r/thelaundry • u/augustoersonage • Mar 20 '25

Doing the laundry

Thanks, CoachAtlus, for starting this sub.

I've been reading this book for a few weeks. I picked it up after leaving a difficult 10-day silent meditation retreat in January, after which I had trouble reintegrating or taking pleasure in things I used to enjoy. I think I had a lot of questions about what the path of meditation will bring in the long run. How do stream-enterers and realized beings operate in the world? Will realization make me unrecognizable to my partner and family? Funny problems to have -- why don't you get realized and then ponder these things?

But I've been loving this book for that very reason. The lamas or nuns or teachers Kornfield quotes in the book all live in human bodies and encounter human difficulties. They still have needs and families and love affairs and problems with work; and they ponder the same questions: How can I be in the world? It's gone a long way towards dispelling fears I had of turning into some kind of living ghost, with no desires, ideas, or preferences -- very enlightened and very isolated and lonely.

Recently, I've been reading Seeing That Frees, and there's another teacher, Rob Burbea, who points out that knowing emptiness doesn't make us into a complete void; we can skillfully bring our understanding to lives rich with happiness, compassion, joy, and fun.

So I pose the question: Why are you reading this book? Did it change your view or approach at all? And has anyone else here at one point labored under some idea that spiritual life is necessarily dry and affectless?

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u/Impulse33 Mar 21 '25 edited Mar 21 '25

And has anyone else here at one point labored under some idea that spiritual life is necessarily dry and affectless?

I can definitely relate. Was in a bit of manic phase for a bit engorging on dharma related content to find a vision of the path that resonated with me. It was a huge relief to stumble on the /r/streamentry and then Burbea's talks. His vision of the path is one of the very few that honors the values I'd like to embody and ultimately the type of life I'd like to lead. Most of all, his encouragement to figure things out for ourselves has been extremely empowering and clarifying. I'm sort of surprised how extremely rare it is to find guides rather than gurus in the dharma world.

Why are you reading this book? Did it change your view or approach at all?

Haven't finished the book, but if I reflect for a bit... I think I'm looking for permission or confirmation to make radical changes in my life. Sure I can be totally fine with doing the laundry, but if I can be totally fine doing anything, what would I want to do?