Playing with Perspectives

[UnbornTao]

Quote

Beware of confining yourself to a particular belief and denying all else, for much good would elude you—indeed, the knowledge of reality would elude you.

— Ibn Arabi

 

Edited 5 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Taking up an invention and being familiar with it is not the same as being able to reproduce it in your experience and understanding how it comes to exist and work.

Discoveries and inventions are made by individuals. Ways of thinking get created based on those, and then usually adopted by the rest of us over a long period of time. Yet, the initial creative component of such inventions usually goes unnoticed. We live as if familiarity implies understanding. Looking closely, however, we see that there are a lot of things that we don't truly comprehend and yet adopt as a given.

For instance, we overlook the fact that it took a genius mind like Newton's to make a breakthrough into the principle of gravity. We now say that gravity is obvious since "everyone knows that objects fall down." We're missing something fundamental here, it seems. What Newton understood was that objects don't go sideways, float, or go up! He experientially grasped a principle.

More examples of this point:

• Confusing an expression or the form it takes with the insight underlying it, if there was one to begin with.
• Picasso's art died with him; the ability to create that art was unique to him.
• As a culture, we are somewhat familiar with Ancient Skepticism, yet very few of us are able to generate that kind of rigorous, deep, intelligent, and multi-faceted thinking.
• We take on the invention of language and presume to know what it is since it is a prevalent construct paramount to our survival, yet we remain unaware of its real nature.
• An insight might precipitate the invention of new "isms", which are forms of shared conjecture, missing the original discovery.

Edited 3 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Two approaches to facilitating others:

1. Moving them into a new experience: This tends to be resisted, as it involves taking their current experience "away" in favor of a new one
2. Pushing them into their experience as it is: This requires guiding them through the process of personal discovery, enabling them to generate an experience that more closely aligns with the one you'd like them to have, hopefully in the direction of honesty and transformation

Edited August 28, 2024 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

What are you giving life to?

[UnbornTao]

Quote

Wanting to reform the world without discovering one’s true self is like trying to cover the world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes.

- Ramana Maharshi

 

Edited 5 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

[UnbornTao]

Made the recipe on the second video:

 

 

Edited July 28, 2024 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

A look into the principle of willingness. Explanation by ChatGPT:

Me: What is willingness as a principle about?

GPT: Willingness, as a principle, refers to an individual's openness, readiness, and acceptance to engage in a particular activity, task, or change. This principle can be applied in various contexts, including personal development, psychological practices, relationships, and professional settings. Here are some key aspects of willingness as a principle:

1. Openness to Experience: Being receptive to new experiences, ideas, and perspectives without immediate judgment or resistance.
2. Readiness for Change: Showing a readiness to adapt or change behaviors, attitudes, and mindsets when necessary. This involves a proactive stance towards growth and improvement.
3. Acceptance: Accepting situations, emotions, and thoughts as they are, rather than fighting against them. This is often highlighted in mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies.
4. Commitment to Action: Demonstrating a commitment to take action towards goals or values, even when faced with challenges or discomfort. Willingness involves moving forward despite fears or uncertainties.
5. Flexibility: Being flexible in one’s approach and not rigidly clinging to preconceived notions or plans. This adaptability allows for better handling of unexpected changes and obstacles.
6. Engagement and Participation: Actively participating in life’s events and processes, rather than passively observing. This means being fully engaged in activities, relationships, and responsibilities.
7. Responsibility: Taking responsibility for one’s own actions and decisions, and understanding the impact they have on oneself and others.

In psychological contexts, particularly in therapies like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), willingness is crucial for accepting unpleasant thoughts and feelings and committing to behavior change that aligns with one’s values.

Overall, willingness as a principle emphasizes an active, open, and accepting approach to life’s experiences, promoting personal growth, resilience, and effective action.

Edited July 21, 2024 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Quote

Oh brother, you are nothing but your thoughts
The rest of you is merely skin and bones
If your thought is a rose, you are a rose garden
If your thought is a thorn, you are fuel for the fire

- Rumi

 

Edited 5 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

Edited 4 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

What if space isn't objective? What if what we call space is generally conflated with our experience of distance?

[UnbornTao]

Consider: everything you experience, think, feel, and do is something you want on some level. Since these are serving a purpose for you, you are generating them, whether consciously or not. Who else would be responsible for your experience? How does this dynamic unfold?

Note that responsibility here doesn't mean blame, or that you are responsible for everything that happens to you.

Edited 3 hours ago by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Made this first one:

 

 

 

Edited July 29, 2024 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Wo ist hier?

[UnbornTao]

 

 

Edited July 29, 2024 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 07:44 PM by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

[UnbornTao]

Distinguish between intention, which co-arises with action and contains an element of want, and desire, which is a complementary conceptual activity of wishing for an imagined experience to occur in the future. The latter does not require action, while the former arises with it.

Edited September 23, 2024 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

[UnbornTao]

Made flan!

 

Edited January 26 by UnbornTao