Patrick Brown

This happens to me a lot!!

Yep "a wise man knows when enough is enough therefore he always has enough". Perfection probably isn't the best word.

Nice.

Although I respect others and their scientific view of meditation I see it the same as you Pig. Keep it spontaneous and undefined then it may be possible to truly be, or not to be, doing ZaZen, yep even when running for the bus or quoting Shakespeare!

PMSL

That wild boar is really beginning to grate on my soul! It's like a negative resonance for this place.

Nothing wrong with learning new tricks!

I think it depends on what you think perfection is? Perhaps one first has to 'realise' what perfection is or means and then start perfecting? Of course the process of perfecting oneself should lead to greater and greater bliss otherwise what's the point? So here's your to do list: Realise the need Create the plan And do the work Repeat 1, 2, 3 eternally This feeds back on itself as a process of learning until you get the hang of it and then it becomes a lifestyle albeit an enlightened lifestyle. And for the record there is such a thing as enlightenment. Oh and it's very simple which is why some have always discovered/realised it but don't worry it's not a big deal.

Yes and no! I think we can differentiate between relaxing and deep meditation but we should always consider that some people happen upon deep meditation without really knowing what they are doing. We should also consider that there are degrees and the lines can be blurred between resting, the fragmentation of the mind and the cessation of the internal dialogue. Hey I'm no expert, although I do dabble, but surely the flower opens in it's own good time?

It's a shame that society has become so complex, I struggle but who doesn't? Yes care in the community what a joke that was/is? Anyway I've been getting arty again!!

So for such a wealthy country we do have to wonder what's going on with this homeless situation? Yes some of these people are so fucked up they like sleeping rough but I'm sure it's not enjoyable. People from poorer countries are often shocked by the homeless when then visit the UK. So what are the figures again? 1% of the worlds population control 99% of the worlds wealth! Hmm it's more than a scandal it's disgusting!

Yep I was going to say the 'inner life' which is a term often used for the spiritual path/way. The symbolism of the sky and birds/wings aren't lost. The anatomy of birds is always a good hint!

My heads not on straight today so I might need a few pointers on this one. Yes call me thicky thick thick! Actually I do think I get most of it but I'm doing three at once, again. Just need to read this when I'm chilled.

Getting back to the pig, err maybe it's just a bit too big. Perhaps a piglet might be better!

It's a bit like this:

Yes, I need to get back into my relaxation/meditation program as I was much more lucid allocating that half an hour everyday (see comment below). Just left again today!! I really can't stick the place to be honest as I find it very intrusive. I think you might be right and I like the idea of it being a kind of portable Hinduism. Hinduism just seems to have tied itself up in so many knots and just become incoherent to most people. Ironically Theosophy, even with all it's faults, helped to repair some of the damage. Going back full circle I think many people already accept, in the west, the benefits of meditation but they are as yet to be convinced of the importance of allocating half an hour everyday and doing it, er or not if you get what I'm saying!!

Well that'll be the effects of hundreds of years of Christianity!!

I do eat meat but not very often. I rarely eat red meat as it seems to be the heaviest and most difficult to digest. My main source of meats are probably chicken and fish. Just for the record I do eat eggs, cheese milk etc. I figure once you've weened yourself off eating meat everyday you'll notice the difference when you do eat meat. As said I do eat meant say once a week sometimes once every two weeks but I only eat it if I feel the need. That's the key, try and listen to what you body needs and eat accordingly. Yes occasionally I eat beef, red meat, but only when I'm really wired and need a major slow down to calm my inner animal. It may be in years to come I stop eating meat completely as the desire/need is -pretty low as it is. Anyway, good luck and there's nothing wrong with just eating less meat so no pressure.

Just be careful as HAL might be watching:

I hate saying this but I think you might be right. Funny as Apec struck me as being a rather placid chap!

Well I haven't watched the video above yet but within the first few seconds karma and reincarnation are mentioned and I have always thought that there is a direct correlation, basically they are the same thing or one-thing. As for this soul stuff I figure when we're dead nothing remains except our potentiality! This is interesting if you think of something on a shelf which is said to have kinetic energy. We don't know how the object/thing got onto the shelf but we do know it has potential in the form of energy. I think we have a form of potential once dead. We can't point to a thing and say that's us because we were made up of aggregates and therefore exist eternally, albeit unconsciously, in everything that makes up a human body. The key is genetics and gateways and it has been said that each day we are redefining our next gateway for rebirth until we're gone and then, as if by magic... So even though I generally take the Buddhist stance of no soul, I will concede that our soul can be seen as our potential.

Steve I agree with you 100% You miss understand me Steve as I agree with what you say but I just don't trust people with money, including governments, to be altruistic. Of course throughout history meditation together with BS teachings have been used by 'some' to control people but I wouldn't say that's the rule. I always see meditation as simply as way to reach a very deep state of relaxation. Others will want more but I don't think there really is anything more other than the mind freeing itself from confusion and perhaps realising, or not, that it's just a phantom! Well or to use it as a control mechanism in some way.

Sounds like religion and all the problems that can cause? You know how it goes, first you're asked to take your shoes off then it's put this on then sit on that and drink this and before you know it you're rabbit food!!!! But seriously I try to avoid categories as they're addictive and detrimental to ones health.

I've simply realised that there are no enemies or friends as this is simply an attachment to people and ideas. You best friend could become your greatest enemy and your greatest enemy could be come your greatest friend!! Let go of that which enslaves you and then you find the clarity of now, the eternally present moment.