Would you give up all distraction for enlightenment?

a reply to: JimNasium

Sounds like what I feel. I just bought it. Wait a minute... you just distracted me with consumerism!

originally posted by: AshFan
No more smartphone, no more movies, TV, Non fiction, alcohol, drugs. Give up all that for peace and a pure connection to that which we are all connected.

The only "no" one needs is no dogma. The flow is what connects us and that is fluid. You can learn something from everything the only thing to keep in mind is: don't get addicted. To dogmas.

a reply to: Peeple

I would say act actively against them.

Here's a couple of paraphrased quotes taken from a chapter on Maya in the book "The incredible Life of a Himalayan Yogi" by Shuddhaanandaa Brahmachari which you might find interesting.

"The hardships and material discomforts which a seeker of truth accepts happily to have the vision of god has its roots in desire. You many say that the desire for material pleasure is a limited one, whereas the desire for divine grace is of greater value in life, but can you deny the fact that at the root there is the phenomenon of desiring?"

"In man is the seed of desire; hence, there is the possibility of divine transformation. If you cannot desire the part, how can you grow and desire the whole? It is only through the desire for transient objects of material life that the higher desire for spiritual flowering will awaken in the heart of man."

a reply to: AshFan

What? You promote the oldest dogma mankind knows! Asceticism.

originally posted by: Aliensun
a reply to: SaturnFX


Aha! The "Physical" stuff and partying, self-indulgence in the material world is the way to go, right? Spoken like a true citizen of the consumer world.

Alternatively I could spend the few seconds of being alive dwelling on nothing but death.

a reply to: Peeple

No no no... wait, I need to look that word up... Not giving up indulgence for the sake of religion... but ignore the distractions, and look into yourself.

When faced with a choice of philosophical theories to adopt, and the choices are being ascetic or a hedonist...I chose hedonism every time.

Talking monkeys usually do....

a reply to: AshFan

Your distractions could be another persons guideposts. You know wisdom needs the ability to look at problems from as many perspectives as possible. If you only focus on yourself you enter the path of self-centeredness, self-righteousness and narcissism, that's the opposite of "enlightenment", of being connected.
Balance, absorb and then reflect. There's nothing wrong with phases of self-examination, but don't fall into your own belly button and think that's the only way.
There's no one right way, there is only what is right for the current situation, if life gets stagnant you're doing it wrong. So no addiction to dogmas. Enjoy the now. I am grateful I live in this technologically exciting times, but I do take my time to meditate.
Nothing is a coincidence. No movie you watch no message you send or receive. No game you play. If for you this is the time to look into yourself, than do it, but at some point you'll have to crawl back out of your cave and look for inspiration, or you'll loose your mind.
While at the same time those people you seem to see as having less depth would very likely blow your mind if you could listen to their private inner thoughts. Maybe they just do all the looking into their self you need weeks to accomplish during the five minutes in bed before they fall asleep.
That's the true problem with "enlighted" people, they refuse to accept it's just not as interesting to others, they're basically like this

and always dealing with mental problems or they wouldn't be interested in these kind of topics.
Can be simple things, like dealing with stress, midlife crises... point is they're never truly enlighted or as superior as they want to believe.

a reply to: AshFan

More like it started when they chose Edison over Tesla , who wanted to let people have his inventions and use his ideas so that they could self support. .......but there was no profit so he was pushed aside and made out to be crazy, but if he was so crazy why did someone steal all of his writings and notes?

a reply to: Peeple

Oh I agree, anyone claiming enlightenment probably has a chemical imbalance.

This question maybe should have been, "would you give all this up for the powers of superman".

originally posted by: AshFan
No more smartphone, no more movies, TV, Non fiction, alcohol, drugs. Give up all that for peace and a pure connection to that which we are all connected.

Yes, but only if Red Reddington is my companion to help me find that connection.

A truly enlightened person in the west would be locked in a mental institution or sitting under a bridge somewhere, both equally despised by the rest of society. We seem to be afraid of happiness we don't have to pay for.

Before enlightenment,
chop wood carry water.

After enlightenment,
chop wood carry water.

originally posted by: AshFan
No more smartphone, no more movies, TV, Non fiction, alcohol, drugs. Give up all that for peace and a pure connection to that which we are all connected.

Giving up "distraction" has little to do with the enlightenment you refer to.

What one does with one's distractions is the key to enlightenment.

"Peace" comes from being comfortable with one's surroundings and activities. If you don't like smartphones, drugs (you were very vague about that), alcohol, movies etc then comfort is hard to find. No surprise.

7,000,000 individuals require 7,000,000 views. Please don't stereotype me.

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: AshFan

No.

I would give those things up for the love of a good woman though. But ONLY for that, and to be honest, a good woman would not want me to.

She would probably come with all the things you would give up, so..... Reeeesult!

originally posted by: underwerks
A truly enlightened person in the west would be locked in a mental institution or sitting under a bridge somewhere, both equally despised by the rest of society. We seem to be afraid of happiness we don't have to pay for.

Or living here in the middle of nowhere in France....lol

originally posted by: AshFan
a reply to: Peeple

Oh I agree, anyone claiming enlightenment probably has a chemical imbalance.

Hmmmm, you may be onto something there. Perhaps the "imbalance" is part of the key to enlightenment.

You should consider what you may be revealing before pointing a finger perhaps?

a reply to: MamaJ

Yet without technology the human race has no hope of a future.

Catch 22 that.

originally posted by: Puppylove
a reply to: MamaJ

Yet without technology the human race has no hope of a future.

Catch 22 that.

Perhaps that is exactly how it should be.

Why should we presume we are the only thing that deserves to stay at it is, instead of change to become part of something else.

Technology is merely a tool to accelerate what is inevitable. It is not the inevitable itself.