Featured Title: Pictures from the Past: Art and Symbols of the Neolithic and Bronze Age
Solving Stonehenge, the new key to an ancient enigma
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On 2007-11-19 16:23, brigantia wrote:
Hi LaughingBall -
[quote]
On 2007-11-16 15:15, Laughing_Ball wrote:
I'm just saying that the cheap thrills we get from ordinary pleasures can stop us from experiencing more profound, less common transpersonal experiences that arise when we put tongue and taste and hunger to one side for a while.
Its why monks and mystics live ascetically - not to suffer but but to experience the transcendent, away from the temptation of easier, but transitory and less fulfilling pleasures.
When the thinking process stops (though I don't mean its possible to stop thinking altogether) the true self can emerge - the universal self, the all and everything. The real self that we often forget about because of the illusion that we are individual phenomenon and which modern society perpetuates.
I get wot y' mean LB. Most of the others suffer either the delusion of what Chogyman Trungpa called 'spiritual materialism', or they're so much up their own ego-riddled arses that they can't see the wood for the trees. Either way, they're one and the same. Children trying to get mummy or daddy to pay attention to them; whilst all around whole worlds are playing...
[/quote]
Mick, must be mummy right? He's the one in the dress. That makes you the daddy then Pauly. Cool!
cropredy
Joined: 01-01-2006
Messages: 5525
from Oxon
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New Message Posted!2007-11-19 18:02
Brigantia,
" Whilst all around whole worlds are playing"
Are they indeed?
I take that to be parallel worlds above and below this one?
Kevin
brigantia
Joined: 13-01-2002
Messages: 804
from Yorkshire & Argyll
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New Message Posted!2007-11-19 16:23
Hi LaughingBall -
Quote:
On 2007-11-16 15:15, Laughing_Ball wrote:
I'm just saying that the cheap thrills we get from ordinary pleasures can stop us from experiencing more profound, less common transpersonal experiences that arise when we put tongue and taste and hunger to one side for a while.
Its why monks and mystics live ascetically - not to suffer but but to experience the transcendent, away from the temptation of easier, but transitory and less fulfilling pleasures.
When the thinking process stops (though I don't mean its possible to stop thinking altogether) the true self can emerge - the universal self, the all and everything. The real self that we often forget about because of the illusion that we are individual phenomenon and which modern society perpetuates.
I get wot y' mean LB. Most of the others suffer either the delusion of what Chogyman Trungpa called 'spiritual materialism', or they're so much up their own ego-riddled arses that they can't see the wood for the trees. Either way, they're one and the same. Children trying to get mummy or daddy to pay attention to them; whilst all around whole worlds are playing...
Laughing_Ball
Joined: 13-08-2006
Messages: 888
from North West
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New Message Posted!2007-11-16 18:17
Just found this amusing website I thought some of you might find entertaining! RealityCarnival.Com
...and heres a nice picture:
Laughing_Ball
Joined: 13-08-2006
Messages: 888
from North West
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New Message Posted!2007-11-16 15:15
Quote:
On 2007-11-16 12:04, MuddyMick wrote:
Hi laughing,
could you possibly extrapolate on your 'putting your desires and attachments on hold' and clarity and insight about the nature of things'
Are you infering that our attachment to sense phenomena some how clouds 'reality? If so how? without the input of sense phenomena what is there? when the thinking process stops what is left?
Does the self reside in discernment?
where does the self reside?
Regards
MM
I'm just saying that the cheap thrills we get from ordinary pleasures can stop us from experiencing more profound, less common transpersonal experiences that arise when we put tongue and taste and hunger to one side for a while.
Its why monks and mystics live ascetically - not to suffer but but to experience the transcendent, away from the temptation of easier, but transitory and less fulfilling pleasures.
When the thinking process stops (though I don't mean its possible to stop thinking altogether) the true self can emerge - the universal self, the all and everything. The real self that we often forget about because of the illusion that we are individual phenomenon and which modern society perpetuates.
MuddyMick
Joined: 12-05-2006
Messages: 1237
OFF-Line
New Message Posted!2007-11-16 12:04
Quote:
On 2007-11-15 19:10, Laughing_Ball wrote:
[quote]
"And, of course, learning more has nothing to do with enlightenment. Seems to be more about unlearning what you already know."
Well actually, the point I was making was that I wasn't at all sure I agreed with that very sentiment, oft-expressed though it is. Depends what you mean by enlightment though I suppose. If its a bolt from the blue or requires you to be free of preconceptions then unlearning is maybe a good preparation (eh, Kevin?) but on the other hand a lifetime of experience and accumulated learning isn't necessarily to be despised as a barrier to further progress. Religious quests are often highly scholarly affairs.
Acumulating knowledge is different from raising awareness. Collecting knowledge is no better than collecting possessions but is a long way from receiving wisdom.
The same may be said of experience - there is a Sufi saying "the further you travel, the less you know".
Wisdom comes from opening up, letting go and allowing yourself to receive insight.
You can receive insight by putting your desires and attatchments on hold for five minutes and forgetting what you 'know' and all your preconceptions.
Its not always easy because our lives are organised around sating these desires, hunger for food, sex, beauty, knowledge etc, but if you can but these to one side momentarily, you can achieve a sort of clarity and insight about the nature of things.
[/quote]
Hi laughing,
could you possibly extrapolate on your 'putting your desires and attachments on hold' and clarity and insight about the nature of things'
Are you infering that our attachment to sense phenomena some how clouds 'reality? If so how? without the input of sense phenomena what is there? when the thinking process stops what is left?
Does the self reside in discernment?
where does the self reside?
Regards
MM
MuddyMick
Joined: 12-05-2006
Messages: 1237
OFF-Line
New Message Posted!2007-11-16 11:57
Hi All,
What does this term 'enlightenment' that is being banded around mean?
Regards
MM
Aluta
Joined: 06-04-2002
Messages: 1534
from PA, USA
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New Message Posted!2007-11-16 11:52
Quote:
On 2007-11-16 01:30, BERNARDQUATERMASS wrote:
Off Topic.............
Speaking of Amoeba, I assume that the films we see on telly are speeded up, how long does it really take for an amoeba to divide??
Don't forget, they're tiny and tiny things often work on a speedy timetable. But I'll waste sometime looking it up at some point. Interesting question, really.
Chyknel2
Joined: 27-05-2007
Messages: 2258
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New Message Posted!2007-11-16 10:14
We're in for some fun next May when they flick the switch at Cern.
Might get to know what gravity is Kevin.
Great link, Venutius! I especially liked this sentence: "the most elegant and intricate shape known to mathematics, called E8 - a complex, eight-dimensional mathematical pattern with 248 points first found in 1887, but only fully understood by mathematicians this year after workings, that, if written out in tiny print, would cover an area the size of Manhattan."
I kept looking for evidence that the article was a joke or something, but it appears to be legit. And how about the comment below that says, "the universe is a doily." LOL Fascinating stuff! Thanks.
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New Message Posted!2007-11-19 23:10 
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