Tommy

It isn't just resentment. It also has the memories of the actions that was done to one. It is hard to let go of trauma and blame. Yes, better to let it go. Easier said than done. My family has a line of dementia. Am looking forward to forgetting things that has happened and becoming a new person. LOL. What we are is .. the accumulation of all we have thought. To see where we are now, we look to the past. To see where we will go, we look at the present. To forgive requires change in oneself. To overcome the habits that we have grown into.

I view the eightfold path as a way to set thing right within ourselves. This makes for the soil to become fertile and such seeds of awareness can grows. The practice of meditation is one of not controlling thoughts but of unbinding ourselves from identifying with thoughts. We do not stop thoughts or if one gets hit on the head then one would have experienced Nirvana? But, one does not. We let go of the attachment to thoughts. And so free ourselves from this view. With grace, one may view an entire scenery apart from self.

I have no idea what is going on. This is well out of my area of experience or knowledge. Would hazard a guess that you have a Karmic link that is telling you not to take pictures. Mostly because if you are taking pictures then you are not being aware of your surroundings as much. It could mean that you are suppose to meet someone there???

Forgiveness is not as easy as saying "I forgive you". It takes acceptance for the actions that happened. It takes letting go of the actions done to one. It isn't easy to let go.

For 5 year old to understand, ... All that you are is made up of all the thoughts that you have had.

This may be true to the extent that realization is not understandable by this mind but it is this mind that makes the effort to move forward along this path. Even though this intellectual understanding doesn't provide the experiential understanding, it is a beginning. Much like suffering is a motivation to seek the path from suffering. I do not say what is being done is right. Just that it is how most begin. After all, it is this mind that gives us the ability to understand concepts and practice what must seemingly be impossible. To remove the defilements from our true selves. To wipe clear the mirror clean. Of course, there is no mirror and we are just what we are. Something in me that is part of you. Okay, I do not make sense. But, humans make do with lots of paradoxes just to make things work. Note: I understand your point. Starting again from this moment.

Wow, to sweep everyone into stage zero. To lump everyone who hasn't had Kensho as not having stages because it is useless for 99.99% of people. That totally dismisses the time and effort one puts into their practice. Like saying a person who has practiced for years and spent time learning about the Dharma is no better off than a person just beginning to practice? I know that there are people I can learn more from. They may have or may have not had Kensho. But, I would not dismiss their years of practice and all they have learned. Stage zero. Yeah, that is me, Zero.

I think it is important to know when this happens and the result from thing happening as this lays the foundation of putting things in order. If one spends sometime in self observation then one can watch as the emotions rush to the front and the thoughts follow to support the emotions. This becomes the identity. As one loses the attachment, the emotions control one less and less. More order. One may focus upon the actions and their intents, this becomes a way of keeping aware. Mindfulness. And it begins when one has one-pointedness of mind. Putting the mind in order ... of not identifying with thoughts allows one to grow. Growth or the journey is dependent upon the person and grace. Some wallow in emptiness and others reach the other shore. Damn, did I just rant again? I must be losing my mind. Could it be my dementia is catching up with me??

Wow, that makes so much sense now. I have read this over and over again. Its meaning lost to me. Now it just makes sense. While practicing meditation, one puts the mind back into the correct state. Not attached to thoughts and no identifying with thoughts. The attention and concentration allow for the mind to reset. And by grace break thru this attachment. Then the practice of just sitting is not lost to indifference. It is not lost to emptiness. Sometimes, I feel like an idiot being told the truth over and over again and not understanding. Then to have the walls all crashing down. And there it is with no way to explain other than what has been said already. Note: Sorry, not to mislead, no kensho. Just stupid realization of how dumb I can be at times.

Awakening to reality is much like awakening from sleep. One does not really know how one does it. It happens and it happens at the right moments for most people. But, we just do not awaken without much practice. There is no guarantee of enlightenment thru the practice of meditation but there almost a certainty of no enlightenment without practice. So, what is this practice and what is it suppose to do for one to rise from sleep? The practice of meditation is a way to put things in the proper order. To make things right. At first, we are told to let thoughts go. Do not cling to thoughts or attach to them or to struggle with thoughts. After some practice, space opens up. One's concentration is better. Thoughts slow. One becomes more focused upon intent and actions. One know whether one has put one's shoes on the left or the right. Whether the umbrella is resting with the hand on the left or the right. Actions are not without intent or awareness. Mindfulness. Thoughts becomes a tool rather than an identity. One removes those things that defile the reflection of ourselves. Clearly the mirror shines. And hopefully thru grace, one awakens to reality. What are the stages? does it matter to see the stages? If one gets stuck then it is good to know one is stuck? I have personally given up looking for milestones. They mean nothing. Only the complete effort. Abiding in the emptiness. Well, sorry for my rant. I seem to be very attached to my thoughts. Moving on...

