Krishnamurti & Zen, Secret of the Golden Flower, Turning the Light of Awareness Around

In this video, dr.a discusses the practice of turning the light around, some mistakes in Zen study, and the human habit of rationalization.
0:00 Turning the Light Around
3:59 Mistakes in Zen | Zen Teachings
18:45 Studying What’s Really There
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Mentioned Reading
- The Secret of the Golden Flower a.co/d/0syYDmF
- Dream Conversations a.co/d/iT8nfLr
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Website: matrixofmind.org/
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The following summary is provided by ChatGPT 4o and may contain omissions and errors.
Turning the Light Around
The student raises a question about the challenge of perceiving their real self and awareness without the interference of thoughts. They discuss the difficulty of using thoughts to see awareness, as thoughts create objects that prevent a clear view of pure awareness. The teacher explains that "turning the light around" means directing attention away from thoughts and external perceptions back to the source of awareness itself. The teacher emphasizes that awareness is inherently seen but not in a visual sense, and that one must focus attention inward without bringing thoughts along.
Mistakes in Zen | Zen Teachings
The student mentions having read a section of the "Secret of the Golden Flower" and is confused about the concept of turning the light around. The teacher clarifies that awareness is unitary and not fragmented, unlike the thought processes described by Krishnamurti. They discuss common misconceptions in Zen practice, such as equating awareness with non-existence or adopting superficial understandings. The teacher explains that true understanding comes from direct experience, which often contradicts normal perceptions and cannot be fully grasped through intellectual rationalization alone.
Studying What’s Really There
The student inquires about the method of studying intent without intellectual rationalization, referencing a section from "Dream Conversations." The teacher explains that rationalization involves creating explanations or justifications that can obscure direct understanding. They highlight the importance of approaching Zen teachings and koans without preconceived notions or biases, to see things as they truly are. The conversation delves into the human tendency to rationalize and the necessity of breaking free from habitual thinking patterns to achieve a deeper awareness. The teacher encourages the student to continue exploring these concepts and emphasizes the importance of direct, non-conceptual understanding in Zen practice.