寒月 Hanyue Posted November 17, 2012 (edited) Is it healthy to be obsessed with something you have no direct experience or understanding of? Is it good because it fuels enthusiasm that drives us? Or is it tantamount to a virgin, obsessed with sex and whose view comes from having read a book and watching porn? Thoughts as clouds floating by.... Best, Edited November 17, 2012 by snowmonki 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 17, 2012 (edited) Obsessions aren't healthy but there's a fine line sometimes between obsession and dedicated focus. We transgress that line at our peril hence cultivators are encouraged to develop other arts such as calligraphy or a MA form or both. Obsession is when whatever you are obsessed with begins to prevent you from leading the socialised life you led prior to the obsession. Zen archery or any archery is a nice social 'get you out of the house and meet people' pastime for anyone so inclined who does not fancy the erse kicking that comes with some MA. Enough cultivation in archery to keep you interested but a competitive edge to it too if you want it. Edited November 17, 2012 by GrandmasterP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
寒月 Hanyue Posted November 17, 2012 Obsessions aren't healthy but there's a fine line sometimes between obsession and dedicated focus. Figured you'd be one of the first to respond Very true indeed. What about being blind to the underlying assumptions that fuel that dedicated focus and whether the compass is mis-leading? Best Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 17, 2012 Yep I am no stranger to the obsessive-compulsive. It gets better once you've turned 50. ;-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Birch Posted November 17, 2012 I don't understand the question Snowmonki. I don't think 'obsession' is especially healthy. 'Drive' is offered as a 'positive' quality. 'Most' of the texts I've read on 'enlightenment' say outright that a person must want it more than anything else. But I don't know if that means that it's a requirement or whether there's something missing. I have interpreted it to mean that most people say they want 'enlightement' when what they really want are things like peace, happiness, good-fortune, awesome charisma, superhuman health etc (and that would just be me, oh my f&ck, did I just admit to awfully self-serving desires?) No, I don't think it's healthy to be obsessed. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff Posted November 17, 2012 Yep I am no stranger to the obsessive-compulsive. It gets better once you've turned 50. ;-) Everything is better once you have turned 50. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 17, 2012 Everything is better once you have turned 50. . ...... WRONG and double wrong. PaKua is a young man's game, ask my well-kicked erse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff Posted November 17, 2012 (edited) . ...... WRONG and double wrong. PaKua is a young man's game, ask my well-kicked erse. Attached (or obsessed) to the outcome...? Enjoy the moment. Edited November 17, 2012 by Jeff 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff Posted November 17, 2012 Is it healthy to be obsessed with something you have no direct experience or understanding of? Is it good because it fuels enthusiasm that drives us? Or is it tantamount to a virgin, obsessed with sex and whose view comes from having read a book and watching porn? Thoughts as clouds floating by.... Best, In your thoughts floating by... Is there a difference between obsession and desire? One needs something to obsess about, but what about desire... Can desire be about potential? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 17, 2012 If one can encourage that then success is sure to follow. A student who desires to succeed usually does, the ones who cruise through in second gear tend not to attain firsts. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydog Posted November 17, 2012 There are a lot of paradoxes in this topic. Intent and non attachment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 17, 2012 Non attachment is a bit of a cop out for some who take to Buddhisms. Not, I hasten to add; as a rule with ethnic Buddhists who on the whole seem to be busy , hard working folk. Poncing your food from punters and sitting on your erse in the sunshine doing sod all for most of the day is an attractive alternative to work and responsibility for some western chums of Mr Buddha. Thailand's chock a block with 'em mainly in forests. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydog Posted November 17, 2012 yeh dont love the word non attachment but I dont like the word obssession either one persons obssessed is another persons very dedicated focused individual. Whats a better word...carefree Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
宁 Posted November 17, 2012 I really wanted to write something here, something worth thinking pondering. We can't change the world, or other people's mind, I don't know if the changes that occur in the world, and inside mass people's heads could be induced by individuals. There is a theory that says they are induced by 'abstract ideal objects' floating in a world made out of ideas, the 5th dimension, and those 'objects' have a dynamic of their own, and modus operandi. The changes that occur in our world happen via the interaction of their world and our brains. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
寒月 Hanyue Posted November 17, 2012 Word games are easy, and depending on who you read you can have a vastly different view on what a word is being used for. That is not the nature of my post. Look past the words, and or substitute them for whatever you want to, I don't mind. If you desire something, but don't know what it actually is, what is it you desire? In your obsession to move closer towards your desire, are you in fact doing so, if you are in fact desiring something else? Woods, trees, hansel gretel.... How do we know? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
寒月 Hanyue Posted November 17, 2012 (edited) But please, don't take this really seriously, keep it light n fun Allow your mind/thoughts to go where they go from what others have said, does it help? Or does it not? If not, don't worry, you aren't missing out on anything special, just ignore it If it does, and a helpful insight pops up, share it Edited November 17, 2012 by snowmonki 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff Posted November 17, 2012 Desire is a primal energy (a potential). All of creation wants to grow and expand. A simple seed is full of desire, but it does not know what it will become (or care). Obsession is an attachment that takes one out of the moment. No one who obsesses on enlightenment ever becomes enlightened. Surrender to (and in) the moment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 17, 2012 Sounds fair enough. :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
三江源 Posted November 17, 2012 I enjoy obsession. mmmm, mm,mmmm. saturation seeking satiety, breaking through to new levels of toleration oh yeh. cycles of creation and destruction.. to the nth degree. But if you have no knowledge of that which you obsess about.. it's major displacement activity and tail chasing. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
宁 Posted November 18, 2012 Two-three definitions of obsession: "I almost have it!" "I almost had it!" "The one that got away.." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 18, 2012 Obsessive Compulsive 'Disorder' has a bright side. OCD people make super diligent cultivators and as a result the OCD kinda gets better in some aspects. Bit like dyslexia, best teachers in the world are dyslexics, they truly understand the struggling students's pain. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
