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Post by withinsilence on Dec 5, 2011 18:30:19 GMT
I wonder if it ever occurred to the Bible thumper to ask himself: "Do I need to write a thousand+ page book to teach my own kids how to learn from their mistakes and to allow others the same experience without judging their ignorance as wrong while never noticing my own?" Experience.......its life's greatest teacher!
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Post by gurthbruins on Jan 1, 2012 13:54:02 GMT
In their important essence, if they have any, all the religions are identical. Yoga: union with God is the aim. Islam: submission to God. Christianity: "thy will be done". Judaism: the psalms speak of the close obedience to God, to his laws, and the adoration of same. There is a single, identical thread that runs through all religions. - as far as the Bhagavad Gita goes: BHAGAVAD-GITA AS IT IS – by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada The Crux, pg 600: Bhagavad-gita in the supreme instruction in morality. The supreme instruction of morality is stated in the ninth Chapter, in the thirty-fourth verse: ... One must become a devotee of Krsna, and the essence of all religion is to surrender unto Krsna. The instructions of Bhagavad-gita constitute the supreme process of religion and of morality. All other processes may be purifying and may lead to this process, but the last instruction on the Gita is the last word in all morality and religion: surrender unto Krsna. This is the verdict of the eighteenth Chapter.
From Bhagavad-gita we can understand that to realise oneself by philosophical speculation and by meditation is one process, but to fully surrender unto Krsna is the highest perfection. This is the essence of the teachings of Bhagavad-gita. The path of regulative principles according to the orders of social life and according to the different courses of religion may be a confidential path of knowledge. But although the rituals of religion are confidential, meditation and cultivation of knowledge are still more confidential. And surrender unto Krsna in devotional service in full Krsna consciousness is the most confidential instruction. That is the essence of the eighteenth Chapter.
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Post by withinsilence on Jan 1, 2012 16:13:26 GMT
If you go searching for the Great Creator, you will come back empty handed. The source of the universe is ultimately unknowable, a great invisible river flowing forever through a vast and fertile valley. Silent and uncreated, it creates all things.
All things are brought forth from the subtle realm into the manifest world by the mystical intercourse of yin and yang. The dynamic river yang pushes forward, the still valley yin is receptive and through their integration things come into existence. This is known as the Great Tai Chi.
Tai Chi is the integral truth of the universe. Everything is a tai chi: Your body, the cosmic body, form, appearence, wisdom, energy, the unions of people, the dispersal of time and places. Each brings itself into existence through the integration of yin and yang, maintains itself and disperses itself without the direction of any creator. Your creation, your self transformation, the accumulation of energy and wisdom, the decline and cessation of your body: All these take place by themselves within the subtle operation of the universe.
Therefore agitaded effort is not necessary. Just be aware of the Great Tai Chi.
39th Verse of the Hua Hu Ching The unknown teachings of Lao Tzu-Brian Walker
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Post by withinsilence on Jan 1, 2012 16:53:09 GMT
Your belief in God is merely an escape from your monotonous, stupid and cruel life. Jiddu Krishnamurti
The constant assertion of belief is an indication of fear. Jiddu Krishnamurti
What is needed, rather than running away or controlling or suppressing or any other resistance, is understanding fear; that means, watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it. We are to learn about fear, not how to escape from it. Jiddu Krishnamurti
In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself. Jiddu Krishnamurti
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Post by gurthbruins on Jan 2, 2012 12:14:44 GMT
Excellent observations, withins.
I find it easy to surrender without believing anything. It comes very naturally, and not from fear of any kind.
Most belief is indeed mostly based on fear or wishful thinking, I would agree. I have never believed in a resurrection or reincarnation, or any survival of the self after death.
I only believe what is obvious to my senses: this apple tastes good, that apple tasted good ten minutes ago by my watch - as I say, the obvious. Denials of the obvious bore me as useless.
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Post by withinsilence on Jan 2, 2012 13:38:16 GMT
As I enter into this year of unknown possibilities I find myself heading in the direction of simplicity.