There is an old saying to not to be focused on the finger pointing to the moon. When one hones in on Zen with its long and rich history. one is focused on the finger. Koans, breath meditations are all means to an end. It is all about setting right that which is within ourselves. We sit in meditation not to extinguish the self because there really is no self. Thoughts control us by us identifying with the thought. Thoughts become our identity. So, we sit and we let thoughts flow in and out without attaching ourselves to them. Soon, we learn to not identify with them. Not to attach ourselves to thoughts. We learn thoughts are a tool and not the identity. Thru grace we become our true self. We were never lost and we did not need to achieve it. It was there all along. Some even have moments when thoughts shut down. But, those moments aren't the goal. Sorry for the rant.

Here is an unpopular thought, wait, this is the thread for meditation extinguishing oneself. No, meditation does not extinguish oneself. When we practice meditation, we let go of thoughts. We do not follow them. We allow their path into and out of our mind. We do not become attached to them. We do not identify with thoughts. Then, we become more and more our true self. We begin to use thoughts as a tool rather than using thoughts as an identity. Thru this practice, we focus upon our actions and intentions. We set right what was wrong. and then thru grace, we break thru to see our true self. And it isn't moments without any thoughts rather it is moments where we do not need thoughts. Okay, this can be unpopular cause some people think they are seeking something they don't have. Others think they are trying to rid themselves of a self or ego. When Buddha said there is no self, this should mean there is no reason to extinguish self because there is no self. There is no reason to believe that the practice of meditation is to extinguish the self. What we do when we practice meditation is to set things right, we learn the truth and realize our nature thru grace.

I believe here that duality means the separateness one experiences in this life before enlightenment. There is you there and me here. We can see each other as not us or separate. A duality like light and dark. Ying and yang. Hot air and cold air foods. Yeah, stuff does get around and used in all sorts of ways.

I am sorry but that sounds a lot like bragging??18 months?? While there are others who would never say they have achieved anything even if they have. And there other still who have never even come close to the experience of Buddha nature. My logic compass is messed up now. Eh, I am getting use to being wrong. Please note: I do not doubt you nor do I believe you. That is just the way I am. Trust but verify. Skepticism. Maybe that is what is keeping me back??

Guess I look at it in a slightly different way which makes it seem to be the same thing to me. You are not wrong in your views. And I hope that neither am I?? Its just another day in paradise. Yes, if the person is a true master and can straighten me out then by all means do so. I truly would enjoy being knocked down a few pegs. But, yes, since we are human, it is thru experience that we learn and because of that, it is thru interpretations, which makes anything with a grain of truth in it, hard to dispute. No, allegories and metaphors lose their solidity when questioned beyond a reasonable doubt. But, the cave allegory is what I was taught early on in my indoctrination of the fourth way. Not that I want to introduce another one of the 88 thousand ways. I often find myself going back to the basics in the many thing I do. Much like when troubleshooting engine's no start. Back to the basics. Does it crank? Is there spark? I think someone said that it is better to remain silent rather than to speak and let everyone know I am an idiot. LOL.

Sorry, I am not a Daoist. Explain what is happening? Probably not. But, I can guess at what is happening ... would that do? When focusing mental energy, spiritual energy tends to follow. When combined, they do not flow easily with out guidance or practice. So the spot experiences energy it is not accustomed to. Spend more time in such a state and the energy knots up and causes more discomfort. Shift the focus and the energy is dispersed. Allowed to flow elsewhere. As silly as it may sound, pain can sometimes make focus stronger. Pain draws our attention. We find it may be impossible to ignore. Usually pain means that something is wrong. So, would not pursue unless one has a teacher. When practicing meditation, one needs to pull attention together. The mind will flow and thoughts will constantly go on. When focused on breath, pull the attention together. So when observing the in breath, one says "in" and that is all there is. Do the same for the out breath. This practice will help to develop one pointed attention or concentration. Then when not just sitting, walking about, the mind must keep attention or remain mindful. This brings more control. Basically, putting the things in order and in their correct places. And when the mind is ready, stillness or emptiness or oneness or nothing at all can happen.

The Japanese use terms like Satori and Kensho. Kensho is more a first experience and Satori is the on going process. Bodhi is also used. The Chinese tend to use the word Wu 悟. I do not know if one can take the denotation without the connotations that arises with it. Sort of saying Shaolin monk without thinking of Kung Fu. But, who am I to say such things?

Isn't believing consciousness is eternal. And material is a construct of the mental? Isn't that a flip flop way of saying that life is an illusion because it is not permanent? Cause the mental construct is of this brief life? 6 of something or half a dozen of something? A rose is a rose by any other name? Just saying, ...

