tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63598412195996124062024-03-12T17:11:18.133-07:00Buddhism in Blue JeansAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470600732681260447noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359841219599612406.post-48541761345040475092015-04-10T08:22:00.000-07:002015-04-10T08:28:02.669-07:00Reflections on Forgiveness<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIp5ilasYuFlgDiE9lS3-tGEXWmOLjc1EifDtY_VDRV7mdREddZ7gcbcP_us7Sz9dy5AFvkSW4rNm5E8rcS3iNFXlIABxzWjBxu_mV4dtabs95Gqn5P-feA90d7hR5Wmt2lC0IL-Ochvw/s1600/Broken_Heart_by_lucaszoltowski.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIp5ilasYuFlgDiE9lS3-tGEXWmOLjc1EifDtY_VDRV7mdREddZ7gcbcP_us7Sz9dy5AFvkSW4rNm5E8rcS3iNFXlIABxzWjBxu_mV4dtabs95Gqn5P-feA90d7hR5Wmt2lC0IL-Ochvw/s1600/Broken_Heart_by_lucaszoltowski.jpg" height="296" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<a href="http://www.deviantart.com/art/Broken-Heart-100575924" target="_blank">Broken Heart</a>" by lucaszoltowski</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
From my observations it
<b>isn’t very common</b> that spiritual <b>contemplatives</b>, writers, or
teachers to <b>reveal</b>, in a real way, <b>their heart in all dimensions</b>.
Typically what is emphasized is the euphoria of possibility iterated
in a single stream of thought to numb and distract the mind in awe of
unrealized possibility. I think we tend to look for this as an act of
aversion from our mundane, confusing, and hurting reality in hopes of
escape through that. I have yet to see that actually work. I write
today to reveal a dimension of my experience that isn’t as carefree
and euphoric. <b>I am hurting and I think it’s worth sharing my
thoughts.</b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It may come as no
surprise that I have had many past exchanges with Christianity that
has left a bleeding heart. It has been over two years since I’ve
journeyed away from it and as the dust has settled in my mind that
pain is still there. <b>If you understand my writing as of late I’ve
been emphasizing the importance of understanding “what am I doing”
over “what do I believe”?</b> Asking myself this I realized I’ve
been waiting for an apology I likely will never receive.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>What I have been doing</b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>The pain I have is not
from two years ago.</b> This may come as a shock as it is popular to
associate pain with a past event and regress “to the bottom of it”.
Seeing as how I am caught in the narrative of the story I’m making
around the pain I am taking the approach through the pain that exists
in the here and now --- asking the question “what am I doing here”?
<b>To answer that question directly I’ve nurture the pain by feeding
from it.
</b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What do I mean by
“feeding”? As strange as it may sound this is common to our
experience and it depends on our sense of identity and desire.<b>
Interestingly, I’ve created quite a sense of identity around being
hurt and perpetuating that sense of “hurting”, which further
creates a depressed or agitated mind state. </b>New material, such as the
RFRA, turns up the mental storm, which inevitably results in being
intoxicated by it. It’s more complex than this as there certain
“feel” to observing the inner life.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the end, I’ve
realized how prominent this has been in my experience.<b> I use the word
intoxicated as it implies a disparity between realizing with wisdom
that it’s occurring and being lost to it (mental states).</b> Over time
this has sapped my mind into the beginning stages of depression via
being regularly down, which has affected many aspects of my life.
That doesn’t mean I’ve been Eyor, but it’s certainly come to my
attention at just how (unnecessarily) unpleasant my experience has
been day to day.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>What I am doing</b></div>
<b>
</b>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What I have been
learning through Buddhism, both academically and through experience, is
that we are creating our experiences (and I’m not inferring
metaphysics). My attention is shifting from the observant side to the
proactive: <b>“what can I do”?</b> It is easy to say <b>“just forgive and
forget”</b>, but the human experience <b>is not that linear and simple</b>. I
spent a majority of my life talking about forgiveness and, quite
frankly, I am just now learning its dynamics. As it concerns with
this pain today very little has to do with “others”, but has
everything to do with how I’ve been perpetuating this. <b>The question
I have asked from here is “what function has this been serving me?”</b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I answered that
question earlier and it is<b> feeding</b>. Although I have been learning
much from Buddhism in this regard, a dimension of my experience is
actively looking for “junk food” and in this case it’s been
through the aversion I’ve nurtured in reference towards
Christianity --- <b>my memory of my pain has only served as a means to
this end</b>. At this point <b>forgiveness strikes me as an act of letting
go.
