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Tommy

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Viewing 15 posts - 211 through 225 (of 226 total)
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  • in reply to: My notion of truth #391213
    Tommy
    Participant

    Buddha never spoke of the beginning or why things are the way they are. Just that as sentient beings, we have the chance to escape suffering. Guess suffering is what gives us the push or motivation to go past what we believe ourselves to be? Maybe Buddha’s four noble truths would better explain?

    Metaphors are only as good as the boundary that define it. Go outside of the lines and things fall apart. Who is the child who splashes the water? Is it not enough to be given the chance to live. Experience joy, love? A chance to escape suffering and the cycle of life, death and rebirth? Personally, I do not know. But, this is the journey I find myself on.

    There is nothing to be sorry for. Life happens. And so we have the opportunity to grow and move forward. Or one can choose to dwell and suffer.

    in reply to: My notion of truth #391193
    Tommy
    Participant

    Hello Samy,

    I do not know if I can give you the answers you are looking for. “Isn’t wishing something was one way and not another the root of sadness.” It is not the wishing for something to be one way and not another way. It is more the clinging or attachment to wishing for something to be one way and not the other. My mother passed away recently. And, I was filled with sadness. This is normal. I have feelings and so I felt sadness. The suffering comes if I dwell in the sadness or cling to the hope she would not be dead. If one has a toothache then that is pain. Suffering is having a mindset of only wanting the pain to go away or stop. Of course, we wish for the pain to stop. To live only in that moment, that is suffering.

    There is a story of a woman who came to the monk saying her baby had died and wanted the monk to help her. She wanted her baby alive. There was no consoling her. The monk said he could help. But, she would have to go get three grains of rice from three houses that had no deaths. After she had gone thru every house in town, she went back to the monk. She learned that every house has had a death. She wept and buried her baby. Later, she became a follower of this monk. His name was Dogen.

    From my perspective, I live in my thoughts. They give me meaning to who I am. Man, husband, father, worker. They give me interests and desires. I sense and feel and think. All linked to this body. When the body dies, there will be no thoughts, no hunger, no pain, no feelings. No me as I think of myself. Like to think of it as a child who splashes water, each drop has its own trajectory and path. Some blend with others and some pass thru. Each has it own time in space. But, it all returns to where it came. To realize one’s true nature is to break the bonds of the cycle of life, death and rebirth. Sorry, rambling.

    in reply to: My notion of truth #391184
    Tommy
    Participant

    Dukkha is suffering, sadness, problems.

    Dukkha is suffering. It is created thru the attachments and clinging of desires. However, I do not believe it to be sadness or problems. To be sad of feel sadness is human. To have problems is human. If you feel love or pain then that is human.

    Anicca is Anityam – it is not forever. So it’s not going to be around forever – hence, impermanence.

    Yes, change. Things come together to form something new. Later, it will fall apart and become something else.

    Annata is anatman in sanskrit, which would mean without an atma- so this would mean “not a soul” or “does not have a soul”?  You are not a soul? This I am not sure how to interpret. Searched the internet but it is not clear yet.

    This was taught to me as part of impermanence and suffering. People are an aggregate of things. All together, they create this person, sentient being. The senses and thoughts, all are in a feedback loop of some kind. Thus creating a person who we think we are. That created person has no soul as when the body dies then it too will die. This person we think we are is not independent of the body. When this person thinks it is real and permanent, it will cling to desires and wants as if those were also real. And change will bring the suffering. Cause, as one achieves one’s desires, change will take it away. Clinging to desires, causes the suffering. When one sits and sees the truth of one’s nature, one knows one is not this or that but the whole. Well, that was what I had learned about Buddhism. I could be wrong about the whole thing.

    in reply to: My notion of truth #391160
    Tommy
    Participant

    Since the Name of the forum is Tiny Buddha, I will mention Buddha’s three universal truths. Dukkha, Anicca, Anatta. Suffering, Impermanence and no self. The way to inner truth is to drop the self that thinks of all these things and to perceive the truth of one’s nature. When the mind is full of thoughts and creates a murkiness like mud disturbed in water, sitting calmly, the mud settles and the water becomes clear. Sorry for the interruption.

