You came for a reason. You want something. Perhaps I have something to offer. Start by choosing a stone. I presorted them according to perceived difficulty: small, medium, large. We call this stone steatite, a variety of soapstone. Wash it off. Carefully examine it. Ponder for a moment if this stone suits you. You can find another if you like before you get too far along, but once you start you might not want to stop until you realize the desired results. Now, how would you like to refine this rock through your own efforts? You would? Good. Let’s get started.
Here we have three grades of silicon-carbide wet sanding paper. Wet sanding works best, keeping the process fluid, dust free. (note: harmless talc residue produced) The lower the number grit the less refined, the higher allows for deeper resolution but takes far longer to get down past the surface irregularities. Why don’t you get started with the lower number grit to speed the initial effort? Pay attention that you follow the natural organic shape of the stone. Dip the stone and sandpaper frequently in water. Look at the stone after you have rubbed it for awhile with the sandpaper. Notice the incremental changes, sometimes quite rapid with the softer grade stone, but hard spots and irregularities can create challenges. Keep up the process of refinement until you reach some degree of clarity into the color, texture and depth within the stone. You can move to the next higher number grade. Repeat the procedure. Keep your own pace and interest level. Nice thing about this technique, you can look over and see what the other refiner has accomplished. And do you see something in the rock? Some form or image taking shape, wanting to come out? Well, that’s just your imagination imposing identity on an object in and of itself: an animal, a face, a body, Buddha. A light, an essence? You play that game all day and night as your mind tries to figure out all this sensory input. The mind runs along on some abstract course much of the time. Ground it.
FAQ: 1. Where do those rocks come from? From the earth, the mountain, the river, the process. And all the constituent parts return to the earth through the refinement process. The earth able to absorb all she produces. The same with you. Suffice to say I have a ready source close at hand.
2. Why you doin’ that? Why not? Gotta do something.
Now that mind-numbing tedium you experience relates directly to how much you need to fidget, get up, go have a drink-refreshment, clang some cymbals, light some incense, daydream, anything to take your mind off this refinement process. Even to the point you will pay someone to do the work for you. As you throw your money to the gurus who promise you great big rewards while they walk you through the process of emptying your wallets. Finished so soon? Did you get bored? I can tell you have a long way to go. Oh, maybe I hit a nerve. I apologize. Hard on ourselves?
Getting the hang of this process? Can you draw analogies? Let me help: The rock you choose says something about the effort you want to undertake. The sandpaper represents the refinement you can achieve. The time you spend shows your determination and patience. Continue.
I carved designs in some: a Bodhi leaf, Dhamma daisy, Buddha footprint and others. You like?
So, you want to take the stone with you? Take it or leave it. Leave it to show others the work you personally accomplished, even put your name on it, maybe come back and do a little more work throughout your stay, and then pick it up at the end of the day when you leave having confidence in your efforts. I’m not charging you for the privilege of instruction. Why should you charge me for the results of your labor/effort? But still you expect something more than mutual gratitude. Such drives the economy, so we arrive at the level of the supply-side economic Buddha. Abandon it?
So if you want to order a rock please let me know and then send a donation to cover shipping costs and any extra you want to include. (typically $5 and up)
