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Re: Practical spiritual growth
@Jeroen said:
@person said:
Most everything has pros and cons, what do you see as the cons of being too reasonable?I think you end up not expressing yourself, and also being too pliant. It ends up as self-censorship, being “pleasant” without giving yourself leave to feel and express your full emotional range. You get wrapped up in seeing everyone’s point of view. It’s also a very mind-based stance, placing mind above heart.
Like the Tibetans say, the path is like two wings of a bird, wisdom and compassion it takes both to really fly.
And a quote from the historical podcaster Dan Carlin, "Everything is a balance, and the problem is, is that because conditions change you have to be continually rebalancing."
person
Re: Joy, Blissfulness, Silence
I would think of the sensation in question as a genuine ( in preference to authentic, which seems to suggest a value judgement via some orthodox viewpoint ) spiritual experience, one that becomes a religious experience when conceptualized according to some particular religious system of thought. For example, I once - in my theistic/deistic phase - thought of it as God speaking to me. Now I think of it more as seeing directly into Sunyatta - dharmas here are empty, all are the primal void, etc - but it is what it is, a pearl of great price, the jewel in the heart of the lotus.
Just noodling, as @genkaku used to say.
Fosdick
Re: Joy, Blissfulness, Silence
If I may…. @Jeroen … this is a discussion board. Hence, the title. Not really a blog/journal spot. I think it’s fair at this point of your time spent here, for you to expect conversations/feedback/things people have to say, etc.
I would even offer that the internet as a whole, is not the ideal place to share things without expectation of feedback.
Vastmind
Re: Practical spiritual growth
Always remember that practical spiritual growth emerges from within and is the effect and cause of one's actions, deeds and thoughts. This is a process, not a step-by-step checklist. Go ahead, don't be afraid to "stub your toe", to "scrape your knees", to stumble. but always get back up and continue. How else are you going to climb that mountain? It is your mountain, your path to walk.
Perhaps we will greet each other at the next transient castle.
Regardless, we all have each our own path to walk, our own trail to travel.
Learn from the pain;learn from the gain.
Enjoy your journey, all of it.
Peace to all
Lionduck
Practical spiritual growth
To gain an understanding of the totality of your being, you have to look compassionately at your negative characteristics as well as your positive ones, and NOT try to cover them up, sweep them away, or ignore them.
And yet, if you have a bad opinion of yourself, it’s not a true picture, and you will only make your life difficult. As soon as you start accepting yourself as you are, you begin to transform-but even so, be aware of areas of unskillfulness, and room for growth.
In a reasonable way, bring your good qualities to mind and try to develop a positive attitude toward life. With this as your foundation, you will be more successful, more positive, and more realistic.
This leads to spiritual growth. It’s a very practical way to be.
Try to be reasonable in the way you grow-and don’t ever think it is too late.
— Lama Yeshe
Vastmind
Re: Joy, Blissfulness, Silence
Then what makes you consider your “more raucous” expressions as authentically religious, @how? How would you describe the feeling?
Jeroen
Wild Flowers
This is certainly an opinion coming from my perspective, so I don't want to claim that this is the ultimate, best way for everyone at all times, etc.
I've held this view over the years that there is a spectrum of a view on how to live in the world.
On one end you have people who want to be hearty and resilient to life's challenges but don't put much stock in the beauty of the individual. I think of this sort of attitude as like lichen (the thing that lives on rocks). Lichen can grow and live in very harsh conditions, you can walk on it and it will be fine, etc.
On the other end of this spectrum are people who want to be beautiful people but don't put much stock in being hearty and resilient to life's challenges. I think of this sort of attitude as being like a hot house orchid. Orchids are incredibly beautiful flowers. But if you change the humidity or temperature by a few degrees will wilt and die.
I prefer being more like wild flowers (or maybe for myself more like day lilies). They are also beautiful, but thrive in the open, wild spaces. They can stand up to fluctuating conditions and bounce back if trodden on.
person
Re: An authentically religious man
I would suggest that as long as your search for a truly authentically religious person is subject to your own conditioned ideals and is limited to something outside of yourself, you are unlikely to meet what you claim to be searching for.
how
Re: Letting go of games
Letting go of games
Hmm.....shouldn't the thread title be "Lets play games" ...
How many of you players are now ex-players ?
Shoshin1