stirling Posted yesterday at 11:19 PM 3 hours ago, old3bob said: not needed since you come off as seemingly knowing everything from A-Z... Uh.... thanks? Your vague allusions make it hard to have a conversation. This looks like a dead end. 9 hours ago, old3bob said: not the same when or if written off as or bound in illusion. I'll revise my answer to this one: Without a more clear answer, I honestly have no idea what you are talking about. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stirling Posted yesterday at 11:21 PM 1 hour ago, Keith108 said: Ah well, the thread has been contributed to. My work here is finished. I'm out too. If OB can't be bothered, neither can I. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted 23 hours ago 53 minutes ago, steve said: Did you mean to say ‘does not’? right, thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lairg Posted 23 hours ago (edited) "everything is perfect" From the perspective of The Source of All, that seems to be correct. The TSoA seems to generate Existence in order to experience. As far as I can detect, dark experiences are useful as light experiences. Presumably the intelligences bound up in the dark experiences are learning by doing If so, humans may be better to stand above their human experiences, as an adult stands above the tantrums of a child Edited 23 hours ago by Lairg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
forestofclarity Posted 22 hours ago 7 hours ago, old3bob said: and of course Advaita Vedanta is only one of the many schools that range from A-Z in Hinduism (so to speak) and thus does represent all of Hinduism as some seem to take for granted. That's cool because... you know... everything is perfect! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stirling Posted 21 hours ago ...and I change my mind. Why abandon such a rich topic when there is so much LEARNING TO BE DONE! This idea: The world is perfect - comes at us from ALL sides of the "Eastern" spiritual traditions. Quote The actual proof of this Unborn which perfectly manages [everything] is that, as you’re all turned this way listening to me talk, if out back there’s the cawing of crows, the chirping of sparrows or the rustling of the wind, even though you’re not deliberately trying to hear each of these sounds, you recognize and distinguish each one. The voices of the crows and sparrows, the rustling of the wind—you hear them without making any mistake about them, and that’s what’s called hearing with the Unborn. In this way, all things are perfectly managed with the Unborn. This is the actual proof of the Unborn. Conclusively realize that what’s unborn and marvelously illuminating is truly the Buddha Mind.- Bankei Quote The one who has fully investigated himself, the one who has come to Understand, will never try to inter- fere with the play of Consciousness.- Nisargadatta Maharaj Quote That is perfect. This is perfect. Perfect comes from Perfect. Take Perfect from Perfect. and the remainder is Perfect." - Isha Upanishad Quote The Understanding is perfect as vast space is perfect, where nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess. - Seng-Tsan Quote This dream you call the world is not the problem; your problem is that you like certain parts of the dream and dislike others. Once you have seen the dream as a dream, you have done all that needs to be done. - Nisargadatta Maharaj Quote Love itself describes its own perfection. Be speechless and listen. - Rumi OldBob, my friend, I am sorry that your weary eyes make you suffer over the chaos of the world, but there IS something else under that suffering that can be seen at the same time, that has always been there. _/\_ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve Posted 20 hours ago 12 hours ago, Keith108 said: Interestingly, there is a Christian parallel to this in the story of Adam and Eve. They fall from heaven after eating an apple from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Maybe someone more versed in biblical Christianity can correct me on that, or provide some context. I just found it interesting that the fall from heaven was caused by a tree named after dualistic thinking. I love this angle! 6 hours ago, Cobie said: For Roman Catholics, the moral law (what is good or evil) has been set by God. This story is about obedience to God. I appreciate the orthodox version but always enjoy finding connections between traditions. For me the meaning is not in the text, it’s in the reader. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted 18 hours ago the working of karma is perfect but karma itself veils the perfect.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted 18 hours ago (edited) 3 hours ago, stirling said: ...and I change my mind. Why abandon such a rich topic when there is so much LEARNING TO BE DONE! This idea: The world is perfect - comes at us from ALL sides of the "Eastern" spiritual traditions. OldBob, my friend, I am sorry that your weary eyes make you suffer over the chaos of the world, but there IS something else under that suffering that can be seen at the same time, that has always been there. _/\_ Thanks, btw who doesn't suffer in one way or another over the adharmic or evil in the world including self realized saints and masters? (that feel for their students and all beings) Edited 18 hours ago by old3bob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bradley Posted 16 hours ago well what does perfect really mean anyway. and when is something imperfect? bit of a paradox if you think about it deeply, as perfection is in the eye of the beholder. