"yes but...."

genkaku

For all the party clothes it is sometimes dressed up in, perhaps what is called "enlightenment" amounts to little more than the willingness to stop saying "yes but...." Mentally, physically, socially, economically, spiritually ... just give it a rest ... just for a minute or two ... no more "yes but."

Enlightenment ...

............ yes but......

Delusion.....

............ yes but......

Sorrow .....

............ yes but......

Joy .....

............ yes but......

Strong .....

............ yes but......

Weak .....

............ yes but......

Poverty .....

............ yes but......

Plenty .....

............ yes but......

Hatred .....

............ yes but......

Love .....

............ yes but......

Hell .....

............ yes but......

Heaven .....

............ yes but......

Tall .....

............ yes but......

Short .....

............ yes but......

Smart .....

............ yes but......

Dumb .....

............ yes but......

Yes but .....

............ yes but......

If you've tried all the other stuff, it probably won't hurt to try one more.

Invincible_summer

My B.A. in sociology was basically a degree in cynicism and training me to go "Yes, but..." to every social norm, phenomena, and discourse.

I'm not 100% certain, but I do feel that the constant pressure to view the world so harshly and critically put me into a moderate depression and my anxiety disorder became a lot worse.

After I graduated and didn't have to do anymore of that stuff, my life became a lot better. Lots of my fellow soci grads attested the same. It was like taking off an oppressively heavy sweater in the summertime.

I'm definitely learning to do a lot less "Yes, but..." -ing (when circumstances don't call for it/it would be "unskillful"), and a lot more "Okay.. [tell me more/let's see where this goes]"

how

Many years ago a teacher when surrounded by young grasping students who wished to find some security in Buddhism, would most often resort to negation to answer their seeking questions.

He was just trying to not have us swap one attachment for a prettier one.

We, as good little students, ended up adopting this negation style.

It took me a long time to realize that while I found it to be an easy way to address questions of Buddhist spirituality, as a policy, I'd actually just turned it all into another attachment.

Finally seeing that & letting it go was very freeing.

misecmisc1

it all comes down to bare full acceptance of everything in the present moment, without needing/adding anything extra in the present moment to have the full acceptance.

DaltheJigsaw

Invincible_summer said:

My B.A. in sociology was basically a degree in cynicism and training me to go "Yes, but..." to every social norm, phenomena, and discourse.

I'm not 100% certain, but I do feel that the constant pressure to view the world so harshly and critically put me into a moderate depression and my anxiety disorder became a lot worse.

After I graduated and didn't have to do anymore of that stuff, my life became a lot better. Lots of my fellow soci grads attested the same. It was like taking off an oppressively heavy sweater in the summertime.

I'm definitely learning to do a lot less "Yes, but..." -ing (when circumstances don't call for it/it would be "unskillful"), and a lot more "Okay.. [tell me more/let's see where this goes]"

What are you currently doing with the B.A. in Sociology??

ThailandTom

I guess this is one of my most commonly used phrases and all of its variations. "You are selfish Tom at times!"
"yea but...."

"Tom, you should really get down and meditate and stop messing about on the net" (talking to myself)
"I will in like 10 minutes I swear"

Invincible_summer

LeonBasin said:

What are you currently doing with the B.A. in Sociology??

Working towards an occupational therapy diploma

ThailandTom

Invincible_summer said:

LeonBasin said:

What are you currently doing with the B.A. in Sociology??

Working towards an occupational therapy diploma

Maybe you could help me hehe... I will get back to you in couple of years, do you have a business card?