XieJia

As long as you don't desire to empty your bladder.

To desire or not desire.

If one gotta pee, one gotta pee.

I wouldnt know other than speculatively , I mean that these biases play in over periods of time

and over time do they become the new standard.

By the way , cool avatar!

Stosh

Thank you Stosh;

indeed historically what you said is true.

Wish you a good week

Ultimately religious practice takes on the preferences and biases of a people ,

and standardizes it,more so ,than IT molds the people to the original standard.

agreed,

religions wouldn't have exist without people.

Even on a personal experience, people tend to fix concepts/signs round their bases.

however i think there are differences in what is mentioned as "practices".

such it's not a common occurrence to see people creating new forms in qigon, taiji or yoga.

Similar views could be taken on meditations, I think these methods of "doing" are less likely prone

to alteration from biases.

now that you mentioned it,

I found it is actually quite hard for me to really understand what's individuality?

Can Wuwei be externally recognized?

I might not be well-informed about the subject,

I think Wu-wei is quite a personal thing, only the person will know about each own.

Hi Sam,

My opinion is that one of the thing that needs addressing is the idea in which worldly/success/money/achievement brings happiness.

Not that I meant that they don't but I do think that happiness can also be found in different things.

Perhaps a field trip?

Or a philosophical debate about Happiness or Success?

Or something like for them to understand how much of these ideologies are actually theirs?

Other than things implanted by the media or the society at large.

My 2 cents,

Goodluck on your quest

edited: maybe you could look to Confucius' thinking, I think will be easier for the lads to understand in the context of working/living as oppose to value of emptiness and sitting quietly.

I don't have much to offer.

But I do think that it's to do with what we thinks of ourselves and others,

That too may change. Is there such thing as an absolute claim?

The Wise teacher taught me to regard

the good deeds in the past to be passed,

the bad deeds in the past to be already passed.

One have the choice of doing what's proper or improper right now.

I found that works with me.

Marble, I am trying to find your old post somewhere.

I remembered you went through this before and you once gave a nice explanation.

One thing is that the Buddha was born in India.

Where the idea of Karma is very prominent.

Buddha teaches people to be free of this "Karma".

We Buddhists are quite bounded to talk about Karma.

You hardcore Daoists and Zen people out there are lucky,

you are not bound to do so.

Going back to the issue at hand.

There are many similarities that one could draw when approaching "Karma" from the Western thinking of "Sins".

I don't really understand or know "Sins" well so I can't really comment whether they are the same or not.

It is possible that it is inter-related.

However the application of Karma is quite wide.

Take an example of a country road with two paths.

You know that the two leads to the same point that you would like to go.

One is the paved main road which other people normally used to get to the destination.

The other is the a small road along the stream.

In choosing either of the paths, you have already cultivate a certain kind of "Karma".

This maybe neutral, fruitful or unfruitful.

I don't know much about the concept sins. From googling, I take it as "violating the will of God".

My deduction could be wrong but I will tend to associate Sins with a more of a negative deeds.

And that the consequence is hence punishment by God.

Buddhist's concept of "Karma" is closely linked to the concept of "Self"; this is either generated through

own Greed, Anger or/and Ignorances. The seeds and the fruits of the person's karma can be said to be

Self-Sowed and Self-Reap. There are also the desire to do good things, this generates good Karma.

Someone already pointed to you that your statement was insulting to them... of course getting into the process of seeing if in fact it is or it is not insulting is a whole different issue. Evidently to me you think it is not and are prepared to fight for it and evidently to me somebody else thinks it is and they are prepared to fight for it... whether it is or not right now is quite beside the point the point is why fight over it and get the approval respect we seek... I believe you that it was never your intention to offend ... that is something that happened... it has happened to me quite a bit... I ask a question or make a comment and people feel quite bad ... personally I have no ego trip about being right or wrong what I want to know is the truth... this to some is strange, they want to be right about what they hold even if it means believing what is not. I am getting sidetracked.

 

I said you are avoiding the issue of recognizing that someone felt offended by what you say because in your responses you are defending the position 'but I did nothing wrong' 'I did not insult no-one with my statements'. Notice that I am not getting into the validity of your statement right now. I think that you will agree that the statement you made is an absolute claim which may or may not be valid (though you believe to be valid).

Dear Et,

I have spend time reading the thread, trying to find the person who said my comment was insulting.

Perhaps to my own error or blindness, I failed to locate the post.

