For the sake of argument, let’s admit that God exists.

Itisnowagain
reply to post by AfterInfinity

 

You did not say that though.

AfterInfinity
reply to post by Stormdancer777

 

Yeah. It's hard to explain, but basically, chopping wood and carrying water helps to keep you grounded.

You said 'carrying water and chopping wood helps keep you grounded'. You said nothing at all about mindfulness.
Do you think it is just carrying water and chopping wood that keeps you in touch with reality?

edit on 9-1-2014 by Itisnowagain because: (no reason given)

My interpretation of carry water before and after enlightenment, is, there is no such thing as enlightenment.

AfterInfinity
Why does it matter to you what I think? All you do is argue with my thoughts, so I think I'll just tend to my own and let you do the same. Good day.

edit on 9-1-2014 by AfterInfinity because: (no reason given)

This is a discussion site (that hopes to get rid of ignorance).

Sorry if I removed any.

Stormdancer777

Itisnowagain
reply to post by AfterInfinity

 

You did not say that though.

AfterInfinity
reply to post by Stormdancer777

 

Yeah. It's hard to explain, but basically, chopping wood and carrying water helps to keep you grounded.

You said 'carrying water and chopping wood helps keep you grounded'. You said nothing at all about mindfulness.
Do you think it is just carrying water and chopping wood that keeps you in touch with reality?

edit on 9-1-2014 by Itisnowagain because: (no reason given)

My interpretation of carry water before and after enlightenment, is, there is no such thing as enlightenment.

So because you're doing manual labor before and after means nothing changes in the mean time? Why does what you're doing determine what's changing? What if your understanding of why you're doing it and what it's accomplishing is what changes? Wouldn't that mean the continuation of chopping wood and carrying water is an affirmation of your enlightenment?

reply to post by Stormdancer777


You might of missed this post.

Itisnowagain
Exactly there is no such 'thing' as enlightenment.

AfterInfinity

Aphorism
reply to post by Itisnowagain

 

I think you'll know what I say. Enlightenment is a word. Beyond that? It is nothing.

Enlightenment is a state of mind by which the material world becomes illusion and the idealist world becomes reality. In other words, it's as close to virtual detachment of the self as a physical living organism can get without actually dying. And in some cases, death is considered the true culmination of such efforts.

edit on 9-1-2014 by AfterInfinity because: (no reason given)

This is interesting.

I think we slip in and out of enlightenment, have glimpses.

I don't see how death can be enlightenment, if death is the end of experiencing, that would be nothing.

So what is the point of nothingness if you cannot experience it?

Itisnowagain
reply to post by Stormdancer777

 

You might of missed this post.

Itisnowagain
Exactly there is no such 'thing' as enlightenment.

I'll buy that.

reply to post by Stormdancer777

I don't see how death can be enlightenment, if death is the end of experiencing, that would be nothing.

So what is the point of nothingness if you cannot experience it?

Because death is the ultimate act of selflessness for exactly the reasons you just explained. Which suggests you're not exactly selfless.

The light is here but it is as if there is 'something' separate from it seeking it elsewhere.

AfterInfinity

Stormdancer777

Itisnowagain
reply to post by AfterInfinity

 

You did not say that though.

AfterInfinity
reply to post by Stormdancer777

 

Yeah. It's hard to explain, but basically, chopping wood and carrying water helps to keep you grounded.

You said 'carrying water and chopping wood helps keep you grounded'. You said nothing at all about mindfulness.
Do you think it is just carrying water and chopping wood that keeps you in touch with reality?

edit on 9-1-2014 by Itisnowagain because: (no reason given)

My interpretation of carry water before and after enlightenment, is, there is no such thing as enlightenment.

So because you're doing manual labor before and after means nothing changes in the mean time? Why does what you're doing determine what's changing? What if your understanding of why you're doing it and what it's accomplishing is what changes? Wouldn't that mean the continuation of chopping wood and carrying water is an affirmation of your enlightenment?

What if your understanding of why you're doing it and what it's accomplishing is what changes? Wouldn't that mean the continuation of chopping wood and carrying water is an affirmation of your enlightenment?

I don't know let me think about it.
I am waiting for an epiphany.
You could carry and chop and be enlightened, to the carrying and chopping, no doubt about that.





It seems to me I have moments of bliss over, nothing.

Itisnowagain

AfterInfinity
Why does it matter to you what I think? All you do is argue with my thoughts, so I think I'll just tend to my own and let you do the same. Good day.

edit on 9-1-2014 by AfterInfinity because: (no reason given)

This is a discussion site (that hopes to get rid of ignorance).

Sorry if I removed any.

