Know Thyself?

[Subjectivity9]

Rich,

It sounds to me like you are just taking things as they come. (Lay back) Is this basically just a part of your character that has always has been that way, or are you into the whole concept of surrender?

When you say that your Soul/Mind chooses to do it, are you basing this on your having seen for yours self that life as it plays itself out is pretty much automatic?

When you say that you don’t want to over think it, (Life or our Spiritual journey), is it because you see that thinking isn’t the controlling factor in this puzzle, or is it rather that you find that thinking too much brings you pain and confusion?

Having asked these questions please let me explain my plight a little bit.

I had no choice when it came to investigating these ideas. Was it just a part of my character or was it what some have called the “Buddha Nature?” All I know is that at my very center was a dissatisfaction that couldn’t be filled no matter what. Pleasure wasn’t any kind of an answer, pleasure being transient. Even if you were totally happy with the way things were or what you thought you had in any given moment, you found yourself worrying about losing your newfound happiness or love object in the next moment, or even much to your disappointment having it ripped from your hands.

I didn’t start off wanting to know ‘Who Am I.’ Originally I just wanted to stop the pain. Or as Buddha said, 1: “Suffering is.” 2: “Suffering can be made to stop.”

(Incidentally, I am not a Buddhist. But I find him to be one of the greatest psychologists to have ever lived.)

Very often I saw this search as futile. I, time and again, simply decided to turn my back on it and walk away. But this didn’t seem to be in the cards for me. This search had me hooked. Was it an addiction I asked myself more than once? Little matter, it didn’t seem to be a thing of choice.

Some might say that the call to this search is a matter of Spiritual Maturation. I on the other hand believe that this is going on in every heart. Some persons simply don’t realize it and think that a new car will make them happy.

Some have said that this search is an old man’s game, they having become world weary and seeing the grave looming in their near future. The young are so filled with expectation of conquest and myths about what is open to them or within their reach, that perhaps their eyesight is limited, even clouded.

Anyway, I would be curious to hear what your take on this is.

Everyone in fact is going their own way, no doubt. They are following their bliss as Joseph Campbell has said. Perhaps all that we are doing here is comparing notes, or is it maps.

I heard it said, “You are your destiny.” (An aside: Destiny is a mind thing.)

Down through the centuries, man has longed to understand beyond what this world chose to put before him. Maybe this is built in to our very psyche; this wish to transcend the more limited and finite definition of self.

Incidentally, I too believe that every event and every individual that comes before you is a lesson of sorts. But isn’t that what we would expect from a healthy and growing mind?


I am not suggesting that anyone rush to become enlightened. That would presuppose traveling to a destination beyond what we already are. What I am suggesting is “more of the same” in what you are already doing. Look around, and take it all in, “ALL” in. In doing so, what have called ‘Mindfulness,’ you will come upon the REAL.

Yes, I agree with you, Jesus, Buddha, Ramana, Lao Tzu, and Adyashanti are/were just ordinary men. These are however men who, like myself and many others, became addicted and couldn’t stop, until one fine day they did stop and notice that they were home and that they had been home all along.


Subjectivity

[richrf]

Originally Posted by Subjectivity9

Is this basically just a part of your character that has always has been that way, or are you into the whole concept of surrender?

Hardly surrender, if you ever observe my posts on this forum. I am quite active.

Originally Posted by Subjectivity9

When you say that your Soul/Mind chooses to do it, are you basing this on your having seen for yours self that life as it plays itself out is pretty much automatic?

No. We are all making choices in which direction we wish to go all the time. It is like a sailor on the ocean.

Originally Posted by Subjectivity9

Anyway, I would be curious to hear what your take on this is.

Yes, I agree that we are all searching all the time and each of us may be searching for different things at different times. I call it exploration. Sometimes it may be a game of hide-and-seek as children, and sometimes it may be the search for meaning as adults. Sometimes it can be very serious and sometimes it can be very funny. It just seems like we are always searching and after we found what we search for, we look for something new to search for.

Originally Posted by Subjectivity9

Everyone in fact is going their own way, no doubt. They are following their bliss as Joseph Campbell has said. Perhaps all that we are doing here is comparing notes, or is it maps.

