James Low - Dzogchen and Buddhist Teachings Open to Life: Emerson College, 16-21 June 2025, part 1
Aug 16, 2025
The discussion delves into how cultural conditioning shapes our inner selves and perceptions. James highlights the importance of aligning with life’s flow rather than struggling against it. Exploring concepts like thoughts as fleeting 'sky flowers' and the interplay of form and emptiness, he encourages a gentle acceptance of transient experiences. The podcast also examines the co-emergence of self and world, emphasizing collaboration with our circumstances. Ultimately, it invites listeners to embrace open awareness and the beauty of impermanence.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Selfhood Is A Moving Map
- James Low frames selfhood as a moving, context-dependent pattern rather than a fixed entity.
- He points out that our identities are maps that never fully fit the living territory of experience.
Let Thoughts Arise And Release
- Avoid using thought to dissolve thought by over-analyzing your inner stories.
- In meditation, allow thoughts to arise and release rather than trying to adjust or control them constantly.
Thoughts Are Sky Flowers
- Thoughts are fleeting 'sky flowers' that offer momentary flavour but no lasting substance.
- Appreciating each thought's transient value prevents chasing permanence in impermanent events.