</b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Changes</b></div>
<ol>
<li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Focus</b> on what I am doing
and can do
</div>
</li>
<li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Equanimity</b> in
regards towards what others are or are not doing</div>
</li>
<li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Redirecting that
painful energy into a <b>practice of compassion</b> (adjusting my feeding
in reference to this)</div>
</li>
<li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Redirecting and
maintaining day to day a center within the body (<b>embodied
mindfulness</b> in daily life)</div>
</li>
<li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Tasking</b> myself
with more <b>consistency in meditation for further clarity and
stillness </b>(further correcting my feeding habits)</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I know that is not
popular to draw attention towards these things, but<b> I really feel
like there’s a need for spiritual teaching that is more useful than
simplify being motivated and inspired by only philosophical notions</b>.
Being hurt is real and a common part of the human experience.
Contemplating healing in a real way is useful and I hope this
contributed towards someone’s journey.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470600732681260447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359841219599612406.post-86409260303241998452014-10-15T09:39:00.000-07:002014-10-15T12:07:45.377-07:00L'eggo My Ego [ee-go] – The Pangs of Individuality <b style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yot-ilXJnFVvgSh3vGW16SBQktwynBTJIOM5dtgI-BRUUFx9tEdCJOkQqCG9oej8d-kFMVPi49DsXsVGN0Jt32WqG8Lj6Q_Q3e-LJLLZXR5g9O4q8eJ5fRew0psDxE-LIJNOyc58cpA/s1600/jester_by_infinitefiend-d41mdra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yot-ilXJnFVvgSh3vGW16SBQktwynBTJIOM5dtgI-BRUUFx9tEdCJOkQqCG9oej8d-kFMVPi49DsXsVGN0Jt32WqG8Lj6Q_Q3e-LJLLZXR5g9O4q8eJ5fRew0psDxE-LIJNOyc58cpA/s1600/jester_by_infinitefiend-d41mdra.jpg" height="320" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Jester”, by<a href="https://www.blogger.com/(http://justinbonnet.deviantart.com/art/Jester-244588582" target="_blank"> InfiniteFiend</a></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></b></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;">
</b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/prosopopoeia" target="_blank">Prosopopoeia</a>, noun, a figure of speech in which an abstract thing is personified</b></blockquote>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /></b>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b style="font-weight: normal;">“Your own self is your own mainstay, for who else could your mainstay be?” Excerpt taken from Dhp 160</b></blockquote>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What is the ego? Without specifically defining it in light of any teacher, the impression I am left with is that it is an abstract personification of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that do not meet an ideal of self. When examined in this way, however, the same applies to our cultural heritage --- if you fail to behave, think, or exhibit emotions correctly you are weird, gay, rejected, etc. and thus an ideal of self is not meant. This tends to generate an attitude of aggression towards these qualities. Bearing these things in mind in regards to the question of the ego I see a deeper question of individuality --- what is the individual to do with individuality? </span></b></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To start, when approaching the concept of the ego we will first need to examine the underlining attitudes these assumptions are operating under. A few of these assumptions are as follows:</span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<ol style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Individual qualities are dualistic (good versus evil).</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Because qualities are dualistic they are to be identified with.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Because qualities are identifiable the evil qualities of mind that do not fit an ideal of self (Christ consciousness, Buddha-nature, trueself, etc.) have an identity of their own (ego, carnal-nature, etc.)</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The aspiration is to realize a higher identity and eradicate the lower identity.</span></div>
</li>
</b></ol>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 16px/normal "Times New Roman"; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Are these assumptions appropriate? What is skillful here is the virtue of pursuing wholesome qualities, but where it leads is often to suppression and / or rejection. Drawing from my personal experiences, in both Christian and post-Christian romanticism, no matter if the belief was inherent evil or purity unskillful characteristics persisted. I denied, suppressed, “remained true” to the belief(s), but only a “partial” healing was ever realized. The attitude here tends to be one of annihilation and (passive)-aggressiveness; that these ego-characteristics need to be eradicated. How can we ever expect to find everlasting peace with a warrior’s attitude?</span></b></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /></b>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b style="font-weight: normal;">“That’s the thing about pain. It demands to be felt.” - The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green</b></blockquote>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<ol style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: upper-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">How am I perceiving my individuality? </span></div>