    in reply to: New to Spirituality #391050
    Tommy
    Participant

    There are many techniques. But, would suggest finding a teacher and sangha if you wish to go further. Learn more about Buddhism and Buddha. Presently, I sit with my legs crossed (half lotus) with eyes closed. Watch my breath, saying in when breathing in. And saying out when breathing out. The important part is to let go of thoughts as they arise. Do not chase or follow thoughts. Do not try to suppress thoughts. (Thoughts are like waves on the water, try to make them flat and the water is more disturbed. Be patient and it settles) As your concentration gets stronger thru practice, you can notice the quiet time between thoughts getting longer. Do not let attention wain. However, without a formal teacher and sangha for support …

    in reply to: Thinking about the past/Living alone #391046
    Tommy
    Participant

    Living alone? Do you live in a big city or small town? Or, do you live in a remote cabin in the woods? Living in a house or apartment by yourself is not the issue. It is the time spent alone by yourself with nothing else to do but remember the past. I do that often and I live with my wife and daughter. Busy trying to run a business. Yes, it does help to have someone to talk to and share your experiences with. Still old habits are hard to break.

    It is not a matter of finding distractions to occupy your time. You will have to find it in yourself to let go of those habits of remembering the past and analyzing events. It is not about forgetting the past. But, not chasing the thoughts and memories of the past. To know how we got here, we look at where we came from. To know where we will go, we need to know where we are now. So, do not forget the past. But, to let go of it and move forward. If you stay in the past then the present moment is lost.

    Yeah, nothing of what I said will help. There is no power in those words, no magic. Everything that needs to be done has to be done by the person who wants and needs to change. Personally, I am still fighting my own demons. Still working on myself. And, I find it difficult.

    in reply to: Shame #391002
    Tommy
    Participant

    When I was about 13years old, I saw my grandmother in the park near our apartment. She was asking which was way home. I was busy with my friends and pointed in the general direction. Later, I got home to see my mother go out looking for my grandmother. My grandmother was lost. She had an episode of dementia and loss her memory of where we lived. I felt terrible for not having taken her home. We did eventually find her. Years later, she passed away. Now recently, My mom passed away. When I saw her in the hospital, she also developed dementia and did not recognize me. I remembered what happened years ago. And, this is what I have to look forward to, losing my memory.

    So, I try not to dwell in the past. Although it creeps up on me sometimes and takes over my thoughts. Makes me feel terrible. Trying to let go of the past. Try to live today. And make the best of the time I have. Oh, still argue with the wife at times. And lecture my daughter on her behavior at school. But, let it go as it came. Love them and go on.

    in reply to: I don’t know what is the goal #390813
    Tommy
    Participant

    Anita, I also rehash things I hear or read so as to better understand things (that is part of learning). To me, it is okay to want things. Just not to cling to those wants or desires. But, I guess that is just where I am at in my journey. I am neither here nor there but somewhere in between. Some call it, “Lost”. Others call, “It finding my way”. Not trying to want less but to be happy with what I have. (Think I heard that somewhere). Tommy.

    in reply to: I don’t know what is the goal #390808
    Tommy
    Participant

    Anita, thanks for the re-write. I hope it makes more sense to you that way. And, I hope it keeps its sense or meaning as well. Tommy.

    in reply to: Did I Make a Philosophy? #390772
    Tommy
    Participant

    Philosophy is a way of thinking about the world. Or, belief about how one fits into this world. But, the test is to see if this philosophy is the true and applies to your world. Is it real or imagination? To believe there is only one sentient being and all others are just programmed reactions?? Personally, I find it hard to believe given all that I see and learn about this world. And if your idea is true then I would be the only sentient being. Who are you? You could pull out the case of freedom of choice or is everything predestined?? Programmed reactions to your stimulus??

    In some other systems of belief, some believe that thoughts that pass this mind will control the reactions of the person having the thought. In other words, a person is only a composite of their thoughts or what they are focused upon. Having thoughts about jealousy in your lover? Then life is that jealousy. Whether that jealousy is true or not. When one is angry, thought come to the mind to support the anger. Sometimes the thoughts are buried deep like urges. Thoughts controls one’s life. Let go these ideas and thoughts then one can return to one’s nature. A balance of life.

