Posts
above by Brian H. Jones
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Attraction & Repulsion
Fist the idea then the reality..
Every statement is true in one sense, false in another, and meaningless from the standpoint of the Tao. This is a function of one's world-view.
In a molecule of hydrogen, the three tendencies of attraction, repulsion and stabilization are completely eliminated when the molecules are separated by an infinite distance. The Buddha says in respect of the eternal truth about "arising of all", they arise due to the threefold desire consisting of the desire for sensual pleasures the desire for existence and the desire for annihilation. The parallel to this discovery is the attraction, repulsion and stabilization of the molecules as mentioned above. And, this principle applies generally to each and every process in the universe.
The Law of Opposites is related to the Law of Duality and also to the Law of Polarity. It represents the oppositional poles to be found in all planes of manifestation, all levels of becoming. Whatever and wherever we focus our attention, we send energy rays. By focusing our attention on an object with a certain thought or feeling, we impress our thought-feeling force upon the object, thus influencing it. Energy follows mental attention. For instance: attraction-repulsion; cold-hot; contraction-expansion; darkness-light; destruction-construction; evil-good; love-fear; night-day; nothing-everything; spirit-matter, etc.
When an object is perceived to be pleasant one is attracted to it. But if it is found unpleasant one is repelled from it. Thus arise attraction for and repulsion towards the objects that we come into contact with. Out of the feelings of attraction, repulsion or indifference, one develops
preferences and attachment for things in life. Born from the conditions of attraction, repulsion and error, attachment, aversion and delusion originate. Therefore, attachment, aversion and delusion are non-existent in their intrinsic being. The object of imagination is not existent. Without the object of imagination, how is imagination existent? Therefore, since they are originated from conditions, the object of imagination, and imagination itself, are empty.
Lao-tzu says, "The scholar learns something every day, the man of tao unlearns something every day, until he gets back to non-doing." Just simply, without comment, without an idea in your head, be aware. What else can you do? You don't try to be aware; you are. You will find, of course, that you can not stop the commentary going on inside your head, but at least you can regard it as interior noise. Listen to your chattering thoughts as you would listen to the singing of a kettle.
The actual underlying state of the universe is unknowable to us as long as we retain the world-view of the separateness of self. "..You can become one with the universe but you cannot step back and observe it, because you are in it. You cannot observe a phenomenon without altering it by your mode of perception. There is no such thing as an independent observer. You participate in creating the world by perceiving it..." This is proven in laboratory experiments concerning the behavior of subatomic particles. Physicists have discovered that their own mental force or observations upon subatomic particles influences those particles greatly, causing them to act in an erratic and unpredictable manner.
No world-view or belief framework may encompass the whole world. No world-view is universally valid. "Two models, or "laws" may conflict with each other and still be true in their proper context;" or on the other hand, they may be false. "Two people may experience the same event yet perceive entirely different occurrences." What is real to one may be unreal to another. Our nerve receptors or senses are limited in the scope of frequencies that they may receive. Our minds are restricted as to its faculties. Our interpretations of what we experience may be faulty. Our rationality is circumscribed by the intellect, the world out there is as it is. The world is not bound by the confines of our world-views.
What I am trying to point out is neiter of us is wrong nor right, there are as many truth as there are lives. ..
IS TRUTH RELATIVE?
(A dialogue between Socrates and Protagoras)
Protagoras: Truth is relative. It is only a matter of opinion.
Socrates: You mean that truth is mere subjective opinion?
Protagoras: Exactly. What is true for you is true for you, and what is true for me, is true for me. Truth is subjective.
Socrates: Do you really mean that? That my opinion is true by virtue of its being my opinion?
Protagoras: Indeed I do.
Scorates: My opinion is: Truth is absolute, not opinion, and that you, Mr. Protagoras, are absolutely in error. Since this is my opinion, then you must grant that it is true according to your philosophy.
Protagoras: You are quite correct, Socrates.
So, I am suggesting - live and let live without any form of judgement..
Every statement is true in one sense, false in another, and meaningless from the standpoint of the Tao. This is a function of one's world-view.
In a molecule of hydrogen, the three tendencies of attraction, repulsion and stabilization are completely eliminated when the molecules are separated by an infinite distance. The Buddha says in respect of the eternal truth about "arising of all", they arise due to the threefold desire consisting of the desire for sensual pleasures the desire for existence and the desire for annihilation. The parallel to this discovery is the attraction, repulsion and stabilization of the molecules as mentioned above. And, this principle applies generally to each and every process in the universe.
