Best Of
Re: Did the present already start?
Think you missed it @Vastmind, it was earlier today. Better luck next time!
marcitko
Did the present already start?
How long is the present moment? When does it start and when does it end?
If I am to be in the present and not live in the past or in the future…how do I measure that?.. If it is continuous moments…how would I be in just one?
Vastmind
Re: Funny Stuff
The curator of an art gallery asked an artist for a painting depicting General Custer’s last thoughts.
Two weeks later, the artist unveiled the painting, an enormous canvas with a lovely blue lake painted in its centre, with a fish leaping from the water with a shining halo around its head. On the shores of the lake were the most detailed pictures of Indians shagging.
After gaping at the painting for some time, the enraged curator demanded to know what the theme was supposed to be.
The artist said, “You asked for a painting of Custer’s last thoughts,” he explained. “That’s it. Custer was thinking, “Holy mackerel, where did all those fucking Indians come from?”
Jeroen
Right vision and conditioning
I have heard… that in Buddhist circles right vision — a crucial element of the path to enlightenment — is defined as being in accord with the Dhamma. Does that not mean that a practicing Buddhist is expected to learn what constitutes the Dhamma, and live by it? It would seem that one has to learn all the sutras of the Buddha, to truly be able to be in accord with it.
It sounds to me like you would have to turn yourself into a living library of Buddhist sutras, many of which are several thousand years old and have been transcribed and translated many times. Does that mean that you have to live in the footsteps of ancient sages all the time?
It sounds to me that this is a form of conditioning. That you apply yet another layer of conditioning onto the mind, on top of parents, school teachers and society, to acquire right vision, to see things “in the right way”. But what then happens to the unique you, the person you were born as?
It seems to me that to truly live an original and authentic life, you need to shed as much of your conditioning as possible.
Jeroen
Re: Following Osho, Zen Buddhism and Being Rational
@Jeroen said:
@person said:
@Jeroen said:
If one is to “strive on untiringly” with “the Dhamma and the discipline as your teacher”, that sounds like a straitjacket. How does that lead to being free? It sounds to me like it will shape you into something disciplined, controlled, confined by habit.
In my understanding, its less about the type of life you lead right now, but about where that path will lead you in the end. The discipline of the path leads to real, lasting freedom. Often times things that produce positive long term outcomes aren't necessarily pleasant in the short term. And vis versa.
Hmm. That is just a belief. My real, lived experience is that too much discipline leads to insensitivity and more ego. A little discipline goes a long way. The problem is more likely to be a shortage of kindness.
You have it backwards, your idea is just a belief. My real, lived experience is that discipline leads to positive results and a lack of it leads to a diminished life and a tendency to blame the world and others for your problems.
So in reality I'm right and you're wrong. It's just rational, undeniable facts.
If you can't tell I'm being hyperbolic to make a point about perspective.
person
Re: Following Osho, Zen Buddhism and Being Rational
Oh it’s just something to talk about. And it’s something I spend time on.
Jeroen