Backalley Blogging: Spaciousness

( – promoted by buhdydharma )

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(Towering Spaciousness, Hans Hofman.  h/t The Blind Swimmer)

An excerpt from Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar’s Tibetan Astrology

… I am suggesting that the time has come to absorb the longevity of a troublesome embodiment of malevolence and anger, purify it, and liberate it into basic space.

There are many ways to view this suggestion.  One can view it in its plain meaning or in the context of Tibetan Buddhist (and in this instance, Bon) teachings and traditions.  In particular, the phrase “liberate it into basic space” has a very specific meaning in both the Bon and Tibetan Buddhist practice.

So much for any hint of rationality.  The back alleys have a different ambiance.

Luxury Persian carpets and velvet curtains, leather chairs in book lined studies with gleams of brass and crystal are all very nice.

Back alleys have the silver gleam of trashcan covers in the dim white light of a quarter moon, infinitely textured shadows culminating in narrow corners turned with great panache, well la la la.

The rest is on the flip.  

If I were to conjure up a Candyland interpretation of Tenpa’s statement I’d say it was like Beauty and the Beast, big scary monster when truly seen with eyes of compassion becomes object of love, except for that “liberate it into basic space” remark.

It’s not about loving your enemy.  That is too narrow a view, this view is big and wide and infinite and … spacious.  Spaciousness.  Aaaah.

This is not a Christian strand in our human spirit tapestry.

The color of the space element in Tibetan Buddhism is blue.

So this is a blue thread.  I proclaim it!

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How in a universe of limitless spaciousness can we find ourselves oppressed by malevolent forces who trick us with obstacles of harrowing tinytude, crowdosity, suffocatiousness, etc.?

Malevolence can be embodied in everything from ideas to actions to objects.

You know you’ve purified and then liberated this malevolence when spaciousness appears and tinytude is no more.

One would think alleys could not be spacious.

I think differently.

16 comments

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  1. … howlish tonight, but not very loud.

    • Edger on October 11, 2010 at 01:36

    Hi 😉

  2. …this non-attachment to all concepts…

  3. Because you speak of spaciousness in alleys, of dissolving angst into space, the great art of Hans Hoffman in “Towering Spaciousness”, and the one who tipped you, “Blind Swimmer”…

    I would like to recommend this from PBS:

    …this incredible full feature documentary film which features six women, and their stories of survival, Swimming in Auschwitz.

    From this documentary, it looks as if these 6 women were able to reach as close to the absolute spaciousness as is humanly possible.  

    Their strong magnanimity and calm understanding are so clear, that some holocaust deniers have used this film to attempt to prove their point.

    But no, the holocaust is not to be denied.  These 6 women, however, are to be seen as having whatever blessings are necessary to rise beyond it.

    I saw it on PBS in the Spring of 2009 and was completely blown away by the beauty of these 6 women.  I’ll look for a PBS link and post it if I find one.  The google search only seems to bring up holocaust deniers.  

    Tres interesant!  (tahoe, please correct.)

    • Edger on October 11, 2010 at 17:09

    than Beltway Blogging Speciousness, by Steny Hoyer and his friends Ezra and David

  4. to comment on this excellent mind bender. Hard to find words once you wander into the spaciousness be it in an alley or in a fancy room or even doing the dishes…. blue is a great color for this concept.

  5. of commenting in here earlier but.. I kinda spaced out…

    😛

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