The Law of Opposites is related to the Law of Duality and also to the Law of Polarity. It represents the oppositional poles to be found in all planes of manifestation, all levels of becoming. Whatever and wherever we focus our attention, we send energy rays. By focusing our attention on an object with a certain thought or feeling, we impress our thought-feeling force upon the object, thus influencing it. Energy follows mental attention. For instance: attraction-repulsion; cold-hot; contraction-expansion; darkness-light; destruction-construction; evil-good; love-fear; night-day; nothing-everything; spirit-matter, etc.
When an object is perceived to be pleasant one is attracted to it. But if it is found unpleasant one is repelled from it. Thus arise attraction for and repulsion towards the objects that we come into contact with. Out of the feelings of attraction, repulsion or indifference, one develops
preferences and attachment for things in life. Born from the conditions of attraction, repulsion and error, attachment, aversion and delusion originate. Therefore, attachment, aversion and delusion are non-existent in their intrinsic being. The object of imagination is not existent. Without the object of imagination, how is imagination existent? Therefore, since they are originated from conditions, the object of imagination, and imagination itself, are empty.
Lao-tzu says, "The scholar learns something every day, the man of tao unlearns something every day, until he gets back to non-doing." Just simply, without comment, without an idea in your head, be aware. What else can you do? You don't try to be aware; you are. You will find, of course, that you can not stop the commentary going on inside your head, but at least you can regard it as interior noise. Listen to your chattering thoughts as you would listen to the singing of a kettle.
The actual underlying state of the universe is unknowable to us as long as we retain the world-view of the separateness of self. "..You can become one with the universe but you cannot step back and observe it, because you are in it. You cannot observe a phenomenon without altering it by your mode of perception. There is no such thing as an independent observer. You participate in creating the world by perceiving it..." This is proven in laboratory experiments concerning the behavior of subatomic particles. Physicists have discovered that their own mental force or observations upon subatomic particles influences those particles greatly, causing them to act in an erratic and unpredictable manner.
No world-view or belief framework may encompass the whole world. No world-view is universally valid. "Two models, or "laws" may conflict with each other and still be true in their proper context;" or on the other hand, they may be false. "Two people may experience the same event yet perceive entirely different occurrences." What is real to one may be unreal to another. Our nerve receptors or senses are limited in the scope of frequencies that they may receive. Our minds are restricted as to its faculties. Our interpretations of what we experience may be faulty. Our rationality is circumscribed by the intellect, the world out there is as it is. The world is not bound by the confines of our world-views.
What I am trying to point out is neiter of us is wrong nor right, there are as many truth as there are lives. ..
IS TRUTH RELATIVE?
(A dialogue between Socrates and Protagoras)
Protagoras: Truth is relative. It is only a matter of opinion.
Socrates: You mean that truth is mere subjective opinion?
Protagoras: Exactly. What is true for you is true for you, and what is true for me, is true for me. Truth is subjective.
Socrates: Do you really mean that? That my opinion is true by virtue of its being my opinion?
Protagoras: Indeed I do.
Scorates: My opinion is: Truth is absolute, not opinion, and that you, Mr. Protagoras, are absolutely in error. Since this is my opinion, then you must grant that it is true according to your philosophy.
Protagoras: You are quite correct, Socrates.
So, I am suggesting - live and let live without any form of judgement..
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
And the irony is..
An American businessman was standing on the jetty of a Mexican coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it had taken to catch them.
The Mexican replied, "Only a little while."
The American then inquired why he didnt stay out longer and catch more fish.
The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.
The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
The Mexican said, 'I sleep late, fish a litttle, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor."
The American scoffed, 'I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buz a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boaAnt you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman your would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. Your would controld the product, processing and distribution. Your would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico city, then Los Angeles and eventually New York, where your wouold run your expanding enterprise.'
The Mexican fisherman asked, 'But Senor, how long would this all take?'
To which the American replied, 'Fifteen to twenty years.'
"But what then senor?"
The American laughed and said that was the best part. 'When the time is right your would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.'
"Millions, Senor? Then what?"
The American said, 'Then your would retire. move to a small coastal fishing village where your would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll into the village each evening where you could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos.'
The Mexican replied, "Only a little while."
The American then inquired why he didnt stay out longer and catch more fish.
The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.
The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
The Mexican said, 'I sleep late, fish a litttle, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor."
The American scoffed, 'I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buz a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boaAnt you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman your would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. Your would controld the product, processing and distribution. Your would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico city, then Los Angeles and eventually New York, where your wouold run your expanding enterprise.'
The Mexican fisherman asked, 'But Senor, how long would this all take?'
To which the American replied, 'Fifteen to twenty years.'
"But what then senor?"
The American laughed and said that was the best part. 'When the time is right your would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.'
"Millions, Senor? Then what?"
The American said, 'Then your would retire. move to a small coastal fishing village where your would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll into the village each evening where you could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos.'