    Some see the world and wonder why there is so much evil or things that are not justified. Much like looking at children who are sick with disease. Why? The thoughts that see this as evil or not right make us see the world that way. When the truth is that there is no evil. Things just happen. Random actions are not evil. Things done with purpose can be good or evil. If a person hurts another then this can be evil. If a person helps another in their time of need then this can be good.

    in reply to: I don’t know what is the goal #390770
    Tommy
    Participant

    To Anita, thanks for the kind words. I do not know my words would have helped you. But, glad it helped someone. Have a good holiday. Tommy.

    in reply to: Death and dying from buddhistic point of view #390737
    Tommy
    Participant

    From my personal viewpoint as well as what I have read and understood, a person is an aggregate of things made up to create this personality one perceives as this person. Sight, sound, feel (touch), smell and taste, all feed information to the mind or thinker. The thinker perceives and feeds back to itself. This constant loop of perception and thoughts flow to create a personality. The personality thinks it is a soul or spirit that should survive death. Buddha has never expounded upon the ideas of reincarnation which were popular in his time and culture. Buddha talked more about anything made of aggregates will one day separate and no longer exist. Change. Time scales may differ for different things. So, this person which is created thru this feedback loop of perceptions and thoughts will die. What is true and real will go on. Neither matter, energy is created nor destroyed. Only transformed. So, that which is real and true will return to continue the cycle of life and death.

    The three universal truths of Buddha are Dukkha, Anicca, and Annata. Suffering, Impermanence, and No self. Related to this topic is no self. Look at a car, it is really just a bunch of parts all put together. As it is together, we call it a car. A person is just a bunch of parts all put together to function as a person. The parts create the person. The name of a person is just what we call the owner of the parts. But, the person/owner only exist cause all the parts are functioning together. Once the parts dies, the person/owner no longer exist. So, what is real and true? What continues from this life and goes to the next?

    in reply to: I don’t know what is the goal #390560
    Tommy
    Participant

    The Buddha never expounded upon reicarnation. Just that any thing made of aggregates will fall apart in time to their basic components. Meaning is a person’s personality is not real and will cease to exist when the body ceases to live. The essence of a person is much like when a child creates a splash of ocean water. Each drop flies in its own trajectory. Some live longer than others. Some join other drops and some pass thru. Eventually, all return to the ocean. Another splash, another lifetime. However love appears, to me, to be a real force with its own set of rules. Creating turbulance and keeping a galaxy of its own. So, what is the goal of these experiences?  For the person to have these experiences, to find the truth about themselves. Not so much as what past lives were about. More about your present situation, you life now. If Buddha points to the moon with his finger then do you look at the finger? Or do you look at the moon?

    in reply to: It’s me again #390502
    Tommy
    Participant

    Just another opinion, please do not take seriously.

    Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, would always hear people say you have to get your head together. Of course, they would use a more colorful terminology. The point was to know enough about yourself … your needs, your wants, and what your plans are for your future. If the person you are with doesn’t have the same goals then it is time to move on. If that person thinks there is someone better out there for him then he will never be satisfied with you. Time to move on.

    Emotional attachment is like a drug. One feeds upon it at first. And, it feels good. Then, it starts to take its toll on the person’s spirit when that attachment is not met with equal force. Breaking up, Change is not easy. Drug addicts, who are really trying to kick the habit and get better, are told to go to a new place. That is because .. being in the same old environment will only cause one to go back to the same patterns. The same thinking. Bringing back the same old habits. It is time to move forward. Find some like-minded people for support. Move forward.

    My hope, here, is for you to find yourself worthy of all the love you deserve. To shed the past that holds you back. And to grow into the better person you can be. Sorry for my two cents.

    • This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by Tommy.
    in reply to: Curious on personal practice #390456
    Tommy
    Participant

    These are my thoughts and opinions. So, take it with a grain (huge grain) of salt as the saying goes. Any practice which one does not have a teacher and sangha is short of the proper guidance needed to reach the lofty goal of spirituality. Not saying there is no merit to having a meditation practice. Personally, I have not had a teacher or sangha for a very long time. So, I have not had the same efforts or time to practice as before.

    How does one eliminate suffering or have spiritual growth? For me, I started with trying to not care about things. Then I would not suffer any feelings if things went badly. But, not caring is not a spiritual release. I think it would be more prudent to say to let go of desires and wants. My mother passed away recently. The desires for her to keep living and stay around are what causes suffering. Caring is what being human is about. Let go of one and experience the other.

    Practice is essential if one want to be mindful.

Viewing 15 posts - 211 through 225 (of 226 total)