Playing with Perspectives

[UnbornTao]

This journal of mine is sometimes based on intellect; it is a byproduct of intellectualizing. There's no problem with that per se and provides several benefits for life but isn't powerful in a context of authentic experience. Socially speaking, pretending to know is beneficial for one's self-survival and can be fun at times as well. In any case, my intention is having genuine insight, a "real" personal and direct experience of the nature and workings of something, not in playing that social game. Intellectually, we live as if we understand much more things than we actually do. Experientially, we fundamentally don't know -- are not directly and deeply conscious of -- what anything for itself is. This is the point I'm alluding to that is not only culturally overlooked but ignored and commonly repressed, too.

Edited May 14, 2024 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

[UnbornTao]

Everything you have about enlightenment is seriously pure bullshit!

You now might be tempted to hear that and start parroting it. That would be falling into the same trap. Rather, use the consideration above as an invitation, as an opening for contemplation. Use it to obliterate every belief you have about the matter.

Dwell on your nature: "What am I, for real?"

Edited May 14, 2024 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Pay attention to the following fact: everything occurs as a process.

People's attention tends to go to the immediate circumstance and desired result. This is ineffective. Rather, focus on the whole event. What is the whole process about? What are the preceding steps that lead to a particular result?

Holding "result" as another component of process is better than thinking of it as the isolated outcome of the process that's being engaged.

We think of things as fixed. A punch, a pass, a fight. These are not objectively "real" by themselves. A "punch" doesn't exist except as a concept. What's called a "punch" is an arm, moving a certain way and then hitting an object, but in your experience there's no punch to be found anywhere. Noticing this subtle point clarifies what the whole process and its stages are, increasing effectiveness.

Edited September 26, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Quote

“The language of a grown man, to the cosmic powers, sounds like babytalk to men.”

Enjoyed reading Fragments by Heraclitus. Recommended.

[UnbornTao]

@Sidra khan  ??

[UnbornTao]

 

[UnbornTao]

Listening doesn't come naturally nor easily. It's a skill that can be developed. Don't assume that you already do it naturally just by hearing to another.

A huge impediment to learning is filtering what comes to you through your respective cosmology -- the way in which you hold the universe to be --, whether it be psychic phenomena, philosophy, science, religion, martial arts, chi, etc.

Listening as a principle is incredibly powerful and profound. It demands knowing what's there. In a communication, it demands knowing another's experience as it is for itself and not as it relates to us, which is the most common scenario.

Edited September 26, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

From Instagram:

 

Edited July 15, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

I've been noticing the self-contracting nature of pain, tension, trauma and the like, and how they affect how open you're willing to be afterwards.

Some serious courage is required in order to transcend this limitation.

Personally, this turmoil has made it harder for me to open up. It has made me rigid and less tolerant, and frankly a bit bitter. I'm interested in studying how stress affects the body.

With no attachment to self-identity and life story, conflict and drama are more easily seen as conceptual fabrications, and as ultimately unneeded. Of course, hearing this and understanding it rationally is the easy part. Grounding the investigation on your experience isn't necessarily easy but doing so allows for freedom from it.

Also, personal reminder to start practicing integral communication. Might write about that at some point.

Edited July 12, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Creating purpose seems to be a necessary aspect of being happy in life.

Edited July 9, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Too much theory, intellect and jerking off. I've been too comfortable by going down this route. Time to get down to work and do some serious contemplation, and exposing myself to experience.

Edited November 3, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Being honest isn't necessarily antithetical to dealing with others in a sensible, gentle manner.

Edited November 3, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

[UnbornTao]

Quote

Man is a moving being. If he isn't moving towards what's good, he inevitably moves towards that which is not.

- Chozan Shisshai

Commitment makes up your character. Whatever you focus on -- whatever your attention and energy go to -- grows. You become whatever you're committed to. Don't take this for granted. With time, the consequences of your commitment will become obvious, whether positive or disastrous. Don't delay taking empowering actions, no matter how small they may seem. The sooner you do, the better.

Contemplate:

• You become what you think
• What are you committed to?
• What do you devote your energy and attention to on a daily basis? 

Edited August 6, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Freedom is being able to do something and not do it. Freedom requires not being dominated by a self-agenda.

Think of anger. Freeing yourself from that emotion implies the choice and the capacity to either be angry or not. Choosing to become angry would depend on what a given moment calls for, whether appropriate or needed.

Edited August 23, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Being capable of taking action is about self-awareness rather than will.

Edited September 22, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

[UnbornTao]

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 28, 2023 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

How can you distinguish between authentic teachers and charlatans?