Saturday, September 23, 2006
The Fast of Ramadan
The holy month of Ramadan started yesterday and also I started fasting. For the next 4 weeks some of us will not eat nor dring from Sunrise to Sunset. Though the month is exclusive to the Islamic religion, the concepts of self-discipline and purification that Ramadan embraces are integrated within the concept of all major faiths throughout the world.
The substence to be understood has long been forgotton. What are the reasons behind the 4-week-fasting-dicipline?
The differences in individual religions aside, I believe that self-sacrifice shows commitment while strengthening ones mind. Gandhi agreed that this commitment is beneficial.
"The concept of sacrifice of giving up everything that you are attached to, you gain mental control," Gandhi said. "Your mind grows stronger. ... Everything in our lives is for physical well-being, but this is for your spiritual well-being."
Properly understood, fasting is a means for focusing on spiritual realities. It is a discipline to remind ourselves that our deepest longings as human beings cannot be satisfied by food and drink, but only by realizing - that "our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee." - St. Augustine's prayer. The fast is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity, while obeying God’s commandments. In fact, one of the main purposes of fasting is to instill in us empathy for the poor and the less deprived. By exposing us to compulsory hunger, we are given a practical lesson in hunger and thirst and thus we become better motivated to empathize with the poor.
Most often we live at a very superficial level of our existence, forgetting our true essence and identity as human beings. In other words, we become totally preoccupied with the physical and material dimensions, forgetting the spiritual core of our personalities. Ramadan, therefore, comes to remind us of who we truly are and how we can discipline ourselves in such a way that we are fully awake to our full spiritual potential.
This discipline is a special way of seeing to it that this lesson sticks in our lives. By saying "no" for a time to the things we normally look to for satisfaction, we acknowledge once again that the only truly safe and secure place is in Him.
For those of you who perform this discipline - Ramadan Kareem - May the source acknowledge the efforts and the strength.
The substence to be understood has long been forgotton. What are the reasons behind the 4-week-fasting-dicipline?
The differences in individual religions aside, I believe that self-sacrifice shows commitment while strengthening ones mind. Gandhi agreed that this commitment is beneficial.
"The concept of sacrifice of giving up everything that you are attached to, you gain mental control," Gandhi said. "Your mind grows stronger. ... Everything in our lives is for physical well-being, but this is for your spiritual well-being."
Properly understood, fasting is a means for focusing on spiritual realities. It is a discipline to remind ourselves that our deepest longings as human beings cannot be satisfied by food and drink, but only by realizing - that "our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee." - St. Augustine's prayer. The fast is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity, while obeying God’s commandments. In fact, one of the main purposes of fasting is to instill in us empathy for the poor and the less deprived. By exposing us to compulsory hunger, we are given a practical lesson in hunger and thirst and thus we become better motivated to empathize with the poor.
Most often we live at a very superficial level of our existence, forgetting our true essence and identity as human beings. In other words, we become totally preoccupied with the physical and material dimensions, forgetting the spiritual core of our personalities. Ramadan, therefore, comes to remind us of who we truly are and how we can discipline ourselves in such a way that we are fully awake to our full spiritual potential.
This discipline is a special way of seeing to it that this lesson sticks in our lives. By saying "no" for a time to the things we normally look to for satisfaction, we acknowledge once again that the only truly safe and secure place is in Him.
For those of you who perform this discipline - Ramadan Kareem - May the source acknowledge the efforts and the strength.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
The possibility of being ***
Oh, this is the animal that never was.
They hadn't seen one; but just the same, they loved
its graceful movements, and the way it stood
Looking at them calmly, with clear eyes.
It had not been. But for them, it appeared
in all its purity. They left space enough.
And in the space hollowed out by their love
it stood up all at once and didn't need
existence. They nourished it, not with grain,
but with the mere possibility of its being.
And finally, this gave it so much power
that from its forehead a horn grew. One horn.
It drew near to a virgin, whit, gleaming -
and was, inside the mirror and in her.
Rainer Maria Rilke
"The 'Unicorn"
They hadn't seen one; but just the same, they loved
its graceful movements, and the way it stood
Looking at them calmly, with clear eyes.
It had not been. But for them, it appeared
in all its purity. They left space enough.
And in the space hollowed out by their love
it stood up all at once and didn't need
existence. They nourished it, not with grain,
but with the mere possibility of its being.
And finally, this gave it so much power
that from its forehead a horn grew. One horn.
It drew near to a virgin, whit, gleaming -
and was, inside the mirror and in her.
Rainer Maria Rilke
"The 'Unicorn"
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Filled with new positiv energy :) Ready to continue the game...
Like to share some pictures with you which I have taken during my visit in North Turkey..
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