|
Zekebomb
sociophagus

Registered: 08/24/03
Posts: 1,164
Loc: BC province
Last seen: 16 years, 4 months
|
enlightenment through x
#3802838 - 02/19/05 09:20 AM (19 years, 22 hours ago) |
|
|
where x = anything, anything at all.
what I'm saying, or asking, is: do I have to meditate to 'achieve enlightenment'? or follow some prescribed 'path' to enlightenment? or could I find enlightenment in, you know, a flower, or cooking a pizza, or playing baseball or whatever.
seems to me like if you were to do something fully, to the utmost of your ability... I don't know. anyone see Animatrix? that sprinter busts out of the matrix because he's sooo physically tip-top, he's trained so hard, his entire existence like a razor blade honed so directly towards one thing.
hmm, I just realized I'm not sure what I'm saying. discuss
|
LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


Registered: 10/31/04
Posts: 21,407
Loc: Building 7
|
Re: enlightenment through x [Re: Zekebomb]
#3802871 - 02/19/05 09:40 AM (19 years, 22 hours ago) |
|
|
I'm not sure how you define enlightenment. To me, that is something different from playing baseball or cooking a pizza.
I do think that playing baseball in full awareness and intensity (regardless of one's abilities), creating and cooking your perfect pizza, and really looking at and smelling the beauty of flowers can all be enlightening and meditative.
Being the "best" at something is rewarding yet generally punishing as well. Better to try your hardest yet still enjoy the fun of the activity. If it's not fun, unless you are committed to achieving gold, it may be time to find another activity.
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
|
dorkus
don't look back
Registered: 04/12/04
Posts: 1,511
|
Re: enlightenment through x [Re: LunarEclipse]
#3802914 - 02/19/05 10:24 AM (19 years, 21 hours ago) |
|
|
Anything you do in full awareness is enlightening. Because it is not what you do, it is the full awareness. You are your self 
The character in Animatrix broke free because he broke the natural laws. It ties in nicely with the movie imo.
|
Zekebomb
sociophagus

Registered: 08/24/03
Posts: 1,164
Loc: BC province
Last seen: 16 years, 4 months
|
Re: enlightenment through x [Re: LunarEclipse]
#3802948 - 02/19/05 10:39 AM (19 years, 21 hours ago) |
|
|
I'm not sure how you define enlightenment.
yeah, me neither.
I do think that playing baseball in full awareness and intensity (regardless of one's abilities)... can .. be enlightening and meditative.
I think that's pretty much what I meant. it ties in with a thread I made a couple days ago, about how meditation is only good for getting better at meditation. (not that I necessarily believe that's true, but I wanted to hear some opinions.) following that, baseball would only good for increasing baseball skills, pizza cooking only makes you better at cooking pizza, etc. but that isn't true, is it? there's always skill crossover. extending that, baseball could be the 'path' to enlightenment.
like, when people talk about the 'Path', and how far 'along the Path' they have made it, I feel like they are (or can easily be) limiting their possibilities for enlightenment.
whatever, we all have different definitions for the word 'enlightenment' so this discussion is, in a way, pointless. as is all discussion, in a way
|
redgreenvines
irregular verb


Registered: 04/08/04
Posts: 37,704
|
Re: enlightenment through x [Re: Zekebomb]
#3803178 - 02/19/05 12:13 PM (19 years, 19 hours ago) |
|
|
something may one day tip the ballance of resistance to what is
or not
satori happens repeatedly to the same seeker at different times
so "what is enlightenment?"
one may glibly consider full awareness or other concepts - yet all of these efforts may "wind up the spring" yet not tip the ballance.
once tipped it needs be revisited as frequently as makes sense.
--------------------
_ 🧠_
|
TinTree
thread killer(semi pro)


Registered: 02/15/04
Posts: 1,456
Loc: Mu
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
|
|
A great runner can be enlightened when he is running. What about when he's not running? The enlightenment that persists is the true enlightenment.
-------------------- "I'm afraid of losing my obscurity. Genuineness only thrives in the dark. Like celery." - Aldous Huxley
|
redgreenvines
irregular verb


Registered: 04/08/04
Posts: 37,704
|
Re: enlightenment through x [Re: TinTree]
#3803237 - 02/19/05 12:39 PM (19 years, 19 hours ago) |
|
|
nothing persits. this persistent enlightenment would be an absolute concept, more akin to the static religions of the west than the fractally dynamic religions of the east.
however by cultivating one's garden one does create a special place
the very idea of a temple relates to something ready to be consecrated at any moment if you knwo what I mean
--------------------
_ 🧠_
|
TinTree
thread killer(semi pro)


Registered: 02/15/04
Posts: 1,456
Loc: Mu
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
|
|
Perhaps persistent is not the right word. Enlightenment that survives transfiguration. Enlightenment in man running, enlightenment in man sitting and eating dinner, enlightenment in man drinking rum, enlightenment in man getting hit by bus. To be mindful during one activity and mindless during others is not fruitful, such as those who rise from meditation so: 'thank goodness i can get up now! my back hurts so much from meditating! i wonder what i should cook for supper?'
-------------------- "I'm afraid of losing my obscurity. Genuineness only thrives in the dark. Like celery." - Aldous Huxley
|
redgreenvines
irregular verb


