Best Of
Re: Experiences
Your post reminded me a bit of the Shadow...
“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. The latter procedure, however, is disagreeable and therefore not popular.”
~Carl Jung~
"The shadow represents the unconscious and repressed aspects of an individual's personality. It consists of elements that the person finds undesirable, unacceptable, or morally objectionable. These could include qualities, emotions, desires, or traits that society or the individual themselves deem as negative.
According to Jung, acknowledging and integrating the shadow is crucial for personal growth and individuation. By confronting and understanding these hidden aspects, individuals can achieve a more balanced and authentic self. Ignoring the shadow may lead to projection, where these repressed qualities are attributed to others rather than recognized within oneself. Jung believed that embracing the shadow could lead to a more holistic and harmonious life."
When I see what could be perceived as unskilful behaviour in others, I'm also aware that I am not immune from such behaviour...
The key point is having "awareness" that this is the case... Which in turn, allows me to explore what it is in me/them that may lead me/them to behave in such a manner....what past experience shaped the energy into the present form of behaviour pattern ...
"The self is a vibrating bundle of energy flux held together by karmic glue...that interprets Samsaric experience which dictates what this process will do."
Shoshin1
Re: Meditation / Zazen question
If the human condition is a dream state of our ignorance, then an awakening from that dream can be described as being truly alive when compared to one's former imitations of the walking dead.
Here, the meditations that manifest such awakenings can equated to deathlessness.
how
Re: Experiences
I will lift the veil a little on my own experiences. As I’ve mentioned before, I have a kind of auditory hypnagogic experience, voices and presences that sometimes visit me on entering and leaving the realms of sleep. These often appear to be neutral, some have the appearance of self, some are good and some are evil. The experiences are too many to detail, so I will focus on a few that have to do with evil.
Once, I was with a presence which waited expectantly, and so I said to it, “I must be empty”. Over the following weeks and months it would periodically return, and take things away from me, parts of my body energy for instance, until my body energy became more and more quiet. Other presences have tried to stop it and refer to it as ‘the thief’.
Another time, I witnessed a presence coming close to me, so I yelled “damage!” I thought I might force something to damage it before it touched me. And indeed, something did start to damage it. And every once in a while I would hear voices talking about the damage it had done, the ‘millions’ it had cost.
These are just two examples, there were others. Whenever I sought to interfere with the presences, almost always I would make things worse. In the end I learnt to say as little as possible, leaving them to manage things.
Jeroen
Re: Letting go of games
My studies require me to be long hours on the PC even though most turn into procrastination and endless wikipedia & intellectual search.
These days, seems to me:
bad = short-term comfort, long-term discomfort
good = short-term discomfort, long-term comfort
This is how to break poor habits and engage in new ones in a nutshell.
Kotishka
Re: The Other Elephant In The Room
Naledi Pandor South African Foreign Minister
Press conference 
In answering one of the reporter's question, regarding relationship between South Africa and Israel... the SA FM said:
""I don't think it's a matter of South Africa and Israel. The real issue here is that all your questions are about Israel, but the actual concern is the people—the people of Palestine who are being killed every day, the people of Palestine who are sleeping in the cold, and the people of Palestine who are denied food, water, and energy. That is the critical issue that all of us should focus on. On that note, we stand with the people of Palestine, and our message to them is: never give up hope. South Africa got over the apartheid oppression; they will overcome."
Shoshin1
Re: The Other Elephant In The Room
VI. CONCLUSION AND MEASURES TO BE ADOPTED (PARAS. 75-84)
The Court concludes on the basis of the above considerations that the conditions required by
its Statute for it to indicate provisional measures are met. It is therefore necessary, pending its final
decision, for the Court to indicate certain measures in order to protect the rights claimed by South
Africa that the Court has found to be plausible. In the present case, having considered the terms of
the provisional measures requested by South Africa and the circumstances of the case, the Court
finds that the measures to be indicated need not be identical to those requested.
The Court considers that, with regard to the situation described above, Israel must, in
accordance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention, in relation to Palestinians in Gaza,
take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II
of this Convention, in particular: (a) killing members of the group; (b) causing serious bodily or
mental harm to members of the group; (c) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life
calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and (d) imposing measures
intended to prevent births within the group. The Court recalls that these acts fall within the scope of
Article II of the Convention when they are committed with the intent to destroy in whole or in part a
group as such. The Court further considers that Israel must ensure with immediate effect that its
military forces do not commit any of the above-described acts.
The Court is also of the view that Israel must take all measures within its power to prevent and
punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide in relation to members of the Palestinian
group in the Gaza Strip.
The Court further considers that Israel must take immediate and effective measures to enable
the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse
conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Israel must also take effective measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation
of evidence related to allegations of acts within the scope of Article II and Article III of the Genocide
Convention against members of the Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip.
Finally, in view of the specific provisional measures it has decided to indicate, the Court
considers that Israel must submit a report to the Court on all measures taken to give effect to this
Order within one month, as from the date of this Order. The report so provided shall then be
communicated to South Africa, which shall be given the opportunity to submit to the Court its
comments thereon.
In a nutshell...
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has decided that, before making a final decision, certain temporary measures need to be taken to protect the rights claimed by South Africa. The Court believes that, based on the information provided, there is a plausible case that Israel may be violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention in relation to Palestinians in Gaza. Therefore, the ICJ has outlined specific actions that Israel must take immediately. These actions include preventing acts that could lead to the destruction of the Palestinian group, ensuring its military forces do not commit harmful acts, preventing and punishing public incitement to commit genocide, providing basic services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, and preserving evidence related to allegations of genocide. Israel is also required to submit a report to the ICJ within one month, detailing the measures it has taken, and South Africa will have the opportunity to comment on this report.
Shoshin1
Meditation / Zazen question
They say meditation is the practice of death. Allowing all the sense gates to relax does seem as a preparation for dropping body and mind physically, euphemistic way of calling death. I would consider that the ultimate goal is to avoid leaving too much homework for then. At some point, karma, genetics, experience, luck have played their cards as you withdrew them for the opportunities emerging at each and one of the presents moments that we then compile and call "existence".
Is this the deathless or hints of this? This calm abiding. The calming and serene existence even amidst the most disturbing and never-racking morning?
Kotishka
Re: Letting go of games
Awake or distracted? The simpler a task the easier to be mindful and ask, “awake or distracted?”Strangely we are dreaming ourselves into reality or playing at awakening until we realise we are being dreamt out of our experience … 
lobster
Re: Letting go of games
@person said:
I have the day off and decided to spend about 3 hours playing an old game. I feel like I've wasted a big part of my day that could have been much better spent. I could have learned something or spent the time getting my life more in order, taking care of the things that need taking care of. On top of that I feel worse off than when I started.
These days, seems to me:
bad = short-term comfort, long-term discomfort
good = short-term discomfort, long-term comfort
marcitko