The majority of the time, your posts inspire me to sit motionless and thoughtless in one fixed location and respirate until I die. You're not removing my ignorance, you're removing my will to acknowledge existence as anything even remotely worthwhile of being interpreted as meaningful. Your words, in and of themselves, feel like the absence of space when I ponder them. That is literally the emotion you instill within me, more often than not. That's why I ignore you. I'm not being rude, I'm being frankly honest. Now when you wonder, when you ask yourself why, you will know. Good day and goodbye.

Prior to the realization of the one light (enlightenment) there seems to be someone chopping wood and carrying water.
After there is just chopping wood and carrying water.

The added person has lifted away - it was just an illusion that there is someone doing it.

AfterInfinity
reply to post by Stormdancer777

 

I don't see how death can be enlightenment, if death is the end of experiencing, that would be nothing.

So what is the point of nothingness if you cannot experience it?

Because death is the ultimate act of selflessness for exactly the reasons you just explained. Which suggests you're not exactly selfless.

Which suggests you're not exactly selfless.

No doubt.

Although, maybe living is more selfless.
If I can do more good living, then death seems selfish.

for instance,

Kuan Yin

She was about to cross over into heaven when she heard a cry of suffering back on earth. She asked to be sent back and vowed to stay until all suffering had ended.

AfterInfinity

Itisnowagain

AfterInfinity
Why does it matter to you what I think? All you do is argue with my thoughts, so I think I'll just tend to my own and let you do the same. Good day.

edit on 9-1-2014 by AfterInfinity because: (no reason given)

This is a discussion site (that hopes to get rid of ignorance).

Sorry if I removed any.

The majority of the time, your posts inspire me to sit motionless and thoughtless in one fixed location and respirate until I die. You're not removing my ignorance, you're removing my will to acknowledge existence as anything even remotely worthwhile of being interpreted as meaningful. That's why I ignore you.

edit on 9-1-2014 by AfterInfinity because: (no reason given)

Life is only full of meaning for the separate me.


It is really just a mysterious work of art.

reply to post by Itisnowagain


I only want to say: you have justified my previous post, in full. Thanks for demonstrating exactly the sort of pointless I was attempting to express.

Stormdancer777
Kuan Yin

She was about to cross over into heaven when she heard a cry of suffering back on earth. She asked to be sent back and vowed to stay until all suffering had ended.

It was her suffering. She was suffering from the belief in suffering.

One must find the ONE that is suffering.

reply to post by Stormdancer777


I always thought it pointed towards the idea that nothing you "do" changes, only the way you look at it. Most also view "enlightenment" as some sort of end-goal, and is even specifically in that way in some sects. Others teach that it is more of a return to baseline. More of a starting point than the endgoal.

Ironically, there is rarely a grey area. I say ironically because of the inclusion of many different non-duality teachings.

I have always thought that the idea of selfish/selfless isnt quite as straightforward either. For someone that defines the "self" as something they are an inherent part of, everything is "self." So, such a person acts, in their perspective, in the most selfish way imaginable and yet it appears to others as purely selfless.

AfterInfinity

Itisnowagain

AfterInfinity
Why does it matter to you what I think? All you do is argue with my thoughts, so I think I'll just tend to my own and let you do the same. Good day.

edit on 9-1-2014 by AfterInfinity because: (no reason given)

This is a discussion site (that hopes to get rid of ignorance).

Sorry if I removed any.

The majority of the time, your posts inspire me to sit motionless and thoughtless in one fixed location and respirate until I die. You're not removing my ignorance, you're removing my will to acknowledge existence as anything even remotely worthwhile of being interpreted as meaningful. Your words, in and of themselves, feel like the absence of space when I ponder them. That is literally the emotion you instill within me, more often than not. That's why I ignore you. I'm not being rude, I'm being frankly honest. Now when you wonder, when you ask yourself why, you will know. Good day and goodbye.

edit on 9-1-2014 by AfterInfinity because: (no reason given)

You state often that you ignore me - but it seems you are not the one in control.

That 'nothing there' feeling is scary for the individual.

Serdgiam
reply to post by Stormdancer777

 

I always thought it pointed towards the idea that nothing you "do" changes, only the way you look at it. Most also view "enlightenment" as some sort of end-goal, and is even specifically in that way in some sects. Others teach that it is more of a return to baseline. More of a starting point than the endgoal.

Ironically, there is rarely a grey area. I say ironically because of the inclusion of many different non-duality teachings.

I have always thought that the idea of selfish/selfless isnt quite as straightforward either. For someone that defines the "self" as something they are an inherent part of, everything is "self." So, such a person acts, in their perspective, in the most selfish way imaginable and yet it appears to others as purely selfless.

Not the destination, but the path to it.

AfterInfinity
Not the destination, but the path to it.

Is there a path to this - what is - reality?
Where do you think you will find it?
And what is it that you seek?

reply to post by AfterInfinity

I respectfully disagree. Enlightenment is not the destination, but the path to it. It is a process and not a product.

Not the destination but the path to it? Path to what? The path to the path? Either way, that's quite the profound paradox.