UnbornTao

turn it on when needed.

It is foundational so definitely worth exploring.

Not even us humans are conscious.

I've heard that the word "meditation" originally comes from "med-", which means to heal. Therefore, the way I think of meditation is as a healing process, generating positive states, controlling one's mind, etc; it is not about direct consciousness. That'd better be called contemplation, which is intending to discover what's true about anything, with no particular ritual or cosmology behind it. That's the distinction I like to use. At the risk of oversimplifying: Pain is at the root of suffering, although the latter can more easily be seen through and to some degree, transcended Pleasure and pain are part of the same dynamic Bliss could be regarded as freedom from the pleasure-pain dynamic, so it could be a "natural state," although it is rarely experienced Understanding can be interchangeably used with insight, breakthrough, enlightenment and consciousness, depending on how you hold each of them

@Princess Arabia Disgusting.

Why would they think in ways similar to ours?

It is becoming conscious of your nature, what you absolutely are prior to knowledge, perception and mind. Could also be the nature of other, life, space, now.

I take that quote to mean that what you focus on, you end up becoming. What you create with your mind, you'll turn into. Always being angry will turn you into an irascible person. Meditating daily will greatly influence your physiology, mind, and character over the long term. As a result, you are being shaped and formed by your particular "thought" patterns. On the other hand, there's the matter of your nature, which has two aspects: Being: your nature--what you are before artifice, knowledge, and mind Your self: this might as well be essentially a "thought", although not a commonly held one. Such thought is lived "as is" rather than recognized as conceptual in nature. This is why you can transform as a self and still be you in essence. This is a dynamic construction that is also largely socially, and language-, influenced In any case, this is hearsay, so you tell me after you've had a breakthrough into your nature.

I can get an idea of what you mean by "not-thinking" which is basically a state of calmness, relaxation, and focus. On the other hand, try to stop thinking for 10 seconds, and then try again. There's a non-random dynamic at play here.

Going through the motions vs paying close attention.

Be careful that while we're partaking in scintillating discussions and debates about the nature of morality at the riverside, a crocodile doesn't snatch you.

Be honest and keep your word, even if given causally, both to yourself and to others. "Giving your word" isn't limited to language and applies to actions, too. For example, you may buy a set of dumbbells for your home gym but never use them. Contemplate what integrity as a principle is.

They may not want to kill them but like eating them and will continue to do so regardless. Again, it ultimately seems to be a matter of opinion. Some people habitually eat junk and drink soda. Is it "ethical" for them not to consider their own health? What about the ethical implications of coffee drinking, when harvesting coffee grounds is detrimental to third-world countries in various ways? And yet, it is widely consumed; most people don't mind it. "Food comes from the store."

It seems to me that people adopt nihilism, or "fuck it, it's all meaningless anyway" as an ego defense mechanism in order to justify laziness, complacency, and cowardice. It's disempowering and unnecessary, and just intellectual. It is an activity you're doing. Better think of what you want to create in life, then go do that.

That's the point. Also, it isn't so much about "having" morality but about inventing, and adopting, it. Generally, it boils down to a social agreement.

Might have had enlightenment experiences and also seems to spread his particular cosmology and opinions, telling people how to live, etc.

Stay away from it. If you want a cult, consider Zen.

Maybe you do. Consider that what you're not afraid of is an idea or concept of death; a vague, future possibility, not its present reality. It is the end of self. This is hard not to take personally.

It seems to boil down to opinion. What you decide to eat is ultimately a result of opinion, whether informed, healthy, or not. Is a crocodile eating a grandma ethical?

It's fine; let the emotions come and pass. Exercise and do relaxing activities. You can contemplate god and love when you're emotionally grounded and stable; meanwhile, realize that pain is compounded, and may be generated, by our complementary conceptual baggage that is added onto its raw experience. So hey, enjoy life. Everyone has had similarly painful moments in their lives. It's a matter of letting ourselves go through whatever we need to go through, learn from those experiences, and use them to become a developed, resilient individual. Then, we can look forward to new goals in life. Basically, give yourself the time to disentangle from the situation; soon, you'll see it with much less drama and more perspective, which is freeing in itself.

Dubstep, of course.

The reality of death terrifies us. It is the antithesis of self.

Then delve into the material. Enjoy it as if it were a hobby.