</li>
</b></ol>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is where I want to point out the role perception has to play in our relationship with individuality. Every concept of ego that I have encountered thus far does not operate to a standard of honest inquiry that I hold to and encourage. What if anger, disappointment, depression, pride, etc. are viewed as pain instead of ego? If I must live a life of denying my pain, then it is a life of denial and not one of complete honesty. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And thus the question I want to ask is “what is my relationship with my pain” and “what am I bringing to it”? </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If my attitude is that it is egoic, carnal, evil, etc. then my relationship is with it is that it is coming at me, but is it? Or, worse, that I deserve punishment for it? Regardless of my attitude as an individual pain is undeniably a part of my individual experience. These are things we individually have developed and awareness of them is only the beginning. </span></b></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<ol start="2" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: upper-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What are my perceptions intending (causing) me to do with individuality? </span></div>
</li>
</b></ol>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Next, our perceptions influence our intentions. If I tend to my pain as a warrior I am inevitably cutoff from it and it deteriorates into a never ceasing drama of existence.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Instead of waking up we are exerting effort in suppressing objects of our experience and in doing so clip our wings to liberation. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> If this is a journey of awakening why am I not allowing myself to feel? It is not an ego that we have developed, but habits and states of mind. And these things are something we can work with, apply antidotes to, and learn from. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The intention that I am encouraging here is one that is engaged upon pain as an object of awakening. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What effort is being applied? Suppression? Understanding? Apathy? What am I doing here?</span></b></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<ol start="3" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: upper-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A path of compassion. </span></div>
</li>
</b></ol>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I have poised several questions and here I want to encourage an attitude of compassion. This is a baseline, a starting point, but its an attitude that will take us into healing, rather than destroying pain. The approach of compassion is one of listening or directly experiencing the pain firsthand --- generating a warm gaze toward<b> </b>unskillful characteristics. Being an observer or listener to the pain rather than being the afflicted. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Here we can be like an admirer of abstract art who asks the question: “what is the artist (the pain) trying to say?”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> And we can only know that answer by directly experiencing and contemplating the experience --- rather than pushing it away. Through understanding the pain it is possible to apply an antidote that results in meaningful healing instead of the “bliss” of ignorance and denial.</span></b></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In conclusion, unskillful qualities, or pain, are a part of individuality and we have a choice to arm ourselves as a warrior against them or tend to it as a mother would an infant. It is important to understand how it is we are perceiving experience, how perceptions are influencing our intentions, and how we can change these things. Most importantly, every aspect of individuality, our pain (“ego”), deserves our compassionate gaze and genuinely learn from the pain firsthand so that we can apply an effort worth exerting. All of this requires being completely sensitive to our individual experience, rather than trying to fit it to a pre-conceived notion of how it “should be”. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As creative entities it is important to be mindful of what it is we are bringing to this present moment and expand upon what we learn.</span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;">
</b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470600732681260447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359841219599612406.post-6081719202371949752014-07-31T16:45:00.000-07:002014-08-09T06:07:34.970-07:00Shifts in Consciousness<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrjAubS08YYn7id7rEvGQ5faGWye7sB5yHhcN97zY0P5fy-iGH6LxCniHiaG2sNBzktoADqFaxs6vimfK99oH-Rr997qo-MGU3JeeWXo29TRkF4xdSKpgePnFgPAeQDGdhyphenhyphenUb-98I_Qo/s1600/mind_molecular_congruence_by_justinbonnet-d41lbuv.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrjAubS08YYn7id7rEvGQ5faGWye7sB5yHhcN97zY0P5fy-iGH6LxCniHiaG2sNBzktoADqFaxs6vimfK99oH-Rr997qo-MGU3JeeWXo29TRkF4xdSKpgePnFgPAeQDGdhyphenhyphenUb-98I_Qo/s1600/mind_molecular_congruence_by_justinbonnet-d41lbuv.png" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mind Molecular Congruence" by <a href="http://justinbonnet.deviantart.com/art/Mind-Molecular-Congruence-244539463" target="_blank">justinbonnet</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lBf3A5LHOA" target="_blank">The HumanExperience - “Transformation”</a> before reading.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“In using art as a