Registered: 04/08/04
Posts: 37,704
|
Re: enlightenment through x [Re: TinTree]
#3803407 - 02/19/05 01:42 PM (19 years, 18 hours ago) |
|
|
of course you can search for the unattainable and still benefit from the practice so I won't get too upset about fixation on survival of transfiguration.
but you see you did chop the man up into this and then that, rather than approach it as a varying day night seasonal curve with natural transitions and the essential element of continuity being of course change
--------------------
_ 🧠_
|
Swami
Eggshell Walker

Registered: 01/18/00
Posts: 15,413
Loc: In the hen house
|
Re: enlightenment through x [Re: Zekebomb]
#3804640 - 02/19/05 08:27 PM (19 years, 11 hours ago) |
|
|
Why would you ask a group of unenlightened people how to attain enlightenment?
Notice how many of these same people can't wait to give you an answer.
If there is a gate, then it is YOUR gate and no one else can point it out.
--------------------
The proof is in the pudding.
|
Silversoul
Rhizome


Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
|
Re: enlightenment through x [Re: Zekebomb]
#3804667 - 02/19/05 08:33 PM (19 years, 11 hours ago) |
|
|
I'd say there's different kinds of enlightenment. You don't necessarily have to understand the true nature of reality in order to have an enlightened attitude, which I think can be achieved through simple observation and contemplation.
--------------------
|
TinTree
thread killer(semi pro)


Registered: 02/15/04
Posts: 1,456
Loc: Mu
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
|
Re: enlightenment through x [Re: Swami]
#3804807 - 02/19/05 09:12 PM (19 years, 10 hours ago) |
|
|
True enough. I do not think anyone has said in this thread that X is the only path to enlightenment, and not Y, however.
-------------------- "I'm afraid of losing my obscurity. Genuineness only thrives in the dark. Like celery." - Aldous Huxley
|
Mojo_Risin
Man

Registered: 03/31/01
Posts: 2,838
Loc: United States of America ...
Last seen: 8 years, 1 month
|
Re: enlightenment through x [Re: Silversoul]
#3804843 - 02/19/05 09:22 PM (19 years, 10 hours ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Paradigm said: I'd say there's different kinds of enlightenment. You don't necessarily have to understand the true nature of reality in order to have an enlightened attitude, which I think can be achieved through simple observation and contemplation.
I think what your saying is similar to what i'm thinking:
Meditation - To be able to think about or of with thougths of great depht on possibliy, ability, and potential in relation to self, other(s), or thing(s).
-------------------- Fear attracts energy that can expose one to be coerced. Learn to overcome fear and develop enlightenment. Freedom Equality Justice (3 of 12 Jewels of Life) Nov.11th Veterans Ron Paul Moneybomb...www.Ronpaul2012.com Check out campaignforliberty.com
|
dr0mni
My Own Messiah


Registered: 08/21/04
Posts: 2,921
Loc: USF Tampa, Fl
Last seen: 16 years, 8 months
|
Re: enlightenment through x [Re: Mojo_Risin]
#3805288 - 02/19/05 11:33 PM (19 years, 8 hours ago) |
|
|
I think that the path to enlightenment can be a path of thoughts and not necessarily a path of actions (although thoughts and actions are dependent on each other as is everything else). Also it doesn't matter which path you take as long as it ends at your desired destination.
This may be a forum full of "unenlightened" people, but we are all still walking our paths. Is it foolish to ask someone who is walking the same path as you for directions? "Tell me where you've been, tell me where your going! You've been wandering for a while, you probably know this path better than I do! Do you have any idea how to get to this place?"
|
Zekebomb
sociophagus

Registered: 08/24/03
Posts: 1,164
Loc: BC province
Last seen: 16 years, 4 months
|
Re: enlightenment through x [Re: Swami]
#3805688 - 02/20/05 01:27 AM (19 years, 6 hours ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Swami said: Why would you ask a group of unenlightened people how to attain enlightenment?
I didn't. good point though. even if I did expect myself to 'attain enlightenment' by the time I die, I wouldn't expect this forum to really be of much help.
|
redgreenvines
irregular verb


Registered: 04/08/04
Posts: 37,704
|
Re: enlightenment through x [Re: Zekebomb]
#3806038 - 02/20/05 06:47 AM (19 years, 1 hour ago) |
|
|
how would you be able to tell? someone once told me that the teacher, AKA the dharma, is everything
--------------------
_ 🧠_
|
dorkus
don't look back
Registered: 04/12/04
Posts: 1,511
|
|
he told me too
|
redgreenvines
irregular verb


Registered: 04/08/04
Posts: 37,704
|
Re: enlightenment through x [Re: dorkus]
#3806231 - 02/20/05 09:47 AM (18 years, 11 months ago) |
|
|
so the light is in everything?
--------------------
_ 🧠_
|
dorkus
don't look back
Registered: 04/12/04
Posts: 1,511
|
|
In everything? Or is everything?
If one consciously tunes in to be educated, education is what one gets? My brothers cat have taught me alot lately. Did not know he was that wise
|
|