What is Happiness?

[UnbornTao]

10 hours ago, Sugarcoat said:

Yes it can be hard to completely distinguish the mind. And you say what remains is open presence. I’d say before the self has been stripped, there’s also the sense of the presence of self- may or may not be the mind 

You can also just go for an experience of real being now. Why wait until one's self has been stripped? 

I suspect in practice those aren't mutually exclusive: to perceive Being, the self must be seen for what it is.

10 hours ago, Sugarcoat said:

Well I guess some people correlate caring deeply about something to being stressed about it. They feel their stress is part of their care and helps them stay focused on it and thus control it better

Bless them.

10 hours ago, Sugarcoat said:

Yea I think ultimately enlightenment doesn’t discriminate, anyone could, but I also think the chance of it happening spontaneously is very low so if it’s the goal I think it’s wise to pursue it but maybe down the road it leads you to realize you never had to pursue it, but such realization might just come after the fact of pursuing it 

Sure. We can pursue it, and at the same time, direct consciousness is always sudden. There really isn't a path, but often, prior to this kind of realization, there's a process of dwelling on a question, investigating, discussing, and perhaps studying pertinent material - which might help put you in a good state, even though awakening isn't a result or effect. Like waking up from a dream. 

[Sugarcoat]

1 hour ago, UnbornTao said:

You can also just go for an experience of real being now. Why wait until one's self has been stripped? 

I suspect in practice those aren't mutually exclusive: to perceive Being, the self must be seen for what it is.

What would it even mean to “go for an experience of real being now”. Like staring at a wall until you have the raw experience of the wall? (If you’re not focusing on the self)

Maybe “the self is seen for what it is” is synonymous with it being “stripped” of its realness, so yea as you say those might not be mutually exclusive . 

1 hour ago, UnbornTao said:

Bless them.

Sure. We can pursue it, and at the same time, direct consciousness is always sudden. There really isn't a path, but often, prior to this kind of realization, there's a process of dwelling on a question, investigating, discussing, and perhaps studying pertinent material - which might help put you in a good state, even though awakening isn't a result or effect. Like waking up from a dream. 

I think similarly . But for now it still seems some things can be done to increase the chance, because it’s not usual that average people who don’t pursue awakening just suddenly have a glimpse, hmmm

Edited 16 hours ago by Sugarcoat

[Yimpa]

22 minutes ago, Sugarcoat said:

Like staring at a wall until you have the raw experience of the wall? (If you’re not focusing on the self)

I had this raw experience earlier today! I was not looking at a wall, I became aware that the wall is Consciousness. I no longer took my "self" as more important than the wall I was staring at, or the banana that was on the countertop. Love so selfless that you are no longer in control.... how awesome!

[Sugarcoat]

19 minutes ago, Yimpa said:

I had this raw experience earlier today! I was not looking at a wall, I became aware that the wall is Consciousness. I no longer took my "self" as more important than the wall I was staring at, or the banana that was on the countertop. Love so selfless that you are no longer in control.... how awesome!

It seems we have capacity to see things how they are, but then the normal mind reappears again and we’re back to normal

Edited 16 hours ago by Sugarcoat

[Yimpa]

7 hours ago, Sugarcoat said:

It seems we have capacity to see things how they are, but then the normal mind reappears again and we’re back to normal

Yep. I used to assume that being in the Highest state permanently was the solution to all my problems.

I was wrong, and now I appreciate and am thankful for all states 

[UnbornTao]

8 hours ago, Sugarcoat said:

What would it even mean to “go for an experience of real being now”. Like staring at a wall until you have the raw experience of the wall? (If you’re not focusing on the self)

Maybe “the self is seen for what it is” is synonymous with it being “stripped” of its realness, so yea as you say those might not be mutually exclusive . 

I think similarly . But for now it still seems some things can be done to increase the chance, because it’s not usual that average people who don’t pursue awakening just suddenly have a glimpse, hmmm

We don't know, and any attempt by the mind to comprehend this matter will inevitably lead to misunderstanding. In your example, it would be an encounter with what is there for itself that's being perceived or distinguished as the wall. Perhaps there is no wall at all… Something is, though, or so it seems. At this point, you'd start contemplating: What is an object?

You are, so attempt to grasp the very one that you currently are - get enlightened!

Did it work?

9 hours ago, Sugarcoat said:

I think similarly . But for now it still seems some things can be done to increase the chance, because it’s not usual that average people who don’t pursue awakening just suddenly have a glimpse, hmmm

Being open and genuinely wanting to know are the main ingredients. We like to "wait around," thinking it requires a long time but it doesn't have to. Intend to get it now, and intend again, until you do.

In any case, being happy is accesible now, even if one's true nature is unknown.

[cetus]

Look how happy this guy is. Don't you wish this was you?

 

[UnbornTao]

1 hour ago, cetus said:

Look how happy this guy is. Don't you wish this was you?

 

Love it.

Is that a yogurt factory?