tool for transformation we have the opportunity to create a reality
that is beautiful, healthy and strong as our imagination permits.”</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“What one intends,
and what one plans, and whatever one has a tendency towards: this
becomes the maintenance of consciousness. When there is a basis there
is a support for the establishing of consciousness. When
consciousness is established and has come to growth, there is the
production of future renewed existence.” - Intention Discourse,
<i>Cetanā Sutta</i>, <span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samyutta_Nikaya">SN</a></u></span></span>
12.38</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Main Points</div>
<ul>
<li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Euphoric experiences due not infer a truthful status</div>
</li>
<li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Shifts in
conscious are a result of a change of views affecting conscious
experience.</div>
</li>
<li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Views are the
energy of the spiritual path</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Have you experienced
the release of new beliefs in light of the old? In the excitement
over letting go of repressive mindsets, which is a growing trend in
Western spirituality, the phrase “shifts in consciousness” has been
popularized and promoted. Characteristics of this event follow
general spiritualistic understanding of sainthood, Buddhahood,
enlightenment, etc. and overall sense of expansive and interconnected
energies. Despite the potential for these things to occur, as it
concerns our conversation on consciousness I have a different take
worth considering. In the following I will offer a fresh perspective
on shifts in consciousness via exploring the causal relationship
views have upon the body, how views affect conscious experience, and
provide a relatable example.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I am of the opinion
that shifts in consciousness are a regular part of the spiritual
life...”</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The first factor for
our discussion is the mind-body relationship. According to Buddhist
dependent origination a higher order process to consciousness is what
is known as “sankhara”; properly translated as “volitional
formations” or psychological conditioning. For ease of conversation
we will refer to them as “views” (note: views will be held
synonymous with beliefs). Western spirituality is evolving away from
former oppressive religious ideals and it is of the utmost importance
to bring to light how the body can respond to shifts in views.
Typically these former views contain disdain for self, body,
unbelievers, etc. and as a person changes their mind (which is the
true meaning of 'to repent') the foreground of the mind is noticeably
different. Due to the polarity of these beliefs the effects upon the
mind are quite profound and will be felt in the body (tranquilizing
or even euphoric). <b>The euphoric experience do not infer truth or enlightenment, however upon this point we can better understand
what shifts in consciousness empirically means. </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Valid experiences are occurring, but how many are taking the time to
understand them?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRTzbGQHtbinh9zAexzrJnF-nqC4a3hcSUwI53k2x0r1BicyOa5a6hZ1Hm6uK5sYeZR42LEkw3vSmUN9ZD78PjzG5q6Y_VbWd4XCXiOPSWh4aOZNHwpZ3GdtWdSgtT-kOZwYRKhATCWc/s1600/Photo+Jul+31,+2+01+56+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRTzbGQHtbinh9zAexzrJnF-nqC4a3hcSUwI53k2x0r1BicyOa5a6hZ1Hm6uK5sYeZR42LEkw3vSmUN9ZD78PjzG5q6Y_VbWd4XCXiOPSWh4aOZNHwpZ3GdtWdSgtT-kOZwYRKhATCWc/s1600/Photo+Jul+31,+2+01+56+PM.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Vitis Animae" by <a href="http://beaudeeley.deviantart.com/art/Vitis-Animae-264377166" target="_blank">beaudeeley</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the quote at the beginning of the article we see that the
Buddha reveals that consciousness is established and maintained by
intention (views), which can renew existence. It is not unusual to
mistake renewed experience due to more wholesome views and mistake
them for permanent change or identify with the experience as a “truer
self”. Here we are experiencing the dynamic relationship that
sankhara has with conscious experience.<b> As views change so will
our perceptions (cognition) establish itself in a new or renewed
pattern. In
other words, volitional formations are the filters that interpret moments of
cognition.</b> These are similar to the “born again experiences”
as it does renew our existence even if the stream of mind was not
disrupted by literal death. These, however, do not infer an
enlightened experience.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Think of sankhara's as
DNA and consciousness as the seed. Hidden, complex, and coded the DNA
is the underwriting that establishes the characteristics of seedhood.
