TheExaltedRonin Posted March 10, 2014 ... I literally have tried hundreds of different things to no avail. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thelerner Posted March 10, 2014 Great question. In the play Arabian Nights the smartest person in the world was asked the secret of life, she replied "Cultivate Enthusiasm". thats all I got. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheExaltedRonin Posted March 10, 2014 Cultivate enthusiasm huh? Be enthusiastic? Interesting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheExaltedRonin Posted March 10, 2014 Literally I believe the best thing may be to not strive. Just exist. Discard thoughts as they arise or realize they have no value and continue acting. Easier to say than do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kajenx Posted March 10, 2014 You might say "trying" is the problem. There is no trying, no doing, no coming to, or leaving. There is simply the world. Don't expect anything of it, don't try to make it seem magical or interesting. Don't think about how it was better before, or will be good in the future once you attain something. Don't ignore or supress. Don't favor this thought over that thought, this feeling over that feeling. If there is pain, be content with pain. If there is fear, sadness or anxiety, simply let it be without rejecting or embracing. If you saw a plain gray rock and set it on the table in front of you, how do you feel about it? Well, it's just a plain gray rock. There is nothing special or unique about it. This is the great secret. Everything is a plain gray rock. When you finally see this, there is only contentment. Contentment exists naturally under any feeling, any thought, any problem, any great joy, any sorrow. You don't need to end anything, find anything, fix anything, or solve any problems. The only problem is trying to make anything different from how it is precisely night now at the bleeding edge of this pure existance in time. There is no surrender, no relequishment, no action at all. Stop clinging to the edge of the cliff and fall into space. Allow all frayed strings and loose ends to fly free in the wind. Let the river take you over the waterfall. Be in that moment right before the bomb you are trying to diffuse explodes where you realize in an instant you are going to die, and you say, "I guess that's it." You cannot try to be effortless, you can only stop all trying. Watch the mind passively. Watch your trying. Watch the doubt, the frustration, the effort, the effort to stop expending effort. Watch as everything you feel and think exists beyond your control. Surrender is relequishment, release, letting go, stopping effort. There is nothing beyond awareness, so you can't leave it and you can't come back. Whenever you feel yourself trying, watch the trying. Don't stop trying, stop trying. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RiverSnake Posted March 10, 2014 (edited) You have to be joyful about what your doing. What do you love and fnd joy in doing? When you find that....do that....then develop concentration....concentrate so fiercely and joyfully on what your doing that the world falls away like noise in the background and your Will and your Joy become merged in a loving dance of life. My 2 cents, Peace Edited March 10, 2014 by OldChi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
de_paradise Posted March 10, 2014 Yeah I also asked this question alot all along. One day I realized that I could surrender better. Conclusion: its an abilily just like other siddhi, gongfu or spiritual attainments which is a product of all that you do. Clearly practicing surrender is a useful thing, but you are always limited by your overall spiritual progress. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
子泰 Posted March 10, 2014 (edited) Edited March 10, 2014 by dazed 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rara Posted March 10, 2014 Burning desire...that itch to do something. Various people believe desire is a dirty word though. Without it though, are we not limiting ourselves? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted March 10, 2014 Forget "surrender". That is not a Taoist concept. The answer to your question is "mindfulness". 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
karuna Posted March 10, 2014 (edited) . Edited April 4, 2014 by karuna Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted March 10, 2014 Judge nothing and enjoy the journey? I like that but it causes my mind to vibrate. This is because of the word "judge". I don't think it is possible to attain a state of total "non-judging". And our ego (intuition) will warn us of things along our journey. I think that "prejudging" nothing would be enough. And absolutely, enjoy the journey. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
karuna Posted March 10, 2014 (edited) . Edited April 4, 2014 by karuna Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted March 10, 2014 "Prejudging" nothing...does that mean diving right into nothing and to just be? In a manner of speaking, yes. However, we need listen to our ego and our intuition and inspirations. That is why I often speak of mindfulness. Similar to the Sage not putting himself in the way of the tiger and rhino, we don['t want to unconsciously put ourself in harms way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Prisoner Posted March 10, 2014 Heels down. Sounds simple, but try. Every time your mind play tricks. Arrest it with banging heels to the ground. Drink water. And your eyes you have two. Watch the tips of you index fingers with both of your eyes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
karuna Posted March 10, 2014 (edited) . Edited April 4, 2014 by karuna 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted March 10, 2014 I almost have a grasp on it... Forgive me, I am just beginning my journey Hey, I'm enjoying our discussions. Understand though, I am voicing my opinions and understandings. My methods have worked for me - they may not work for others. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
karuna Posted March 10, 2014 (edited) . Edited April 4, 2014 by karuna Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kajenx Posted March 10, 2014 Marblehead, you know that feeling of resistance you bump over when you hear "surrender"? That's a feeling waiting for your analysis. ^^ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dawei Posted March 10, 2014 Forget "surrender". That is not a Taoist concept. This was what I was going to say The concept would reveal there is separation where there is really none except in our head... but that is enough to hold us back. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted March 10, 2014 Marblehead, you know that feeling of resistance you bump over when you hear "surrender"? That's a feeling waiting for your analysis. ^^ Good try my friend. I have already analysed it and have rejected it. I am not even going to surrender to death when it comes knocking on my door. I will likely lose but there will be one hellova fight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted March 10, 2014 The concept would reveal there is separation where there is really none except in our head... but that is enough to hold us back. Yes, this would be another one of those very lengthy discussions with many alternate considerations. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
silent thunder Posted March 11, 2014 I release into the present moment through relaxed body/breath awareness. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted March 11, 2014 I release into the present moment through relaxed body/breath awareness. And people have written books around that one single concept. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stosh Posted March 11, 2014 Just accept the rhino, is a rhino. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
