Best Of
Re: Buddha and the unconscious
Did the Buddha, in his own terms, ever talk about the unconscious ?
Bearing in mind (pun intended) that the term “unconscious” is a modern psychological idea, one could say yes, the Buddha did speak about what we would now call the unconscious, because his understanding of the mind included every layer of mental activity, from what we’re clearly aware of to what lies deeply conditioned and unseen.
He may not have used the word “unconscious,” but he spoke of latent tendencies (anusaya) that stay hidden until they are stirred, mental formations (saṅkhāra) that shape how we think and act without our awareness, and ignorance (avijjā) as the root that keeps these patterns alive. In this way, the Buddha recognised both the seen and unseen workings of the mind, showing that liberation comes through understanding the whole of it, not just the surface.
Shoshin1
Re: The way things seem and the way things are
@lobster said:
g?Is your mind padlocked maybe rather than open?
The mind set that I aim for is a sort of open skepticism. So rather than a padlock I'd say I have a filter that needs to be gotten past, which is opposed to an open sieve that lets in everything.
So to be more specific, I have a perspective but am willing to look at things differently. To then change my mind I'd want evidence and compelling arguments rather than a claim or statement. Just acknowledging or understanding that other perspectives exist doesn't mean I adopt them wholeheartedly, often its more like there are bits and pieces that expand my view or move me a bit one way or another. Maybe a simpler way to state it would be that listening and understanding isn't the same as agreeing or believing.
I feel like in the past I've been too open and believed in all kinds of stuff that later on turned out to be false.
person
Re: What do you think of modern movies?
@marcitko said:
I've bought subscriptions to all the major movie-providers but rarely seem to be able to find anything to watch among the modern movies. I'm not quite sure what it's about but they somehow just don't grab my attention or peek my interest. So, I often revert to rewatching old favourites. Sounding like a Boomer, at 39!
So, if you’re now 39, that would mean you were born in 1986, and are a Millennial? Somehow I thought you might be a little older.
But if you like good movies, try ‘1917’, directed by Sam Mendes, which came out in 2019. Incredible feat of cinematography in making it look like the whole film was shot in one giant, over-the-shoulder take. It really places you in the middle of the First World War. It was the most recent movie which made me say ‘wow’.
Jeroen
Re: Purity and Nuance
@person said:
Early on as I was forming my views I came to a feeling that trying to find a place of balance in life was bound to fail and liberation is the solution. I still believe that ultimately, but I couldn't make the leap and decided on a worldly life where the interplay and balance of Yin and Yang is the way of worldly things.
When I am reflecting on things of this nature, what I am currently reminded of is that there is only ‘the eternal now’. There is no long ago, there is no tomorrow, there is only ever the now…
Just that if there is a leap to be made, and you haven’t made it yet, it is still there in the now, the moment never passes.
Jeroen
Switching to Kagi for search
I found this article
https://daringfireball.net/2025/04/try_switching_to_kagi
Really interesting, not only for its talk about how Kagi is a better form of internet search, but also why Google and DuckDuckGo do not work well anymore. Spoiler, it has to do with money. Kagi is a subscription based search engine, so makes no money off ads or merchandise sales, which is why it can afford to produce better search results.
Jeroen
Re: Tonglen
@redapple said:
Hi guys,Does anyone practice Tonglen here? If so, how often do you do it? Please can you share your experiences of it?
Thanks!!
Yes.As a formal cushion practice every now and again, and every day when I hear of or see others suffering, there’s a wish to take on their pain and a genuine hope they find peace of mind, free from all the mental and physical distress they’re carrying.
However, I do find it more difficult when I see those who have caused suffering now going through it themselves. The wish is still there, but the feeling behind it isn’t as strong. It doesn’t come with the same force
Shoshin1
Re: Mastodon
You can join and run Mastodon from anywhere. Even the garden if you have internet connection
https://fedi.garden/
I warn you it is very different AND I am even stranger there than here...
You have been warned 
lobster
Re: Have you ever witnessed an exorcism ritual??
Have you ever witnessed an exorcism ritual??
On a more serious note:
Yes through meditation. Transforming one’s own mind by confronting internal demons like greed, anger, and delusion is a form of self-exorcism. These unwholesome negative energies possess the mind and cloud perception.
Shoshin1
