Best Of
Living in Surrender to What Is
While reading in The Power of Now I came across a chapter on surrender, which hit me quite hard. Basically it said that it makes no sense to argue with the world, but instead one should live in an inner state of surrender. There is no need to judge, to desire, to inwardly argue with the world. All of that just causes pain and resistance and discomfort. It is much better to accept reality as it is on all the levels of the mind.
That doesn’t mean we should not do anything to change it. The outward world can be affected by us, and there is no point in not using suntan lotion when the sun is burning fiercely. We still have choices in the world. It is an inward stance, a way of inner being that leads to a measure of grace. It opens us up to being in harmony with existence, because we no longer create a mind and emotions of resisting life or the world.
For me this made a lot of sense. It goes against the ego, which wishes to be proud and strive and win, but it is the way of not objecting to that which is.
Jeroen
Re: What music are you listening to?
I don’t begin to speak for the art director/or the creative minds behind such a huge show..or the French people, but I’ve never known the Olympics to be about representing the “ordinary” people. It’s usually about the overcoming of obstacles, cheering for the under dogs, and the grit and grind of being a life long athlete …….and to have a very few days where the whole world comes together to hang out, flex, show their skills, ……..and the rest of us unite in watching it and cheering and feeling a little patriotic at how innocent it all seems.
Fewer than 80% of the world’s entire population participates in that spectacle. It’s ok to be the minority once in awhile. You must not be used to that feeling. It can be very uncomfortable.
I’m in the camp (no pun intended) of diversity is always a good thing. I personally liked all the different art references and it was a Theatre show for sure!
I’m watching every event on my streaming service. I’m locked in, baby.
Not to mention, I’m also following several athletes on social media and they are sharing their experiences at the village.
Vastmind
Re: No Buddhist Quotes
You can't be a resource for others unless you nourish yourself. ~ Alexendra Stoddard
person
Re: Ten years of wisdom
@Jeroen said:
You certainly can’t mix-and-match approaches by different teachers
I’ve decided to pick a single book and teacher, and work with that for a more extended period. It seems to me the best way forward, to see where I am at on the spiritual path.
Considering all the spiritual books I have read and know about, Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now has been the clearest and feels the most on my wavelength for an extended study. It has enough practical material to work with, and is culturally the least encumbered.
Jeroen
Re: Letting go of games
This also explains a bit more what makes victory so enticing in games, it is a property of the ego to want to be victorious, winning, celebrated. It is another reason why living in surrender is so difficult for the ego, and so important for the spiritual disciple.
Jeroen
Re: Letting go of games
“The mind is essentially a survival machine. Attack and defense against other minds, gathering, storing, and analyzing information - this is what it is good at, but it is not at all creative.”
— Eckhart Tolle
This quote really made clear to me what it was about games that attracted me so much, it is a perfect representation of what the mind does: attack and defence, strategising, min-maxing, opportunism. I still have to be careful not to promote the strategising function of the mind into overall control, that temptation still exists for me.
Jeroen
Re: Snobby Hobby?
I very much enjoy doing sports, it's my medicine and teacher.
I also enjoy playing chess, these days mostly arm-chair amateur astronomy, arm-chair Himalayan alpinism (following along expeditions), learning about investing, and watching Coursera lectures.
Youtube could also be a hobby (I don't have a TV, nor any subscriptions) but that one is hit and miss, sometimes I watch wonderful and uplifting things and sometimes its mindless drivel.
marcitko