3rd, 2nd and 1st person relationships
A couple of things came up for me during the deeksha tonight...
First, the richness of the fluidity among 3rd, 2nd and 1st person relationships with God, Buddha Mind, Existence.
The third person relationship is description (useful for communication and clarification). The second person relationship opens the heart, and opens for devotion, receptivity, gratitude and humility. The first person relationship opens for discovering myself as what is, as Existence, and for a trans/nondual view and equanimity.
It seems that the second person relationship can be described as more yin, more of a heart quality, and with a fullness of feeling. The 1st person relationship can be described as more yang, more mind quality, and clear seeing.
Tibetan Buddhism
I have been reading more Tibetan Buddhism lately (Dzogchen) and am again struck by how complete their approach seems. Even within the same practice session, they move between 2nd and 1st person relationships with Buddha Mind, and their studies (as a mediator or scholar) take care of the 3rd person relationship.
Contemporary Approachs
One aspect they may not address as fully is how to live from and live it in everyday life. They do of course in their lo jong practices etc., but there is another level of addressing it that is left out. And this is where some contemporary western approaches comes in to fill out the picture, such as what Arjuna Ardagh is doing in his work and in the approaches described in Translucent Revolution. These are approaches that emerge from the confluence of the long asian spiritual traditions and the younger (although coming into maturity) western psychological traditions.