As the right conditions continue to persist the DNA also underwrites
how and what the germinating seed will become. If the existence of
the seed was as malleable as the mind (arguably over millions of
years and with the right conditions it is) if the DNA changes, so
will the progress of its existence. As it concerns “shifts in
consciousness” it works in the same way because sankhara's are the
underwriting for conscious experience. If there is a change in
perspective, so will consciousness shift. <span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Our
views are the energy of our spiritual path they renew or degrade the
spiritual experience as things change, in contrast to iterating and
reiterating packaged spirituality it has more potential to be a
progressive, personally engaged journey. </b></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">What
are shifts in consciousness? They are the changes of mind (views)
both the Buddha and Christ taught and as volition changes so does our
conscious experience. It is easy to mistake renewed existences from
these changes for something more than they really are (conditioned
phenomena). I am of the opinion that shifts in consciousness are a
regular part of the spiritual life and should not be emphasized any
more than a mechanic's relationship with a wrench (it is just a
tool). I, of course, strongly encourage utilizing views as an
integral part of meditation and daily living to promote inner peace
and wholesome interactions. </span>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470600732681260447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359841219599612406.post-57844431019989030472014-07-08T17:42:00.001-07:002014-07-08T17:42:46.819-07:00Exploring Intentional Spirituality - Empirical Intelligence (1/1)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUihNJiIAgcO7_gnc8KPQtk6eKf4VZo6mo2L5MaCKGF9Dn5MHC3mLknprutH9EDZzeqX4SLKttEKGSB0YfodsdluUStrnmg8c_Xyr8EqUVvgCCDDeHDKxMK-KwmMav_pW5efQJD4ROaQQ/s1600/5223783981_d38cece8ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUihNJiIAgcO7_gnc8KPQtk6eKf4VZo6mo2L5MaCKGF9Dn5MHC3mLknprutH9EDZzeqX4SLKttEKGSB0YfodsdluUStrnmg8c_Xyr8EqUVvgCCDDeHDKxMK-KwmMav_pW5efQJD4ROaQQ/s1600/5223783981_d38cece8ed.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Action 02</i> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/meeko3515/" target="_blank">Ali Shafiu</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Matter acts, but there are no actors behind the actions:the verbs are
verbing all by themselves without a need to introduce nouns. Actions act
upon their actions. Properties are all there is. Indeed: there are no
things."<br />- David Mermin</span></blockquote>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
To continue from my
previous article in regards to <a href="http://abidingtranquility.blogspot.com/2014/06/consciousness.html" target="_blank">consciousness as a process (action)</a>, it is important to introduce the idea of “<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/empirical" target="_blank">empirical</a>
intelligence”. All too often we are inhabited by our experiences
and exhibit little understanding of them. It could be said that our
experiences own us despite the idea that we own them. On the
contrary, empirical intelligence intentionally utilizes experience in
attempt to understand the components that make an experience an
experience and employs understanding towards a beneficial end. In
this article I will be expanding upon the idea of empirical
intelligence, establishing how the body will be our starting point,
and will pose questions to help explore these things.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
To begin, the idea
of empirical intelligence begins by grounding our understanding of
consciousness as a process of <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/cognition?q=cognition" target="_blank">cognition</a> (abbreviated “cog”).
Recall that I stated for each sense there was an associated
consciousness. Take reading for an example: there are interrelated moments of eye-cog and language-cog that are directly related to
the experience called “reading”. Post processing occurs after
these events that influence the outcome of understanding what was
read. Views (beliefs, opinions, etc.) will bias the reading
experience both intentionally and unintentionally. Similar to the
scientific method empirical intelligence queries these experiences
firsthand in an unbiased manner; commonly referred to as being “the
observer”. This assists in establishing spirituality beyond the
common mode of subscription with beliefs that bias experience and
introduces the seeker of truth to a firsthand, objective engagement
of “truth”.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This leads into
expanding upon a method of inquiry that is required for the firsthand
engagement I am encouraging and this starts with the body. I have
come to understand that common spirituality (any religious doctrine)
starts with the body --- depending on the extreme it is evil
(Gnostic), neutral, or good (hedonism). These doctrines, regardless
of the extreme, also commonly <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/eschew?q=eschew" target="_blank">eschew</a> from the body shortly after and
expand upon views that obscure one’s search for truth by mode of
subscription*. The principles I am introducing here dwell upon the
body before going deeper into the mind and the reason for this,
regardless of philosophy, is we are human and thus have a body. It is
not uncommon, due to various mental reasons, that the body is ignored
despite it being a significant contributor to the human experience.
