The shock method part 6

Lessons I had learned from BOTH Thai Dhutanga and Tibetan Vajrayana teachings - as well as other Buddhist readings, putting my whole life into my practice, and the ACI courses - were put to the test.

What I had read/heard, then absorbed, contemplated and accepted, became not only the test itself but also the successful way through. Yes, testing EVERYTHING rather than just a toe's touch made it more of a complete examination - a life or death spiritual situation - but if I had only tested my toe, the value of what I learned and experienced would have been so much less.

I can now not only say I believe, but say I have experienced that which I have been learning over the past 2-3 years. For an example - in the third course from ACI, there is a study on a Lam Rim. Taking this into life rather than mind brings it into reality. I was pushed into the experience by a shock rather than jumping in - but because I had studied, read, listened, and believed, I knew how to swim and gain rather than sink and lose.

I had learned the strokes, read of the procedures, and put my faith in their being true based on an internal deep acceptance and knowledge. So when I was 'thrown into the ocean' after a few moments of traumatic despair, I knew how to do the swimming that saved me and brought me to new land.