Best Of
For the coming year
A discussion on another forum a few days ago reminded me of this quote:
“Someone recently showed me the annual prospectus of a large spiritual organisation. When I looked through it, I was impressed by the wide choice of interesting seminars and workshops. It reminded me of a smorgasbord, on of those Scandinavian buffets where you can take your pick from a huge variety of enticing dishes. The person asked me whether I could recommend one or two courses. “I don’t know,” I said. “They all look so interesting. But I do know this,” I added. “Be aware of your breathing as often as you are able, whenever you remember. Do that for one year, and it will be more powerfully transformative than attending all of these courses. And it’s free.”
— Eckhart Tolle, ‘A New Earth’
And so I thought, why don’t I try that? A year of being aware of the breath, from 1 September 2025 to 1 September 2026. I know it’s not New Year, but it seems like a good resolution. And after just a few days it is already bearing fruit.
Jeroen
Re: "It's not going to get easier"
When we hear, "It's not going to get easier.", we should not equate that with more stress.
As we progress in whichever endeavor we pursue, we assume it will get easier. However, it remains just as difficult. What makes it seem easier is that we grow, we learn, we become adept. A master sword maker has the same difficulty as the apprentice. The difference is that the master swordsman has absorbed the difficulty, making the process appear easy. If even the master swordsman misses a single step, misjudges even a bit, the sword is useless. He has learned to ride the difficulty, to become one, as it were with the process. The activity does not change in difficulty. The perspective ha changed.
In Buddhism, we hear of, say, the Ten Aspects. They are presented as individual and separate for purpose of presentation. They are, in fact interconnected and inseparable.
When we learn to ride a bicycle or drive a car, at first we worry about each aspect. But, eventually, we melt all the aspects into an interconnected whole. It remains just as difficult. It now seems simple because our perspective has changed. We no longer attempt to concentrate on each aspect, but all habe become an integral part of the entire process. The many are meleded into one, Right Mind and Right Speach are not seperate, Right Speach is derived from and inseperable from Right Mind, and so on.
It is like the blind men and the elephant. Each one clearly describes the elephant from his unique perspective. All are right and all are wrong. When we see clearly, we see all the apects described by the blind men ar correct but each seperately is only a part. We see the entire elephant. In the process of learning and growing, do not be like the blind men, open your eyes. The parts are mearly to lead you to the whole.
Peace to all
Lionduck
Re: "It's not going to get easier"
Professor Mark Williams, Oxford Mindfulness Centre
Cathy Ziengs, Executive Coordinator, Buddhistdoor International
He explains how Mindfulness Cognitive Behavioral Therapy works
Shoshin1
Re: Hot Stuff
@Jeroen said:
AC is kind of an American thing, in Europe very few houses have air conditioning.
Interesting. Not totally familiar with the climate, but I don't think you have areas like the American south where its regularly above 40 during summer. I live pretty far north and make little use of the AC personally, I work outside during the summer and do my best to stay in the shade, or start at sunup and quit before noon on very hot, humid days (upper 30s C generally). I'll open the windows at night and close them back up in the morning. Most days that keeps things cool enough, I'll generally sit and sleep with a fan blowing at me. At the same time I'll notice other units in my buildings pretty much running it full time, even when its not that hot out.
Also, being used to the heat makes it seem less hot, if you're someone who works inside with AC all day, stepping out even into moderately warm temps feels hot. Meaning the more you use AC the more you'll feel the need to use it.
person
Re: "It's not going to get easier"
@RobinH said:
Thank you.
1. Yes, I'm overweight. I work night shifts and it's not too exciting, so I've yet to find a substitute for caffeine to help me stay awake for 13 hours like that.
Green tea
- My wife does give me tremendous amount of emotional support, in fact I'm not sure I'd be still around without her. But she's not a very spiritual person and I can't expect her to understand why I'd seek a more spiritual life
Your wife is supportive of you and that's what counts
- America has its own serious issues that are blatantly clear to everyone, but life ain't too easy
here either, after all, people keep reelecting the government that does everything in its power to >divide us, to stigmatize the LGBT+ community and criminalize their efforts to raise awareness (to a >degree that often inspires US lawmakers) and of course our government is the most supportive of >Putin's war from the entire EU. It's not a place where I'd want my future children to go to school and >yet, starting over in a different country would take a huge amount of money we don't have.
Nothing is permanent not even corrupt governments
- Depression is recognized where I live, but the medication they gave me for it does more harm than good, the limited-time free therapy didn't lead anywhere and other types of therapy we can't afford.
Professor Mark Williams
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Depression
Overall, my situation is not as bad as it could be, lots of other people have it way worse. But that alone never seemed to make it better.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.
Be well @RobinH 
Shoshin1
Re: "It's not going to get easier"
Hi again @RobinH
Thanks for your honest answers. Others will understand and value and advise as well as they are able.
As people are unique they find what works for them. Seeking 'a more spiritual life' includes this:
“You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha
https://insighttimer.com/blog/buddha-self-love-quotes/
This of course is not Narcissism but care and empathy for our sense of worth, karma and need for well being...
lobster
Re: What is the best form of employment for a lay Buddhist?
I'm not sure I totally agree with that, there are definitely degrees. Working in software at a small company where everyone cared about the product more than personal reputation was definitely among the easiest jobs. Settled work, a common goal, intelligent and highly educated people, it was very possible to breeze through the days.
Working for big blue chips where there was a lot more ego and ambition to advance was definitely more challenging. But I can imagine many lines of work that would be more so.
Jeroen
Re: A discussion of Koyaanisqatsi
@Jeroen said:
a kind of Greek tragedy that our defining characteristics lead to a state where automation invades the human spirit, and machine virtues like efficiency and productivity take over from human virtues.
I'm down with Greek Tragedy - I suppose your topic includes such timeless themes as the protagonist wanting to have sex with his mother and to kill his father, unknowing, of course, but the final revelation of this, is truly tragic. And let's not forget the perennial, and so-called Greek Chorus.