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted 13 hours ago (edited) 3 hours ago, bradley said: well what does perfect really mean anyway. and when is something imperfect? bit of a paradox if you think about it deeply, as perfection is in the eye of the beholder. true from just or only varying human perspectives, and I'd say that if only varying human perspectives were possible then we'd be SOL to ever know, be satisfied, and rest in a greater truth and beingness/source that is beyond change, corruption, ups and downs, etc.. Edited 12 hours ago by old3bob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
J.Finder Posted 11 hours ago To me, the “perfect” feels like something potential - already present, but hidden and waiting to be recognized. That’s why I resonate with the Buddhist idea of Buddha-nature: every being has it, yet it needs to be recognized through walking the path and doing inner work. I’m not great with precise terminology .... I’m speaking from personal observations ..as for the outer world - saṃsara, suffering, yes. From that angle, it’s hard to talk about perfection. But the image of the lotus comes to mind. Wandering in saṃsara itself is suffering, yet truly accepting this seems to awaken a deeper aspiration - not only to ease one’s own suffering, but that of others as well.... just my humble view.... and karma, too.... When I first began studying it more deeply, I realized it’s not an excuse for passivity, but simply an understanding that what we experience arises from causes and conditions. In the same way, working on ourselves creates the causes and conditions for recognizing and living that very “perfect” we’re talking about. In general, I think practice is what ultimately matters, to reach the awareness of the things mentioned by the masters. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neirong Posted 10 hours ago On 11.12.2025 at 4:28 PM, old3bob said: Some eastern ways and or teachers proclaim everything is perfect.... I'd say that is true and dandy for the Transcendent that is perfect and "beyond" suffering, it not so true and dandy for those suffering and short of Transcendent Freedom/Being. It's nuts to me to hear of the denial of suffering as being non-existent (aka intellectual by-passing) since it is a core teaching to overcome forms of suffering for most eastern way students and to also help others overcome same. Anyhow one can walk around all day long quoting so and so and say, "all is perfect" but I'd say that is not real (or of an actual realization) until it is so via attainment of Transcendent Freedom/Being. Nothing is perfect, but that does not mean perfection does not exist - it exists as a quality at a pretty high level in the vishudha chakra. That said, the world is fair, and suffering is necessary and is good for you. You may feel sharp pain when putting your hand on fire, but if you do not feel that, you would just burn your hand crisp. Imagine if eating fast food slop would not cause detrimental health issues and obesity? Most would chug on sugary chemical junk. Similarly, lots of checks exist to prevent humans from dying stupidly (self-preservation instincts) and to prevent humanity from dying (reproduction instinct); sex being pleasurable itself is a work of a system, to preserve the species as a whole. Suffering mostly comes from a lack of control and presence; unawakened beings naturally suffer; once you awaken, suffering ceases to exist. The difference is like the difference between an NPC and a player: a player won't even suffer much if his character dies. He will just make a new one. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liminal_luke Posted 8 hours ago The world is entirely perfect and complete, with the exception of this thread. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve Posted 8 hours ago 14 hours ago, Lairg said: As far as I can detect, dark experiences are useful as light experiences. This reminds me of a favorite pith instruction from Anthony Demello - 'Pleasant experiences make life delightful, painful experiences are opportunities for growth.' 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted 6 hours ago 1 hour ago, liminal_luke said: The world is entirely perfect and complete, with the exception of this thread. and certain brands of beer...but not Modelo imo. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted 6 hours ago Why is Lord Shiva called Neelkanth? During the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan), a deadly poison known as Halahala emerged, powerful enough to destroy the universe. To protect all of creation, Shiva selflessly consumed the poison, holding it in his throat. His neck turned blue from its impact, earning him the name Neelkanth, the one with the blue throat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites