TO TELL THE TRUTH, YOU BEGIN TO LOOK AT YOUR OFFHAND REMARKS, AND TO EXAMINE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. YOU BEGIN TO NOTICE THE LACK OF FIT BETWEEN THE WORD AND THE OBJECT. YOU BEGIN TO REALIZE THAT YOU ALMOST NEVER TELL THE TRUTH EXACTLY. AND YOU REALIZE THAT ANYTHING LESS THAN THE TRUTH IS A LIE: YOU CAN NOT "PRETTY MUCH" TELL THE TRUTH. TO "PRETTY MUCH" TELL THE TRUTH IS TO LIE.
Sumi-e circle by Yamada Mumon Roshi
LATEST: THERE'S LIFE HAPPENING WHERE YOU ARE, AND THAT'S VERY MOVING FOR ME.
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