Playing with Perspectives

[UnbornTao]

I think that the more acutely aware you become of the possibility of death, the more intense the intent to pursue truth becomes.

[UnbornTao]

Enlightenment work requires seriousness. I've been going through times of disinterest even though I kept going. At times, it may appear as though seriousness is lacking. Once again, I've began to cultivate this desire, which is there but had been ignored for a time. I suspect this may be an occasional trap.

Find the seriousness in your experience. It's already there.

Edited April 2, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Manipulation, depending on how it's held, can be thought of as existential. It can be defined as the following:

Moving (influencing) an object, another or oneself physically, emotionally and/or psychologically for fulfilling one's self-agenda.

It doesn't seem to be negative by itself but results in certain consequences for oneself. Which ones? 

So what do I do?

Make another distinction -- communication. Choose to increase communication and decrease manipulation. Extrapolating, this results in integrity and a sense of wholeness as a person.

Edited June 11, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

At some point in our childhood we assume that being who we are isn't enough. Hence the need we feel to be and act inauthentic. This can snowball in adulthood and turn you into a completely false, phony persona.

[UnbornTao]

Quote

"No matter what a deluded man may think he is perceiving, 
he is really seeing Brahman and nothing else but Brahman." 

- Shankara

 

Edited April 2, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Activities are not existential. They don't exist by themselves but by relationship. Humans create communication, success, mastery, shame, boredom, sports, effectiveness, society. Another avenue of contemplation to go down to is: What exists? What is existential vs an activity, an invention? What exists independent of our actions, including perception, thinking, making sense, etc?

What exists is prior to our conception of it. In order to become aware of "what is", concept is inessential.

On the other hand, if no word is given, the reality of it is harder to grasp, since there would be nothing for the mind to place its attention on. Concept brings up a distinction to which to point. One drawback, however, is the possibility of being tempted to holding onto such concept, thus missing the reality that is being pointed at by that particular distinction, whatever it is.

Edited March 8, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

In order to notice that something exists, first its non-existence has to be allowed. For form to be recognized we must allow for its non-existence. We experience the distinction "apple" thanks to not-apple. We're conscious of the apple because we're conscious it's not a banana, and we distinguish the air around it as part of not-apple.

This seems to equally apply to any thought, belief, feeling, attitude, and perception.

Edited June 11, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Interesting form of fear: being found out! It is being afraid that people might recognize that, at our core, we may hold ourselves (assume, feel) as unworthy/worthless, vulnerable, unlovable, inauthentic, superior, inferior, incapable. This explains the social tendency to, or act of, "keeping it together," which is about pretending that everything's okay and positive with you and your life. With this dynamic, we aren't being straightforward with our relationship towards life. We're just hiding how we hold ourselves. Good news, this core assumptions about oneself might not be true in the end.

Get at the root of what you assume about yourself so that you become free from it.

Edited May 15, 2024 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

[UnbornTao]

Many people seem to be stuck on adolescence and don't grow beyond that. You've occasionally encountered individuals who are mature and grown up. What's maturity?

Edited April 2, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Pay attention to the following dynamic: knowledge can create ignorance. Belief masquerades as understanding. Knowledge (belief) binds you to ignorance without you realizing it. Beliefs are often conflated with personal, direct experience. Our fundamental assumption is, of course, that our assumptions are true!

Belief undermines the possibility of having genuine insights and of becoming aware.

Like a closed circuit, assumptions undermine the possibility of truly knowing, and becoming aware of, what something is for itself. They restrict your perspective by keeping your mind stuck within them. In this way, the necessary openness that precedes any form of investigation and inquiry is severely diminished.

This dilemma is solved by eliminating and transcending every disempowering belief that you hold. Start by acknowledging the fact that you don't know, and dwell on that. From that recognition, wonder emerges, and true discovery becomes a possibility.

Edited July 14, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

[UnbornTao]

Why pursue distraction? What function does it serve? What are you looking to avoid by being distracted? What do you gain by being distracted? What if you stop pursuing it? What if you stay silent, still and present, without any distraction, for a long time? How come that, without distraction, a sense of uneasiness and discomfort seem to arise?

Edited July 1, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

[UnbornTao]

A fact often overlooked is that taking a decision is a creative act. You make a decision. You don't somehow stumble upon it -- "here, I found a decision on the road" or some such. Besides, the process of making a choice isn't what we hold it to be, which is picking or choosing between a set of predetermined options. This way of thinking leaves the creative component out of the question.

When taking action, making decisions is essential. You have no choice in the matter. Choosing not to decide is something you can do. Look at ways in which you've unconsciously made a decision in your life. Now, notice you can change it according to what you want. Make the process explicit, clear, conscious, especially when it comes to important decisions.

Edited June 27, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

An invention doesn't have to be true for it to work.

Edited May 2, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Get into the state or ground where purpose can be created in your experience. Work on creating purpose, not superficially or intellectually but actually, experientially. Notice that purpose is created; notice that you make it up!

Now, create an empowering purpose for yourself that is worthwhile to you. This will encompass your life activities and give you a sense of direction and achievement, will increase your self-confidence, etc.

After having gotten in touch with that "place" where genuine creation can occur, various questions can be asked in regards to any activity and undertaking:

• What do I want to commit myself to?
• What is the purpose for this activity?
• Why am I doing it? Why am I engaging in it in the first place?

That helps you realize which assumptions are taken for granted relative to what you're doing. From that, clarity increases.

Edited June 23, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Creating the possibility and vision of a hopeful future, and holding the future that way, eliminates the root of depression.

Edited June 11, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

[UnbornTao]

Good news, everyone! There's no reason to be happy!

Happiness isn't found in any condition. It is simply the state of being that you are. The only requirement for happiness is this: be happy.

This will take some contemplation as we usually conflate self-survival with happiness. What we mean by "happiness" is relief, a distraction from pain that is accompanied by an underlying sense of fear or anxiety, since that is a temporary condition. Happiness doesn't depend on circumstances but on you.

Edited July 14, 2023 by UnbornTao