I got a chance to hang out with the monk yesterday and take alms round with him. I have been walking barefoot and developing a sense of independence from needing to be comfortable or feel pleasure. I am learning a lot just by hanging out with these people. The monk actaully remind me of myself a bit-he is charming and joyful and articulate. I am surprised by how my preconceived notions about what a monastic must be like might be off a bit.

I told him about Rigpa, we talked about compassion and service to others and he seems to be a straight shooter. I told him I had the shift that felt final, told him about my practice logs and my online presence, and it was like he was the first person to truly understand this perspective. But he has gone far beyond that. I’m learning that Arhatship is onyl the beginning of spiritual practice. Arhatship makes a fundamental perceptual change in how one views self and other, and there is a radical shift from a self-centered perspective, to a collective perspective, of which I am simply an energetic release process occurring. I assume this sense of energetic release will continue until I die.

Buddhassaro also recoomended “Clarifying the Natural State” for how to make Rigpa my default mode. I think he has attained this. It’s strange hanging out with spiritually advanced people- there is this sense of all-in in everything- if we’re fixing or working in the garden or making tea or whatever we’re doing, Buddhassaro 100% of the time, without fail, seems to always be in a 100% engaged flow state with what is occuring right now. Everything is perfect and you can tell someone has this perspective because there is never a sense of “getting to the next moment”. If there is a problem arising there is a cool collected calm persistence on the problem without any kind of emotional judgement. You never see Buddhassaro seemingly bored or even subtly not present. He is always 100% present and I am imitating him as much as possible.