As a guide on the way and the person who pointed out.

Would you kindly tell me whom I offend and to which post that person said.

You can do it here or drop me a pm, that is up to you.

But I do owe the person an apology if he/she have said so,

however perhaps again to my own blindness or inability to see the truth beyond what's in my mind; I can't see how or why.

If you were to re-read my comments, I am also not entirely sure whether my comment is an 'absolute claims'; I see it more as a personal dialogue or self-reflection on how I sometimes can do silly things.

If you would be so kind, please do tell me. I will appreciate your response.

In mentioning 'that these moments also happen to everyone' I see that you are avoiding owning up to the situation. Even now I feel that you feel justified in your actions and defending them rather than say something along the lines of 'ups did not mean that, sorry' I an pretty certain you feel like why would I apologize if I didn't do anything wrong! Please be honest and validate if this is the case... just as a courtesy to validate that indeed I perceive accurately what you feel like when reading this... I could be wrong or right but its up to you to validate it...

Dear ET,

Please take the context of what I said to what I have commented together.

I mentioned that this happens to everyone meaning:

"We always find a new and better of doing things, in realizing this; we sometimes comes to see our "own" previous action as being "less better" than the new-found way.

In a way, I substitute the word silly with "less better". It have many thousands more substitutes.

I would like to apologize if there's anything I could apologize for; if anything I did was wrong.

Please kindly point it out, I might not be able to see it.

Please do tell me. It was never in my intention to offend anybody.

I also not sure, whether I own this situation more or less to any other body in this forum.

I do not understand what and why you said I am avoiding.

Hello Et,

What I did was suggesting the alternative that one can take the word "Silly" without taking an offense.

In mentioning that these moments also happens to everyone. As we discover new ways or better way of doing things, some might come to realize that the previous way is abit "Silly".

What I express as being Silly is not when others called me funny but the "Anger" that could comes up in me when confront with my own anger. In a way, "Silly" in my language isn't negative at all.

I do understand how you just made a silly comment to express what you considered and how someone choose to feel offended by it and express what they considered...

I am also confused by what you said, I didn't called anyone "Silly" here other than myself.

English is not my first language, I found it hard to understand your English.

That's why I previously asked about your background/language

because I thought I might be able to understand you better.

I am not sure how I come across as what you referred as the Kindergarten interaction? Would you mind to elaborate?

Et, you are welcome to call me "Silly" any day.

For I know what I am.

In moving on? Why?

Cause there's no more reason to stay.

(Sorry I edited my post)

We call those 'senior moments'.

;-)

To elaborate more on that.

I'd notice that Wu Wei is quite a naturally state for some.

Particularly in elders and toddlers or children.

They do as in simply do...

There are times throughout this year,

Sometimes I managed to be un-mindful.

Being un-mindful managed to get me stuck on certain things

other than the task at hand.

Such as driving, I was playing attention to the ferrari other than the road.

Such as eating, I was wanting to taste the soup so fast that I burnt my tongue.

And many other times that I spent time doing things that I am not suppose to be doing

and not doing things that I suppose to be doing.

Regaining my mindfulness, I have some kind of mantra that I used in these kind of situation.

It goes something like this... "This is silly, lets move on."

So every time, I realize myself and comes to be. I realize "This is silly, lets move on."

I also realize that using the word "Silly" on myself doesn't really brings me any emotion but "mindfulness".

Later I come to realize that the word "Silly" also have the same effect when others used it on me.

When anyone called me "Silly", I used to become so angry. But then...

I realized that "This is silly, lets move on."

So I normally thanks for people for pointing out that I am silly in the same way that I am cheerful that I realized my own "silliness".

I still call myself "Silly" from time to time.

It's just a word, any meaning is my own.

Take care now,

Superb. Thank you so much Shanlung.

Riches indeed in these old stories.

I'll still stick with QiGong though. At my age moving about is much kinder to these old bones than is prolonged sitting.

:-)

lol

You British got the best sense of humour.

Thank you Jeff,

Sometimes I do like my tea served cold in this kind of climate.

And I'd admit that in many case I would choose beautiful women over tea.

It's quite clear as an example.

If we associates words with meanings, we are deem to associates different meanings to words.

However I am positive that each of us will come to an understanding accordingly to what I have to face or resolve.

I'd agree that anger is a reflex, however I do see that there's also "Hobson's Choice" which can be found.

Take Care Jeff,

Happy Weekend to you and family.

