Best Of

I figured I shouldn't start a new topic just for introducing myself, but I wasn't sure which one to use, so I did a search and picked one, hope that's alright.

So. I'm at the end of my thirties, I'm married and I feel that there are aspects of my life that make more sense in a more spiritual context, so I occasionally gravitate towards religion. Hinduism and Buddhism always fascinated me, but I was never really in connection with either, apart from a few occasions when I did try meditation and experienced its calming effects. I have all kinds of attachments and I don't feel like giving all these up (become a vegetarian? let's go for it. Reduce habits that trigger my anxiety and strengthen my depression? Let's work on that. Not to prioritize my loved ones over strangers or even my own spiritual needs? Never say never, but every cell in me revolts against such notion, which is partly why I'm not a Christian for example, I could not imagine placing some higher authority before my family.)

So I'm an emotional being and I as an "artist" I find beauty in all kinds of illusions, and I'm probably not a great candidate to reach enlightenment in this life, but that's okay, because I'd rather stick around and do good. If anything, I aspire to follow the steps of Bodhisattvas who care for all beings as I never express ill wishes towards others and suffering, no matter what the context is deeply affects me. I rarely ever concern myself with "what people deserve", because I don't find that to be relevant, I like to concern myself with what people need in order to realize their potential for goodness, and that's probably kindness, at least in my read. So according to some, that is a form of... relative bodhicitta and the more I read about that, tonglen, Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism... etc, the more I want to visit a local Buddhist community and find an offline Sangha where eventually, if I'm confident enough, I can take refuge. But since I'm introverted without any close friends who are Buddhists and since such places only have monthly or from the Fall, weekly or bi-weekly events nearby, + since my work schedule is rather hectic, I thought I'd look for an online community before I'd get the chance to visit a nearby center.

I've read a rule on a chatroom some time ago, it was the only rule and I liked it so much that I try to keep to it ever since. It wasn't a list of what's not allowed, what things to look out for when policing yourself, it wasn't an assumption that you have to be spoon-fed basic etiquette and whatnot. It was simply this: "Treat this place as if you were a guest invited into someone's home." So in the light of that: thank you for having me over. I hope my contributions will be in the spirit of the community, however wonderfully imperfect we all are.

If I don't know if what I'm consuming is true what's the point of taking it in?

What we 'consume'/take in/believe has never been completely true. Is it useful? AI, like socialisation, education and even our 'free' choices are interdependent with vested economic, political and other interests. Most of us know this.

The ancient and modern dharma stars, shine a light. There is our cue and cLue.

Back to Basics.

Today I showed up at my job and the lady who I've done lots of work for in the past was on the phone saying her computer had been hacked and that it was bad. She was obviously worried, I heard the person on the phone asked who was there and then started work while she went to her bedroom for some privacy.

Pretty quickly I thought that a computer hack is usually just the first step and then they want to get you on the phone to reel you in and my customer is very trusting. So I decided to go knock on her door to ask who she was talking to, she said it was Apple support and that she checked to make sure. I then went about my business but something didn't sit right with me. I've done work for her sister and brother in law too who live close, so I texted him and said what was up. He called and we talked for a bit then he said he was coming over. I figured even if there was nothing fishy, she was distraught and could still use some emotional and tech support.

She basically told him the same thing and continued the call, but eventually the "tech support" wanted her bank info and she said she was going to vomit and hang up. She then checked with her banks and everything was alright, she didn't give them anything bad.

Just something that happened today, that I feel good about having the knowledge to spot a problem, the willingness to listen to my gut and the motivation to let someone else know.