For this issue of IOP, we asked some Sangha members to respond to these questions about guidelines: "Why so many rules? Why all these guidelines? What is the point? We would love to have you look at this and see what arises for you."
Ego has a difficult time with rules and guidelines that support practice, which in my experience is exactly the point of them.
One of the guidelines I have established for myself is to say yes. And in this instance: a request to write about my experience of practice for IOP. Ego resists, telling me that I am not articulate and have nothing to say that would be helpful or interesting to anyone. Another lie I hear is that I'm too busy to take time to do this. Because I have made a commitment to the guideline of saying yes, I find the willingness to participate. I have a wonderful experience of myself.
Guidelines are a good marker to let me know when I'm identified with suffering. I notice that I'm not following a guideline and have an opportunity to see how that happens. How did I get pulled away from heart's desire?
Guidelines are an excellent practice tool to train the mind to stay focused, to build the skills that lead to increasing awareness and staying present. This type of training is just like any training I might do - tennis, the tuba, whatever. In order to develop skills, I follow the guidelines offered by those who are more skillful and have achieved proficiency. Of course, in awareness practice, ego is being threatened and makes a big bad story about all the rules and guidelines.
Guidelines help me to wake up, come back to the breath, smile and recommit to this miracle of ending suffering.
Gasshō
