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Resolution Plans
lobster
Crusty Veteran
Any new year resolution plans?
I achieved mine last year. It took six months (not counting the previous efforts). My new year resolution this year is to become unenlightened.
It may be hard. It may be impossible, irrelevant or even contrary to common sense, esteemed dharma dogma . . .
However this is what I read in a Zen cracker:
First there is a mountain, then no mountain, then a mountain.
Personally I am not much of a spiritual climber. So the state of the mountain is of no concern . . .
What is your mountain for this year - if any?
I achieved mine last year. It took six months (not counting the previous efforts). My new year resolution this year is to become unenlightened.
It may be hard. It may be impossible, irrelevant or even contrary to common sense, esteemed dharma dogma . . .
However this is what I read in a Zen cracker:
First there is a mountain, then no mountain, then a mountain.
Personally I am not much of a spiritual climber. So the state of the mountain is of no concern . . .
What is your mountain for this year - if any?
7
Comments
Ever since a young age I dreamed of writing; the crafting of worlds, the conveyance of a message...
1. Cut back on alcohol at least
2. Keep a diary
3. Skate more
4. Be more mindful of my actions
. . . however to overcome the dreaded writers block, you must write, even if drivel, even if stream of consciousness. If you do this, you will find you have the basis for words to clear up, ideas to develop, insight into your arisings etc. Wonderful process - a sort of poor mans psychological analysis . . . were you get to review the notes . . .
I prefer tumblr of the top three blogging services here but may give google+ a go
http://thenextweb.com/apps/2013/08/16/best-blogging-services/
I wish our new writers every success. Maybe you could spend an hour writing and refining a reply here?
:rockon:
Learn to lucid dream
Study dharma more
Meditate more
Be more selfless
Be less judgemental.
Separate the wheat from the chaff.
start smiles.
Im going into the monastery in 5 months and im not going to make one regarding that either.
Don't break 'em.
2. Marry a film star.
3. Find a cure for hunger and disease.
4. Make more realistic resolutions.
Is there any truth in this?
So start with something little:
I will try not to shout at my children...
Damn failed already.
Ok try not to say something unkind about someone today
Shit failed because I've already been unkind about someone twice today already...
Last try: I want to make someone smile tomorrow!
I tend write in a way that is relaxed; my inclination is to convey my thought streams as they they occur...but yet, it still takes me quite a while to end up with a result that I'm happy with. When I do go back and read what I've written though, I usually find that it is pretty dense and conveys a lot in not as many words as one would think necessary.
I do, however, become quickly discouraged when I feel like I am expending a large amount of energy with very little likelyhood of anyone being interested. The truth is, I don't seem to be able to write 'just for myself'... While writing I am always preoccupied with the probability of a reader understanding, being interested in, and gaining some value from what I'm saying.
And when I do write, any perceived lack of reader interest or understanding is very discouraging to me. Truth be told, my confidence in writing is quite fragile, and can be puffed up or blown away very rapidly.
I guess I have the idea that forcing myself to write, even if no one is listening, is a way to overcome this issue of reader acceptance that I have. I have always gotten the sense that good writers have learned how to enjoy expression without being overly concerned with how their writing will be perceived....and this is what makes their work authentic and accessible.
So, here is a quick story from work.
I work for a transport company and I see just about everything. The other day though, I saw something I hadn't seen before (although without a doubt this is something that occurs every day.) While driving and conducting business in a less than..'quiet' neighborhood, I witnessed a large black dog in some distress, standing on two legs up against the outside of a tall wooden fence. As I got closer, I realized that he was still chained from inside the yard and was frantically trying to stay upright on two legs so as not to choke on his own collar. I pulled over and so did another motorist. We were both hesitant to get near him, as he was large, mangy and obviously scared. I approached him slowly and I realized that he was quite friendly, but more than that, I could sense in his eyes that he knew I could help him. He was also getting low on air and energy.
We finally managed to lift him up to get him unhooked, and we finally aroused his nonchalant owner, who told us that this 'wasn't the first time'.
So, I drove away knowing that our friend would live to see another day...albeit in less than ideal conditions obviously.
I know that humans tend to want to give human emotions to animals, but yet I'd swear that he had the most interesting look on his face as I approached him..a look that had fear, hopefulness, appreciation and relief all at the same time. Funny how impressions like this occur..and I wonder; will I ever know if those emotions were his, or mine.
http://tinybuddha.com/get-featured/
Most of us are social creatures, even if solitary writers.
means for practice.
alas, I think id be better suited for writing technical manuals
Everything is ruined without it.
It makes "Next year" just an odd signpost to tie anything to.
We have a plan.
:clap:
I was hoping one or two might try to become a stream entrant, Bhumi level one, Boddhisattva, enlightened etc but it seems other priorities abound . . .
If this aspiration became manifest, I could have asked for a universal blessing and managed to squeeze myself into the beneficiaries . . .
ah well :facepalm:
back to the resolute . . . :wave:
http://www.fabfreelancewriting.com/blog/2013/12/30/14-easy-ways-improve-writing-skills-2014-redux/
the only climbing I did involved me beeing practically dragged up the size of a quarry on a rope. I was rubbish!
. . . have to stick with them zen mountains . . .
I should have re-written my previous post to replace "no thoughts arise at all" with "to be mindful always".
I should have re-written my previous post to replace "no thoughts arise at all" with "to be mindful always".
1 meditate more often
2 show more compassion and love
3 enjoy life to fullest
4 be me
In metta,
Raven
Dharma in its purest form. :clap:
@Thailand Tom that's an interesting list that you have. Am curious about how you're going to do more skating in a land with no ice?
U tube is jock filled with sacks of testosterone discovering during board stunting just how fragile life can be. Be safe Tom.
...OK...with this posting, I am now officially old!
For years I street raced Norton 850's, thankfully before videos were everywhere otherwise I'd now be sporting prison ink. Anyway. just another hypocrite hearing the sound of his fathers voice coming from his own mouth. I do hope that such a curse/blessing can one day be discovered by you.
As much as the ball grinding in board tricking makes me cringe, its the unprotected skull cracking that makes me think of life altering or ending injury's.
A couple of days I was on my bike, travelling gently. The roads were icy, turned a corner. Wham, slammed into the road. Shook me up. Did not travel as far as I had intended. Be safe is good advice.
Dangerous dukkha world?
For sure. :nyah:
Be safe. Getting old is not guaranteed. What is? NT1 anyone?
When the right thing is said in the right way by the right person, we have a 'precious jewel'.
To say the words, to sit without sitting, to manifest compassion and love as 'practice', this is for gain.
There is no sense of gain here, just life, dharma, honesty.
:bowdown:
Bit like all the other years before it really