Having explored the extreme depths of my own inquires into many different religions, beliefs and spiritual teachings, I have found one foundational principle that rings true within all of them. If this simple practice was taken up by mankind it would fulfill all the spiritual laws and all the many thousands of pages of scriptures that endlessly try to convey this simple teaching. This one simple principle that all the past and present enlightened humans have been practicing, writing and teaching in order to steer mankind in its direction for thousands of years is the one that I accept and will live by in its simplicity to the best of my innate abilities.
I quote it here from the Dali Lama: "There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness."
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."
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Post by gurthbruins on Jan 3, 2012 6:05:44 GMT
As I enter into this year of unknown possibilities I find myself heading in the direction of simplicity. Having explored the extreme depths of my own inquires into many different religions, beliefs and spiritual teachings, I have found one foundational principle that rings true within all of them. If this simple practice was taken up by man kind it would fulfill all the spiritual laws and all the many thousands of pages of scriptures that endlessly try to convey this simple teaching. This one simple principle that all the past and present enlightened humans have been practicing, writing and teaching in order to steer man kind in its direction for thousands of years is the one that I accept and will live by in its simplicity to the best of my innate abilities. I quote it here from the Dali Lama: "There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness." "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." As you enter the year, you find yourself smack in the month of Capricorn, the horn of plenty, the month of supreme success. Now is the time to reap the rewards of your struggles in Scorpio and your aspirations in Sagittarius. The idea of simplicity does seem to be around currently, I am just introducing quite some simplifications into my life on a practical level, and for instance just look at an excerpt that was posted just yesterday on another forum: "I became a vegan because I wanted to eat as ethically as possible, then I became a raw foodist because I wanted to eat as naturally as possible, and then I decided to eat my meals mono because I wanted to eat as simply as possible... Ethical, Natural, and Simple, those are the qualities that I want not only in a diet, but in life in general. "I've been looking at Hexagram 25 (The Simple); there are a few pitfalls in trying too hard to be simple. Simple, kind - these can both be overdone. We always need to retain a balance with unsimple and unkind. (yin and yang?) Just my opinion of course.
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Post by withinsilence on Jan 3, 2012 13:03:16 GMT
Thanks Gurth, I was reading my Horoscope yesterday and it was saying the same thing, that this year had the potential to be very rewarding. I accept and welcome this unconditionally. By simplicity, I mean allowing myself to stop striving after more and more "knowledge", to slow down on reading all the books, scriptures, websites, etc. in "search" for the ultimate truth. Its been a multi year journey of this extreme search and its finally coming to an end. Thank God. hehe As far as kindness, I had been looking for the most simple way (method) of helping humanity raise its level of consciousness, so simple a child could understand it and simple acts of being kind when its not the "typical" human response works wonders for blowing peoples perception (mind) away. They can't believe it when you go out of your way to be kind, and this may simply be to not say anything at all but just smile, and its a result of inner knowing, equanimity, mindfulness and understanding how most of humanity is trapped in an unconscious, unaware psychological state where they identify "them self" as their thoughts and don't see (unaware) that they are the thinker with the volition to either respond to them or not, thus knowing that thoughts are only thoughts and not reality or "who they truly are." There may be times when an unkind response may help to awaken someone to their ignorance but from my experience kindness is the better example and its the true nature of humanity, everything else is only a result of fear (unconscious thoughts). You can either live in love which "knows" when to break the rules and is forgiven or you can live in fear which only follows others laws and is judged by them.
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Post by gurthbruins on Jan 3, 2012 13:32:15 GMT
Here is a book I am reading (with about 6 others, a dubious Sag habit): CONFUCIUS FROM THE HEART by YUDAN
I am quite carried away with the excellence of this book - it has to do with the Simple too...
"You should not think that the wisdom of Confucius is lofty and out of reach, or something that people today can only look up to with reverence.
The truths of this world are for ever plain and simple...
The truths that Confucius gives us are always the easiest of truths.
They tell us all how we can live the kind of happy life that our spirit needs."
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Post by withinsilence on Jan 3, 2012 14:50:17 GMT
Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses. Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)
All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them. Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642)
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see. Arthur Schopenhauer
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. Arthur Schopenhauer
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Aesop (620 BC - 560 BC),
Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever. Margaret Cho,
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Post by popee on Jan 3, 2012 19:58:16 GMT
Is "being kind" better than not being kind?
