Common earth (ICA)

This is experienced as being a "comrade" of all of existence; when one can take or leave whatever situation, relationship, or moment one is given. It may be compared to the Zen story of two monks, an elder and a novice, who were travelling together. When they arrived at a deep, fast stream, a beautiful woman was standing there, unable to cross. The elder monk picked up the woman and carried her across. The two monks continued their journey, but the novice was obviously greatly troubled. Finally he asked the elder why, in light of their vow never to touch a woman, the elder had carried the woman across the stream. The elder said he had set her down at the edge of the stream; why was the novice still carrying her ?

In the ICA New Religious Mode in the arena of knowing one's disengagement (the life of poverty) the third formal aspect is being nonchalant about one's relations. At the fourth phenomenological level, this occurs when one is filled with the power of requiring nothing from a situation.