From what I have gathered, and correct me if I am wrong or even if I am off by a mm, enlightenment is something that we already have but not experienced. Like your foot, you have it but may be you have not used it. Such is the enlightenment some seek. Others believe that enlightenment is a realization of the unity of the universe rather than the way we see things now as separate pieces. The realization that we are all one. And there is still some who believe this is life is all an illusion. This viewpoint comes from the belief that life is not permanent. And if it does not last then how can it be real? All of these things and not one of these things is enlightenment. One may have an appendix but may never use it? Or experience it. Realization is this self learning a truth about itself and/or others. And the idea that this is an illusion comes from the point of view that this life is not permanent thus not real. Not real like what is Buddha nature real. So what really is enlightenment, it is the experience which this self can not experience or feel. Some call it stream entry. I do not know what it is. But, I think it is akin to shadows dancing on a cave wall. There is a light source but know not where from. And then the shadows are not substance but lack of light that is used for perception. All the motions are predicted by lines holding the shapes of the shadows. So, enlightenment, what is it. Not an it and not a person. For some a wish and others a goal. For me it is the mark of the end of a journey. The journey is fun but it is only when we stop along the way do we learn about where we are and where we go. Happy holidays.

Please, may I have access to this current events section?

I do not see the post where I said something political. Please let me know and I will delete it.

You say you believe in eastern philosophy because you have investigated on personal experience and found it correct? Isn't that investigation a western way of thinking? But not important, considering you believe life to be illusory. You don't live in the streets, do you? Then you live inside something? A house maybe? But, that is illusory. Rain on your head is illusory then it shouldn't bother you? And the winters or summers do not matter? You can call it illusory but you have no other place to go. This is your life. Wherever you go, this will follow. That bullying in school is a part of you. To know where you are now, look to your past. You believe you have cut off the Karma associated with it. That in itself is Karma. Until you can dwell in a place where it doesn't exist, you have Karma whether you like it or not. But, that is eastern philosophy. Western thought would be that you have cut it off because you stopped and let it go. Not until you are enlightened and dwell in another space can you say you have cut off Karma. That is eastern philosophy. Fung shui, another eastern philosophy about the management of elements in our environment. Stairs facing the front door mean all your worth will flow out the door. A desk facing the door will not create a harmonious flow of energy. The desk should be in line but not facing the door. Iching, marriages must be done on certain dates based upon the birthdays of the couple. Changes in home and job must be done according to the predilection of the Iching's prediction of the future.. Eastern philosophy? Well acquainted. As was said before you can believe in whatever you wish. Nothing wrong in that. That is part of your journey. Wish you well.

What real eastern concept are you talking about? Karma? Why do you distinguish western from eastern thoughts and philosophies? Do you believe there is something mystical about eastern philosophy? What makes you think that Karma is not like a house built from the actions and intent made by people? Karma exists whether you believe it or not. The house exist whether you wish it or not. There is nothing mystical in Karma. Loath to look up definitions. The dictionary was made by people and their thoughts about a word's definition and may not encompass all there is or be lacking. Why do you believe and trust so much in what was written? What was written about Buddha probably came 500 years after the death of the Buddha. Looking up the definition of Karma, the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences. "a buddha is believed to have completely purified his karma" INFORMAL destiny or fate, following as effect from cause. "there's something highly satisfying when karma strikes" And from that you know all about Karma? The house is a solid example of Karma. Like a seed planted. It will grow into what it is and come back to you in ways you never expected. Live long and prosper.

Wait, do you mean that if you had more time then it would not be pointless to try to achieve anything because then you could enjoy it?

Yes, the process stops but what was done in the past still exist. That is the whole point of Karma. The actions stopped but the Karma is there. It does not get wipe out by stopping future actions. The house still stands. Did you read what you said? "The process of laying a brick is different from the brick laying in place. " The brick laying in place would not happen if the brick did not go thru the process of laying a brick. You can not separate one from the other. Everything is connected. That is the fundamental truth of Karma and the Dharma. Nothing arises alone and separate. In your actions and intent, Karma will be with you. Now and in your next life. Before enlightenment, chop wood carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood carry water. That is for everyone. Lay down the knife and become a Buddha is a singular event for an individual. Not the same. You personally can not lay the knife down and become a Buddha. You are not that person. Your reasoning is faulty. You have lost the context. It then become the same as "What is the sound of one hand clap?" Sorry, I do not mean to be harsh. Enlightenment is not something I chase anymore. That was given up long ago. I apologize for my rude behavior. You believe whatever it is you want to believe. You are on your own journey. Hope your travels are well. Namaste. Note: The process of building does not disappear. It goes into hibernation until the next building.