Playing with Perspectives

[UnbornTao]

Thinking that something external to you can somehow produce a happy or joyful experience for you is a mistaken notion.

Edited 10 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

What are the components of a powerful communication? A few vague principles that come to mind: 

• Being at the source of your experience--and grounded on it.
• Being present and "behind" your communication.

Edited 10 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

True creativity is fabricating something that didn't existed before. What often passes as creativity in our culture consists of putting things together--and adding some of your "personality" to the mix. 

Edited 9 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Quote

It is what we don't know that hurts us. There is no such thing as being in conscious pain, if you’re in pain it’s because you’re unconscious, that means you don’t see something, you don’t understand something.

So freedom from pain and suffering and confusion can only come by you knowing what you are all about and it can be done.

– Vernon Howard.

 

Edited 2 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Two intriguing perspectives on maturity:

1. Being able to do something outside of one's self-concerns
2. Helping someone without needing them to know about it

Edited 10 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Chatting is convenient and easy, so it is much more common than carrying out an investigation or questioning a subject.

Prior to having an insight, care should be taken not to confuse one's conclusions, preconceptions, or preferences with understanding anything of substance regarding the topic at hand. Want to know the truth.

Edited 10 hours ago by UnbornTao

[Ulax]

1 hour ago, UnbornTao said:

Chatting is convenient. It is prevalent.

Contemplate instead.

Once you have an insight or breakthrough, share it.

Before that happens, want to know the truth. Avoid sharing, as best you can, preconceptions, assumptions, extrapolations, opinions, etc. Just be curious.

@UnbornTao Do you think its better to contemplate with a journal or just in your mind?

[UnbornTao]

On 25/9/2022 at 5:08 PM, Ulax said:

@UnbornTao Do you think its better to contemplate with a journal or just in your mind?

I'd say that using a journal can be more effective overall, since you are putting your experience out there, whereas in your mind you can easily get lost in subjectivity. Tat said, the method itself is secondary as long as you are engaging in questioning.

Edited 2 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

What allows for someone to "stand on their own two feet"?

Edited 10 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Investigate your own arrogance, including its subtle forms.

Edited 10 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Integrity is a function of keeping your word. You don't have to give it, but when you do, keep it. Otherwise, don't give it! 

Edited 10 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

What is the principle of alignment? What about joining something, such as the experience of another? 

Edited 10 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

[UnbornTao]

Before something is considered obvious, it must first be accepted and adopted.

Edited 9 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Effectiveness is a dynamic relationship determined by the purpose for the interaction.

Say you're eating ice cream and that is your goal--then you're being effective in this case. If your goal at that moment is different from eating, then you're not being effective. Sounds obvious on paper but, in practice, noticing this dynamic is more difficult.

Edited 9 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

1. Pick a simple object. Observe it. Perceive as much of it as you can: shape, form, texture, sound, color.
2. Now, close your eyes. Try to visualize the object in your mind. Recreate it as it appeared in your perception.
3. Lastly, notice the result.

Was there any difference between the object and your mental image of it?

Edited 9 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

[UnbornTao]

 

[UnbornTao]

Listening:

Edited November 6, 2022 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Quote

O fool, do something, so you won't just stand there looking dumb.

If you are not traveling and on the road, how can you call yourself a guide?

In the School of Truth, one sits at the feet of the Master of Love.

So listen, son, so that one day you may be an old father, too!

All this eating and sleeping has made you ignorant and fat;

By denying yourself food and sleep, you may still have a chance.

Know this: If God should shine His lovelight on your heart,

I promise you'll shine brighter than a dozen suns.

And I say: wash the tarnished copper of your life from your hands;

To be Love's alchemist, you should be working with gold.

Don't sit there thinking; go out and immerse yourself in God's sea.

Having only one hair wet with water will not put knowledge in that head.

For those who see only God, their vision

Is pure, and not a doubt remains.

Even if our world is turned upside down and blown over by the wind,

If you are doubtless, you won't lose a thing.

O Hafiz, if it is union with the Beloved that you seek,

Be the dust at the Wise One's door, and speak!

– Hafiz

Edited February 10, 2023 by UnbornTao