If the body and its conditions are ignored how can deeper aspects of
spirituality involving the mind be explored? As well, as I have
repeatedly stated, the senses we have are primarily bodily related,
so in terms of exploring consciousness as it is with clarity it is an
excellent starting point.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Finally, as an
introduction to my following article and to establish further
relevance of what I have to say next I want to ask that you, my
reader, to open yourself to the following:</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
What attitudes do I
have towards my body?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
How do I understand
my body?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
What is my body
saying?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
How is my
understanding affecting my relationship with my body?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
How am I responding
to what my body is saying?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
How all of these
things are affecting my human experience?</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I strongly encourage
beginning by asking these questions. Explore these questions to the
extent you know how and see the effects of how your understanding,
attitudes, and responsiveness to the body are affecting your human
experience. Are they promoting wholesome, positive values? Or are
they promoting unwholesome, negative values? If you’re insightful
enough, explore the origin of your attitudes, understanding, and
responsiveness and experiment with all three.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In conclusion, when
exploring intentional spirituality this requires empirical
intelligence, in which sets a foundation for experiencing
consciousness in a pragmatic way and the starting point of this
begins with the body. If spirituality is ultimately the promotion of
the human experience the body cannot be overlooked and acts as a
starting point for deeper aspects of spirituality. These principles
also introduce the seeker to a methodology beyond common faith-based
subscriptions, and to openly ask the question and search for truth.
Ask yourself those questions and explore them as they will be leading
us into the following article that will establish a practice to
experiment with.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Until then, please
share your discoveries.<br />
<br />
* - "Subscription" used in this context is referring to common spirituality that "subscribes" if the appropriate cultural and mental conditions exist, which operates in a consumeristic manner. More on this <a href="http://abidingtranquility.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-correlation-of-honesty-and-truth.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470600732681260447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359841219599612406.post-44168796009927110902014-06-11T09:33:00.001-07:002014-07-14T16:30:45.303-07:00Thoughts on Consciousness (Vijñāna)<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhEIsBsHXS05nus0rDIyWCNKjTaGeVvw8aZnu3gtSSzy58XJt_bptyw4nUdvVVOrB8AzjHEnpF-60I0pLi6Nz3eSCLljSah7cdnG30QwJcTyZncvDzJYR6C7iV4FvaNv4iOr3JwEPVMI/s1600/seeking_the_divine_knowledge_by_beaudeeley-d4esme0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhEIsBsHXS05nus0rDIyWCNKjTaGeVvw8aZnu3gtSSzy58XJt_bptyw4nUdvVVOrB8AzjHEnpF-60I0pLi6Nz3eSCLljSah7cdnG30QwJcTyZncvDzJYR6C7iV4FvaNv4iOr3JwEPVMI/s1600/seeking_the_divine_knowledge_by_beaudeeley-d4esme0.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Seeking the divine knowledge" by <a href="http://beaudeeley.deviantart.com/art/Seeking-the-divine-knowledge-266714712" target="_blank">beaudeeley</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“In my defintion
of consciousness, consciousness is the same thing as life. What
wisdom traditions also call spirit.” - Deepak Chopra</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Being spiritual
has nothing to do with what you believe and everything to do with
your state of consciousness.” - Eckhart Tolle</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“We are the
voice of an infinite consciousness that flutters on the wings of
spirit.” - Mooji</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-weight: normal;">Why
do you call it 'consciousness'? Because it cognizes, thus it is
called consciousness.” - The Buddha, SN 22.79</span><br />
<br />
As
western spirituality has evolved terminology of “consciousness”
has become the new currency in which spiritual matters are
discussed. Considering the history of the word "soul"
previously used in religious traditions and the attitudes of those
who are former subscribers it naturally has a less than desired
associated feeling. Given this historical course it is natural to
demonstrate apprehension towards using the word soul, thus vocabulary
will need to be expanded. To meet this need words such as
"consciousness" and "true-self", in which invoke
a mystical attitude, are often popular towards our inner life.<b> It
is improper, in my opinion, to associate consciousness as a "soul"
like entity as it inadvertently causes a passiveness on how
malleable, useful, and real consciousness is (our inner life must not
be a mystery to us). Thus, it is worthwhile to have an existential
understanding of consciousness before discussing further "spiritual"
matters.</b><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">The following discusses
how consciousness is cognition, a process (action), and briefly
applies this understanding.</span><br />
<br />
<b>To begin with, by
