James Low - Dzogchen and Buddhist Teachings Wisdom and Compassion, Macclesfield March 2025. Part 4.
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May 28, 2025 Dive into the heart of wisdom and compassion, likened to a bird's wings, soaring beyond duality. The exploration begins with the critique of our fixed identities shaped by childhood and societal labels. Discover how fleeting thoughts can distort our sense of self, with profound implications on mental health. Interpersonal warmth emerges as a cure for negative beliefs. James Low invites us to view identity as an open space rather than a defined concept, emphasizing the importance of fluidity in our experiences. Uncover the power of bodhicitta, vowing to benefit all beings.
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Self As A Situational Construction
- Our sense of a fixed self is a constructed pattern formed from repeated experiences and others' views.
- James Low shows the self as situational emergence, not an enduring essence.
Childhood Labels Solidify Identity
- James Low describes how childhood labels (e.g., 'angry kid') consolidate an identity via others' perceptions.
- Those labels become the ground people depend on, prompting therapy or self-work to change them.
Transient Content Mistaken For Essence
- People mistake transient mental content for intrinsic existence, leading to despair and suicidal conclusions.
- Low compares thoughts to changing cup contents to show how identities shift with conditions.