Not biting the hook

Ren_in_black

There's an image that's helped me lately that I thought I would share. Others may have already expressed it. I think Pema Chodron has spoken many times about "not biting the hook."

I think in terms of plastic bait this is pretty straightforward: don't fall for the illusion. But in the case of real worms, it's a little trickier. The worm itself is not an illusion. It's real, it has sustenance, it would allow you to continue your life as a fish.

So the illusion is the fact that this "good" thing is, in some cases, hiding a hook. That is where I get tripped up the most, usually around the arts and music, fine food, and sex. Or even things like self-help books, or something like being lazy on the beach or at the pool.

I could never reconcile the dismissal of those things as illusions because I knew they were real and positive forces. But now I DO understand that I have to look closer at each moment, because this real thing could be hiding a hook.

It has helped me be more mindful.

Of course, the problem with the metaphor is the question of What/Who is baiting and dangling the hook in front of me? What larger force wants to consume me? (I ask this partially in jest. My main point in posting was reconciliation of considering real, positive things merely as illusions. They're not illusions in and of themselves, they are only illusions if they are hiding a hook, in my opinion.)

Jeroen

Nice, @Ren_in_black … it makes a lot of sense that a deep understanding of the metaphor also makes you more mindful of your own life choices.

lobster

What larger force wants to consume me?

Uroborus, the well known Alchemical Buddhist magickal dragon, gives birth to his own consumption...
Sometimes the dragon is a worm. Sometimes the rescuer of the pure.

One of the most difficult aspects of Yogacara Buddhism is the idea that we are the creators of reality/existence. The limited Trump/Dali type crazy, believe they are the center of the universe.

So what!

Some of us are crazy enough to try to do good with such a great responsibility. We are the 'mother of dragons'? Or just a minded worm?
https://www.lionsroar.com/how-do-we-create-our-reality/

Ren_in_black

@lobster said:
https://www.lionsroar.com/how-do-we-create-our-reality/

I love this quote from the article: "This is not to say that the world doesn’t exist; it’s just that we’ve never lived in it."

In my opinion this is a great way to explain the idea of illusion to people newly approaching Buddhism. If they hear "everything is an illusion" when they are clearly living a life in the world, there is a danger there that part of their mind senses an obvious contradiction and will close the door on it.

lobster

The plan (so far) from my wandering on the fediverse...

 1. Rename the Gobi Desert, Trump land
 2. Relocate Palestine, legal immigrants and anyone else wishing to be a crypto millionaire 
 3. Include Texans, Magas, golfers, politicos and other renegades and mavericks with relocation package deal
 4. [Redacted] Considered too controversial for Buddhists
 5. Free education, schooling, building material, hospitals for settlers
 6. Free access to Mongolian sponsored burial facilities

 I can hardly wait. Packing my trunk now.

Lionduck

Examples of the real worm with embed hook:
1. Immigration "Problem" Needs an effective solution.
Hook - (Trump Administration) Deport all the "illegal" immigrants
Not enough - Artificially create more
Result: Crops rot in the fields, construction slows down or halts, eateries close,
Families torn apart, small businesses crippled, communities devastated
The people setting that hook want a land controlled by of Rich "Christian" Whites
and poor "Christian" whites to keep everyone else down and in line.

2. Attacked (Israel)
   Hook - We must eliminate the threat (Hamas)
   Result - Total devastation, Thousands of innocents killed, from children to aid
   workers...
   [Now the plan is to occupy (annex) the West Bank - apparently the plan all along]

These are Real World extreme examples at national/international level

At the individual level, we face countless hooks. Usually not near as horrendous as the above. In relationships, the bait is proffered seemingly freely. The hook is to get you to say or do something not really benefiting you, but for the "benefit" of whoever is offering the bait.
We also self bait and hook. "If I only had X......" The I would be happy.
Only to find our efforts in vain, even upon acquiring X.
By becoming aware, by being grateful for what we do have, appreciating ourselves, we can see the bait for what it is. We can control our actions as individuals and not become blinded by our own illusion and the illusions of the bait put forth by others. We do not make of ourselves victims.

Peace to all

Jeroen

It’s about nibbling the worm without swallowing the hook.

lobster

Examples of the real worm with embed hook:

It’s about nibbling the worm without swallowing the hook.

The level of awareness/mindfulness/empathy and experience required these days is considerable. Putting a strain on the very infrastructure and information we need and trust.

It is why we have to examine the effects not the platitudes, ignorance and clear selfish motivated sources.

Anyways, I am off for a wriggle giggle...
https://www.theguardian.com