Here it is! Finally what you’ve been seeking all these years: The Big Mind/Big Heart Workshop
“You'll have a real, tangible experience of being One with the entire universe — what Genpo Roshi calls Big Mind/Big Heart. I'm talking about the same experience a Zen master or other enlightened master has — something that usually takes decades of meditation and direct work with a spiritual master to achieve. I'm not kidding. You'll experience this amazing state (more than once) during these two days, and I promise it will change your life — forever...” (Big Mind/Big heart Workshop)
YAAAY! (and he ain't "kidding"!)
Now we have a psychologist and a “Zen master” teaming up to deliver directly to you the best quality “enlightenment”that money can buy. And it will only take you two days, and $599 (early registration only), to experience what an “enlightened master” experiences after a lifetime of sacrifice and struggle. However, you better hurry and register NOW because:
“The event will be March 7 - 8 in Los Angeles, California and in order to make it more intimate we are limiting the number of attendees. So, if you're interested, please register right away. Since we're offering a special discount for early registration, it's very possible that early registrants alone will fill the event. So please don't wait if you want to be there.” (forget about “Be Here Now,” you need to be ‘there,' Los Angeles California, enlightenment capital of the world!)Whoa, dang! Where do I sign, so that, in only 2 days, I can get my:
"Buddha Mind — the mind of clarity, transcendental wisdom, and unconditional compassion — and, the profound personal and psychological insights that go with it.”The MC of this 2 day event is Bill Harris, who advertises himself as some sort of psychologist/guru. This guy seems to pop up with every awakening game that comes down the pike, even the Law of Attraction party invites Bill. He seems to be a promoter of the stars in the enlightenment show (no matter where that show's being performed) and I imagine ads like this tend to pull in a big audience.
But forget about the promoter and let’s look at who he promotes for this “workshop.” Genpo Roshi is an expert player in the game of enlightenment and here is a Wikipedia endorsement highlighting Roshi’s claim to fame:
"In 1973 he ordained as a Buddhist monk under the guidance of Taizan Maezumi, completing his koan studies in 1979. Before ordaining in 1973, he had spent a year in silent retreat in the mountains of California. In 1980 he became a Dharma Successor of Maezumi. Starting in 1982 Merzel began traveling to areas of Europe and established an international network of Zen groups. Genpo Merzel received inka from Bernard Glassman in October 1996 of the White Plum lineage. He has also served as President of White Plum Asanga."Wow! This guy ain't no run-of-the-mill enlightened master. Notice the pedigree and credentials necessary to be considered an "enlightened master," which must include your own “awakening” and the confirmation of another “awakened master” needed to endorse the “truth” that you have, in fact, been awakened.
This is a very exclusive club and not just anyone gets in. In fact, you need to attain your "inka" which "denotes a high-level of certification, and literally means "the legitimate seal of clearly furnished proof." In other words, promotions, or titles, are limited to only a select few in this game. But, obviously, that must be true, since what kind of world would this be if we all were 'gurus.' HA! That's utterly ridiculous!
Notice, in addition, that you need to be credentialed (through "linneage") by an accepted institution in the field of awakening, such as the “White Plum Asanga” which is known for its notable membership, all of which can be distinguished by their names having some Tibetan (correct me if I'm wrong) derivative like genpo, daido, enkyo, chozen, etc, etc.
Without the name, your nobody in this game, pal!
These particular “awakening” games have very strict rules that must be followed if you desire membership and wish to be recognized as a player. Nevertheless, we are in tough economic times and this requires funding be sought through less traditional means. This is why the neo-masters and modern gurus need to be promoted to the general public rather than just those of us who have always longed to be enlightened or awakened.
John Q Public wants his awakening fast...in fact, he wants it, 'to go'!
They can no longer rely on the few who have read the sutras or practiced years of meditation. Difficult times call for drastic measures and even if you don’t know what ‘enlightenment’ is, never mind, because Bill and Genpo have defined it for you as the “tangible experience of being One with the entire universe…” In addition, by “being One [cap ‘O’] with the entire universe [not just a portion, mind you, but the entire shebang] you will “have many huge ah-ha's about what your life is about, who you really are, what it means to be a human being.” And “You'll very likely experience permanent resolution regarding at least one — and probably several — dark places in your life” (but they only guarantee resolution of one “dark place,” more than that would require a longer "workshop" and, obviously, more $$$).
My friends, the best “awakening” you could achieve is to avoid these hucksters like the plague.
However, if you do decide to play this game, recognize that it has only two important requirements that you must adhere to in order to participate and not to follow these two rules automatically disqualifies you from the game.
You cannot be awakened before you come to the workshop! If you are already enlightened, then I assume they won't even let you in the door (so wear your best hangdog face!)
In addition, you must accept their definition of “awakening’ for it to be the authentic, real McCoy, of "awakening." If you do fail to achieve it as defined, then I imagine there will be future workshops.
So, enjoy your "workshop"!
mikeS
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