Feelings vs emotions? Sounds like an in group language is developing
Here is a possible clue to this numbness and distant response being described in UM devotees.
What UM calls 'the Inner Heart' may be a sort of distancing strategy by which UM devotees can, at will, distance themselves from whatever is deemed unacceptable, unpleasant, threatening, not part of the program, etc.
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"......The Inner Heart is a space which provides calm and perspective in the storm of life.
September 4, 2011
This 'inner heart' seems an important catch all phrase. It not only refers to the bundle of practices in UM, but may refer to an escape strategy that is utitlized.
Will mention that this sort of thing can be taught and abused in traditional practices as well.
Someone who served hard time with a troubled western teacher who trained as a Tibetan Buddhist teacher tells how this man, in a moment of candor spoke of ways he could, when he wanted to, distance himself from anything or anyone he deemed to be unpleasant.
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He joked frequently that what he liked about dzogchen was that when life got to be difficult he could just press the dzogchen button and nothing would mean anything painful any more. When in doubt just zone out, sort of thing
There a are a multitude of ways one can create convenient escape strategies. Its like having a way to get the effects of a drug without having to purchase booze or go purchase weed or happy powder.
And to call it Inner Heart?
Heartless indifference sounds more like it.