We are definitely deep in word play, that is part of the fun. I like your questions because they dive into the heart of the issue...

 

When hot tea goes cold... One has made a judgement that is so, and we now have duality on the state of the tea. Do you prefer hot tea to cold? Do you drink both equally, or does one become "attached" to the definition of hot tea?

 

Judgement being empty (or not) would seem to be dependent on whether there is attachment to the choice (or not).

 

Thanks for pointing it out Jeff.

The fact is, it is now a cold tea.

Damnit! Ahh! now!

Where is that girl again?

Further on, in this moment. What is Attachment?

Forgive me for abuse of present tenses.

What is attaching? What is the nature of attachment?

Is that attachment to the choices made; happening right now.

If so, when is the attachment really occurring?

What choice do one have at this moment?

Whether craving for sense , craving for becoming, craving for not-becoming.

What was the choices made, what is the choice right now?

I remembered the Beautiful lady but I can't remember her face.

I remembered the not-so Beautiful lady but I can't remember her face.

So what am I remembering?

How can one describe something as beautiful (or not beautiful), but not see anything beautiful (or not beautiful) in it? Has not the definition itself defined a judgement?

I am not so sure but I do think that;

In seeing nothing beautiful in what was previously defined as beautiful.

In seeing nothing not beautiful in what was previously defined as not beautiful.

Could we call this un-judging or is it another judgement?

Is it like noticing that your hot tea went cold?

If seeing something beautiful and we let that be, would we continue to see that thing as beautiful?

If seeing something not beautiful and we let that be, would we continue to see that thing as not-beautiful?

If judgement is made, what makes it continues to be so?

If it doesn't continue so, was the judgement really made? for the mind is not judging.

If it does continue so, the mind is judging so was the judgement made?

Is the judgement empty? and is judging really judgement or vice versa?

My apologies, may sounds like wordplays

Thank you again Jeff

I am not sure what we can call judging.

In seeing things as beautiful -> I can see the judging.

In seeing things as not beautiful -> I can also see the judging.

In seeing nothing beautiful in beautiful things -> Is this judging?

In seeing nothing not beautiful in not beautiful things -> Is this judging?

I can't be certain, I could be wrong.

On the mind,

The mind is not separated, and that base/primordial state is the mind.

It is the judging that separates.

Sorry for being late,

Wish you the best conditions.

May Mindfulness, Wisdom be on you way.

without realizing "Emptiness of self" ourselves.

I don't think it would be fruitful debating what it is?

and who have realized it or who did not.

Nevertheless,

Xabir, you spoke highly of Thusness.

I am sure his/her deeds must have earned that respect from you.

Partly by the reduction we gain insight to the larger - not that it negates what the individual components are, but merely places them in context that can help avoid incorrect views as to the larger.

 

Thinking isnt "in the moment" but it is a byproduct of the root-core energy that manifests as thought-stream-energy. Easiest and simplest method to train is by placing awareness on the individual components of breath and their interactions (e.g. the physical mechanisms of breath) - by doing so you are creating the conditions for a calm, peaceful mind. A simple byproduct of the human mind is the rambling thought-stream-energy - but consider that our brains are neural networks built upon experience and habit - therefore manifestation of thought-stream-energy contains inertia behind it. Thus it takes time and focus to re-train. On some level what one is doing is retraining a path of least resistance (via focused awareness) that arrests the outflow of the root-core, preventing how much of that energy is available to manifest as thought-stream-energy. So below a certain threshold, the thoughts simply dont percolate - but its indeed a pretty low threshold, and only by focused awareness is that root-core energy diverted from where it will manifest as thought-stream. Thus when we do find ourselves off in thought while we should be meditating, we simply return to the breath, return to the path that has been outlined and proven to produce results, and not sit there fretting about why it was that we wound up thinking in the first place

 

We cannot really guarantee anything - but what we may do is influence the conditions by which something is more likely to manifest - just as quantum mechanics reduces to amplitudes of probabilities, such is the unfolding of existence. When the right conditions are present, then ripe for the manifestation of that which we strive to create the conditions for

Hello Joe,

Thank you for sharing,

I don't not know whether this goes along the same lines;

when the mind is thinking, it is not flowing.

I like what you said about how each of us influence our own conditions.

In meditations, it is one thing.

I am particularly interested in how one can use our daily life itself as a meditation.

Sometimes the awareness is focused, sometimes it is unfocused.

Do awareness have any conditions?