consciousness it infers awareness, or responsiveness, of one's
surroundings or, in other words, it is called consciousness because
it cognizes.</b> To say “conscious awareness” (which is a common
term I've observed) it is linguistically redundant, if there is
consciousness there will be awareness. This is because it requires
the senses, in which respond to stimuli to its corresponding sense
consciousness (i.e. eye-consciousness for visual stimuli). Aside from
possible brain damage, we differentiate between each
sense-consciousness and don't confuse visual stimuli for smell
stimuli (there's a moment of consciousness for each unit of stimuli
input). Obviously as humans we have many units of consciousness
including ones for awareness of the various mental stimuli (thoughts,
emotions, etc.).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Therefore to refer to "consciousness"
as a type of inner being (soul-like) misrepresents just how dynamic,
interconnected, and fluid the collection of consciousness' that
eventually results in "I am". <b>Moments of consciousness
pass with such fluidity that it gives an appearance of a 'being', but
similar to the quantum world when we look close enough consciousness
is a series of events (action) (not a single 'thing',
meaning it's existence as a being is unsubstantiated). </b>In short,
I'm stating it does not have an inherent, independent existence of
its own (not soul-like), but has a very conditioned existence in
relation to the whole of the cosmos. Subconscious and post processing
events occur that iterate upon the incoming cognition that create a
facade of being, but consciousness only has a momentary existence.
The views of meaning with consciousness are inferred due to ignorance
(not used in a derogatory manner, but in reference to its Buddhist
definition).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>This practically means that despite how
complicated our experiences are we can work with both the physical
and mental units of consciousness and understand them with clarity.</b><i>
</i>For example, when one experiences anger instead of propagating "I
am angry" an intentional unit of consciousness may occur to
observe the anger's mental and physical components, and (eventually)
the statement of it's "I am".<span style="font-family: Mangal;"><span lang="hi-IN">
</span></span>The goal opens one up to her potential and into what
it means to be fully human. Instead of the victim of "circumstances"
we see someone transcend into the hero of her own life story. <br />
<br />
In
conclusion, being pragmatic in understanding the term 'consciousness'
you are able to empirically discover consciousness in an
intentionally useful manner. This does not leave one without mystery,
as is popular in the common "carrot on the stick" beliefs,
yet this offers a balanced attitude in which addresses the
malleability of consciousness. <b>Instead of the finality of belief
we may begin to experiment and work with consciousness in such a way
that makes our spirituality more intentional. </b><span style="font-style: normal;">Meditative
practices (to be discussed later) such as anapanasati (mindfulness)
can quickly confirm and observe consciousness' moment by moment
existence. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thoughts? Questions? Please share them!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Questions to consider:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Why do I want consciousness to have
soul-like qualities?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Can I confirm these things in the
here and now?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
How do beliefs affect my understanding
and views?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Edit attribution:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/116135963476096063106" target="_blank">+Grizwald Grim</a> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470600732681260447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359841219599612406.post-48678475545114969992014-02-12T04:31:00.001-08:002014-02-12T04:31:58.027-08:00The Correlation of Honesty and Truth-Reality<font style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Amiss my ponderings this morning I realized a direct correlation between the level of genuine honesty and reality (truth). Let me first disclose that I recognize the words for truth and reality as interchangeable (synonymous). Bearing this in mind, I view “truth” in terms of <b>what is</b> or things as they are – hence my preference for the word reality. If we reflect upon what is required of conventional belief, which I refute is not “belief”, it demands our subscription. A “truth” statement is declared absolutely and all others null and thus conventional belief I will define as subscription. However, upon further examination of what occurs between the subscription and mind it will be seen that the practitioner no longer becomes interested in truth; despite the motive behind subscription is the quest for truth (happiness).</font><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br><br><font>Subscription of absolute dictations require of the mind a strict adherence that betrays honesty, for if truth later reveals itself it will be rejected because of the conditions and contexts that the subscriptions mandate. Practically speaking, the primary concern with subscription it requires of its practitioner dishonesty (rejecting doubt, questions, and reality). This dishonesty further incapacitates this person’s ability to see things as they are which leads one into a state of addiction. </font><br><br><font>I use the word addiction because subscription incorrectly facilitates the idea that its dictates are happiness, however if they do not exist in and rejects reality (things as they are, truth) it is delusion. Again, the erroneous behavior may include the torture of doubt and faith (doubt consistently being rejected), paranoia, hostile / hurtful interactions towards one’s self (for doubting) or peers, and/or anxiety. What is interesting is these behaviors center around rejection, hence why I keep using the word subscription for conventional belief because without it the process begins to fall apart.