Yes, though I would say that it doesn't always feel like bliss, it may well be depending upon how one looks at it.

Originally Posted by Subjectivity9

Incidentally, I too believe that every event and every individual that comes before you is a lesson of sorts. But isn’t that what we would expect from a healthy and growing mind?

One can look at it as a lesson, or possibly something else. Suppose one is playing a game of hide-and-seek. Is it a lesson? Yes, in some ways. Is it just amusement to pass time? Yes, in some ways. It is a matter of perspective. Personally, I find myself jumping from one perspective to another throughout my day and life.

Originally Posted by Subjectivity9

I am not suggesting that anyone rush to become enlightened. That would presuppose traveling to a destination beyond what we already are. What I am suggesting is “more of the same” in what you are already doing. Look around, and take it all in, “ALL” in. In doing so, what have called ‘Mindfulness,’ you will come upon the REAL.

Certainly, this is a real possibility for many, many people. Others just want to sit around with beer and watch a football game. We all explore in our own way, and for me the exploration is sufficient whether or not it is humorous or serious - and it is usually both.

Originally Posted by Subjectivity9

Yes, I agree with you, Jesus, Buddha, Ramana, Lao Tzu, and Adyashanti are/were just ordinary men. These are however men who, like myself and many others, became addicted and couldn’t stop, until one fine day did stop and notice that they were home.

And there is always the next thing.


Thanks for your sharing with me your thoughts.

Rich

[GoshisDead]

This much I know to be true, I am far from any stage of enlightenment and am not sure I'll make it there before I die. Whether the the method it journeying, just stopping, or jumping down spinning around and picking a bail of cotton I'm just no there. Somewhen maybe.

[kennethamy]

Originally Posted by Subjectivity9

Rich,

until one fine day they did stop and notice that they were home and that they had been home all along.


Subjectivity

My doodness. Just like, The Bluebird
The Blue Bird (1940 film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[TickTockMan]

Originally Posted by Subjectivity9

I heard it said, “You are your destiny.” (An aside: Destiny is a mind thing.)

Who said that? Did you believe it when you heard it? And what do you mean when you say, "destiny is a mind thing?"

Originally Posted by richrf

I find myself jumping from one perspective to another throughout my day and life.

You must be exhausted. Or at the very least somewhat dizzy.

Originally Posted by GoshisDead

This much I know to be true, I am far from any stage of enlightenment and am not sure I'll make it there before I die. Whether the the method it journeying, just stopping, or jumping down spinning around and picking a bail of cotton I'm just no there. Somewhen maybe.

Yes, but are you having a good time right now? I would hope so, as it seems counter-intuitive to be depressed about not reaching enlightenment.

[richrf]

Originally Posted by TickTockMan

You must be exhausted. Or at the very least somewhat dizzy.

No, it is a fun thing to do. Sort of like directing a movie and looking at the set from various vantage points.

Rich

[GoshisDead]

Like they say Tick Tock, Ignorance is bliss. I'm down with this life good and bad.

[TickTockMan]

Originally Posted by GoshisDead

Like they say Tick Tock, Ignorance is bliss. I'm down with this life good and bad.

I've often thought that the matter of my own enlightenment, or lack of, was of utmost irrelevance.

Does this observation teeter on the edge of oxymoronic?

Or is it simply moronic?

[GoshisDead]

I figure it like this, the actual pursuit of enlightment is counterproductive, methodical pursuit of enlightenment is putting your own ego above that of the Universe/God/Whatever, and you therefore lack the required humility to be enlightened.

[richrf]

Originally Posted by GoshisDead

I figure it like this, the actual pursuit of enlightment is counterproductive, methodical pursuit of enlightenment is putting your own ego above that of the Universe/God/Whatever, and you therefore lack the required humility to be enlightened.

From my point of view, I think that everyone seeks in their own way to learn things that they would like to learn. It is all OK with me, though what I have learned may be different from what others have learned or are learning. We are all in different places at different times. We can all learn from each other - in fact I think that is the reason we are all here.

Rich