I think making distinctions ... judgments ... favoring one thing over another ... is dangerous territory.
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Post by withinsilence on Jan 3, 2012 20:39:47 GMT
Is "being kind" better than not being kind? I think making distinctions ... judgments ... favoring one thing over another ... is dangerous territory. By you saying the above statement it is in itself a judgment, a distinction and you favoring your thought (idea, opinion) over others. hehe You "think" its dangerous territory but that is just your distinct, judgment and what you favor! hehe Why not just let those who want to be kind be kind and those who don't don't. If you feel good being unkind then be it if not then be it! Remember to look deeply into the essence (context) of the word in a given situation as being kind could be; Kindly giving someone an ass chewing because they did something that could have hurt them whereas not saying anything to them would have been unkind even though it seemed "kind" because by not saying anything they may make the same mistake and hurt them self next time. It take great insight to know this difference and when, where and how to apply it. This is enlightenment. Nobody said that being kind was better than being unkind, just remember you get what you give, which would you prefer kindness or unkindness?
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Post by popee on Jan 3, 2012 21:30:56 GMT
I didn't say I favored unkindness over kindness.
"Dangerous territory" is just a phrase (and a hastily chosen one) , nothing necessarily should be inferred.
I'm not sure I "prefer" anything, expectations are seldom satisfied, no?
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Post by gurthbruins on Jan 4, 2012 4:52:40 GMT
re Aesop, here's an act of kindness that I think is rather wasted:
A rapist and murderer is put in the cooler for supposedly 30 years. However, after 20 years he is let out "on Parole".
Why? To save the money of accommodating him in luxury? As an act of kindness to the public?
My diagnosis: he is let out because of excessive Christianity, the Christianity that Nietzsche so deplored (2000 years of it!), the Christianity that enjoins charity, the charity that Ayn Rand is so violently opposed to. Kindness, in short.
Not of much use to the next victim of the rapist, who doesn't have to wait long as it turns out.
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Post by withinsilence on Jan 4, 2012 13:08:18 GMT
You can cage an animal but you can't take away the rage.
If the criminals ignorance (not knowing his thoughts were controlling him) were shown to him through psychology and meditation he could be brought to understanding how mans mind works and therefore not commit anymore crimes out of ignorance. This is moving from animal nature (instinct) to our true nature or higher consciousness through gnosis and yes its been a long arduous process.
Punishing humans for being ignorant of the fact that they allowed there volition to be controlled by negative thoughts for whatever internally justified reason (belief) they have is absurd and will never change them. When parents, the church, society and the like tells children that they're just bad, evil sinners to be punished by a jealous, vengeful god some actually believe it and act accordingly, some don't, the choice to believe it or not is within their mind. No I am not saying this is the only cause.
This is painfully obvious in the fact that man just continues on his ignorant path of creating more and more laws, more and more jails and more and more bureaucracy trying to utilize the old outdated punishment and reward system to control a creature that really just simply needs to learn how its mind works and it would alleviate the problem
Criminals don't do their violence too the other person, they do it for their thoughts. The victim who is abused is a means to an end, a tool used by the criminal to release its negative thoughts upon.
We need psychological treatment centers which include meditation and psychologists trained in it as this is the only way for anyone to begin to change them self. First they need to stop believing their evil, no good sinners (shown their false identity) and start believing they can change and in their innate goodness, only then will the door be open for them to see that their crime was based in ignorance and not who "they" truly are.
If society wasn't so mentally conditioned to be so repressive of sex, drugs and freedom of expression, there would be far less crimes that are the result of one no longer being able to withhold its natural urges. The priests don't do what they do to those boys because they want to, they do it because they've repressed mans natural urge do to extremely ignorant church doctrine. When you deny food all you want to do is eat!
Ignorance is the only criminal not kindness! Knowledge brings understanding and understanding oneself, ones mind and how it works brings contented self control and mindfulness. You control your volition, not your thoughts. When you start believing your thoughts to be true and identify"you" with them, then they become you and you act them out! "So a man thinks, then so he becomes!" Its that simple but impossible to see without taking a long hard look deep within yourself.
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