</font> <br><br><font>Subscription is not limited to evangelism, it may come in form of patriotism, mental disorders, etc. as they all require strict adherence to certain views regardless if they mesh with things as they are. Most of these examples function as the opposite of abiding in reality because they start with fear and end as a refutation (rejection). Followed by life in addiction is constant denial (rejection) of the idea that the view they are subscribed to is not ending in the happiness they think it is bringing them. Thus enters honesty.</font> <br><br><font>Regardless where we are “spiritually”, our path becomes more properly aligned when we are first honest with ourselves. Practically speaking, beliefs are more or less views the mind utilizes for the pursuit of “happiness” – mostly as escapes from reality. And if we allow for our doubt (wisdom) to teach us beyond our rejection a moment of honesty can dawn: “This isn’t working”. And so we see the first step to the end of the addiction. Honesty begins to dismantle subscription, which takes time and patience. Dealing with addiction requires its opposite proponent of honesty and the cognitive dissonance it promotes can act as an enabler against liberation (recovery). Honesty reveals the inconsistencies of our views (subscriptions) and without them as a familiar anchor we can be rapt in fear of the unknown. Cognitive dissonance is a precursor to something new, if it is allowed to run its course.</font> <br><br><font>We seek mental harmony, or consistency, because of the familiarity it offers – even if the perceived mental harmony results in participating in the addiction. Through our rejection of reality we become inattentive to our condition and symptoms of our addiction. Through this inattention a full belief that the addiction is helpful, without much knowledge of its damages, can and will manifest. Recognition of the addiction, although a brief moment of honesty, will not stop the process of subscription (enchantment). Although we may recognize our issues, our habitual rejection will continue onward beyond the glimpse of the issue. Fixation upon symptoms, rather than the heart can manifest.</font> <br><br><font>When dealing with the process of subscription disenchantment occurs over a period of time with attention to its conditions. Processes are condition dependent and without insight into these conditions inner transformation is difficult to impossible. Transformation occurs by being mindfully absorbed in the reality of our afflictions, which is the opposite function of subscription (being unmindful) and how we are culturally raised. Being mindfully absorbed requires the honesty subscription detests because of the doubt it reveals. Doubt and honesty are opposite functions the subscription operates within. </font><br><br><font>The other proponent that being mindfully absorbed in the addiction is the temporary disruption to its process can give a glimpse of liberation. These glimpses begin the process of transformation (recovery). This process requires doubt, honesty, stillness, and mindful absorption into the reality of the conditions of the process of subscription and its addictions. The process of purification often brings out the fear of the unknown, for the mind is unfamiliar with life without its former beliefs (limitations). As part of the path to truth we learn of a new faith, without conditions, and that is a faith the rests in not knowing (true to faith’s common definition). Faith does not know. Grasping for knowledge (conceptual notions) of this new life may replace one subscription set for another. And the uncertainty may seem worse than the certainty of current belief modes. </font><br><br><font>However, this neurotic behavior is a function of addiction. Subscription creates the façade of knowing the unknowable – a model of reality. Ironically, since the addiction does not participate in reality it still functions in “not knowing”, but is not mindful and ignores this. Being mindful of the uncertainty and the resultant processes it brings is key. If we are honest, even the “certainty” we think current belief sets offer is still centered upon not knowing. Resting in (embracing) the unknown begins to untie us from the anchor, the reference in which we erroneously use, of our current mental paradigms – hence the term “letting go”.</font> <br><br><font>Letting go comes with resting (having faith) in not knowing and in doing so unanchors the mind. This liberation comes with infinite possibility, instead of only what the addiction previously had to offer, which is a mere limitation and imitation of “truth”. What remains true through this process of liberation (recovery) is honesty. It begins with a moment of: “this is not working”, continues in honest awareness (regardless of our current condition), being honest with our fears, being honest with the idea of not knowing, finally this honesty fosters a transformation that brings the mind from limitations to infinite possibility – unto freedom.</font></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06470600732681260447noreply@blogger.com0