"It's not about avoiding sin, it's about embracing love." 2:15 mantra, 6:45 contemplation.
It's not about avoiding sin, it's about embracing love. If you willfully and knowingly sin, then your acts are decidedly contrary to love. My choosing then to embrace love, a willful and knowing act, for the sake of love, then you will not be willfully and knowingly sin. So, then the point is not to not sin, but to love. If you sin without willfully and knowingly do it, then it is a frailty over which you have no control. The more you embrace love, the less propensity you will have for sin. Avoiding sin does not bring happiness. There is no motivation for it other than it being the antithesis of love. Sin comes from trying to protect ourselves, ease the sufferings that are on our soul. The virtuous values of well-being, easing of burdens, growing, accepting for ourselves can be sought through sin. But, it will lead to suffering, disharmony with the universe, erosion of our ease and peace with the universe. These virtues flow from loving, and are not sources of love. You do not do them to be loving, you do them when you love. Doing them before love may help one know what the fruit of love feels like and realize the wonderfulness of love and thereby motivate them to love, but they are not love themselves. They are the result of love. Love does not flow from virtuous action. Virtuous action flows from love, though virtuous action can teach oneself the value of love.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Friday, January 30, 2015
"Happiness is a lasting state of mind unlike pleasure which is fleetingly transient." 2:15 mantra, 6:45 contemplation.
Happiness is a lasting state of mind unlike pleasure which is fleetingly transient. Happiness and pleasure are similar in feeling, but really different. Pleasure can mask suffering and allow happiness to be exposed, but it is not happiness. It is feelings that make us feel good resulting from stimuli, often external, but can be internal when recalling memories or thinking about things. Happiness is a state of mind of being at peace with the universe, being one with the universe, a knowing, not so much that things are as they should be, because there is no should, but knowing that things are not as they shouldn't be or not as they are not supposed to be. It's a lot like the serenity prayer being able to change what we can, accept what we can't change and wisdom to know the difference. Peace is like a flowing river not opposing rocks in the middle but going around. Changing your path if a new obstacle is thrown in that is not opposable, but still moving forward. It seems like I should be able to write down what happiness is, but I find it difficult. It is the feeling, the knowing that you are right with the universe. That you accept the universe as it is. But, that shouldn't be in opposition to create and changing things. Maybe it's a spiritual universe I mean and not the physical universe. I'm not really sure. I have a feeling sense about being at peace with something. But, that shouldn't mean not being creative and not taking action to change things for the better or whatever.
The constancy of true happiness is like a flowing river. The
Pleasure can open the mind to happiness, but as a substitute can only lead to suffering.
Happiness is a lasting state of mind unlike pleasure which is fleetingly transient. Happiness and pleasure are similar in feeling, but really different. Pleasure can mask suffering and allow happiness to be exposed, but it is not happiness. It is feelings that make us feel good resulting from stimuli, often external, but can be internal when recalling memories or thinking about things. Happiness is a state of mind of being at peace with the universe, being one with the universe, a knowing, not so much that things are as they should be, because there is no should, but knowing that things are not as they shouldn't be or not as they are not supposed to be. It's a lot like the serenity prayer being able to change what we can, accept what we can't change and wisdom to know the difference. Peace is like a flowing river not opposing rocks in the middle but going around. Changing your path if a new obstacle is thrown in that is not opposable, but still moving forward. It seems like I should be able to write down what happiness is, but I find it difficult. It is the feeling, the knowing that you are right with the universe. That you accept the universe as it is. But, that shouldn't be in opposition to create and changing things. Maybe it's a spiritual universe I mean and not the physical universe. I'm not really sure. I have a feeling sense about being at peace with something. But, that shouldn't mean not being creative and not taking action to change things for the better or whatever.
The constancy of true happiness is like a flowing river. The
Pleasure can open the mind to happiness, but as a substitute can only lead to suffering.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
"Devaluing, dehumanizing, hating or harming others are linch pins for suffering." 2:15 mantra, 6:45 contemplation.
Devaluing, dehumanizing, hating or harming others are linchpins for suffering. Maybe, or they could be systems. If our souls are in conflict with the universe, we want to explain, find a reason and then find a way to remedy the explanation or reason. Often, we look to external factors. Maybe we automatically decide that the non-sentient aspects of the universe are as they should be and have no means, desire or motive to make us suffer. So, then we look to place blame on the sentient aspects, other people. Of course, I would want myself to suffer, so it could be me, from within. Therefore it must be caused by other people. So, then if they are the cause, then they are to blame. If they are to blame, then they are not what they should be. So they are worth less then they should be, less valued. They are not what humans should be, I dehumanize them. I blame them so I have hate towards them. I want revenge or punishment so I harm them. Wow, it all kind of makes sense. But, suffering really comes from within on how we choose to be in relationship with ourselves, with the universe and with those we encounter. Suffering comes from believing we are not what we think we should be. Once you realize that there is no should about how you are, that you are a natural beautiful part of the universe, then the reasons for devaluing, dehumanizing, hating or harming others fall away. Few of us ever fully embrace ourselves as we are in the universe, so we are never fully free of our sin. Of those who hate homosexuals, I imagine, they can fully accept themselves and hate others. The behavior I see doesn’t contradict that on the surface of my thoughts now. So what is the source of that hate. Is it because if it is an abomination and God wouldn’t create abominations, then who is responsible. Or is it as a servant of God, it is their job to eliminate abomination. There is conflict in thought there. If God created the heavens and earth, why would he create creatures prone to abomination. Then, why would he allow it. Why would he need people to cleanse the abominations. There is no love in that and God is love. God is not hate. Is the God aspect a rationalizing to fear of that which is different, what which is unknown? And, is it a fear that if something is different, then it could mean that what they believe is suspect, that who they are is suspect, that they can’t accept different ways of being can exist in harmony with the universe, with God’s plan, that God wouldn’t create things so different, that he would create all things uniformly adhering to a single standard? Your sins are not symptoms of unworthy. You are worthy as you are. They are symptoms of our fears. Cure the fears, cure the sin.
Devaluing, dehumanizing, hating or harming others are linchpins for suffering. Maybe, or they could be systems. If our souls are in conflict with the universe, we want to explain, find a reason and then find a way to remedy the explanation or reason. Often, we look to external factors. Maybe we automatically decide that the non-sentient aspects of the universe are as they should be and have no means, desire or motive to make us suffer. So, then we look to place blame on the sentient aspects, other people. Of course, I would want myself to suffer, so it could be me, from within. Therefore it must be caused by other people. So, then if they are the cause, then they are to blame. If they are to blame, then they are not what they should be. So they are worth less then they should be, less valued. They are not what humans should be, I dehumanize them. I blame them so I have hate towards them. I want revenge or punishment so I harm them. Wow, it all kind of makes sense. But, suffering really comes from within on how we choose to be in relationship with ourselves, with the universe and with those we encounter. Suffering comes from believing we are not what we think we should be. Once you realize that there is no should about how you are, that you are a natural beautiful part of the universe, then the reasons for devaluing, dehumanizing, hating or harming others fall away. Few of us ever fully embrace ourselves as we are in the universe, so we are never fully free of our sin. Of those who hate homosexuals, I imagine, they can fully accept themselves and hate others. The behavior I see doesn’t contradict that on the surface of my thoughts now. So what is the source of that hate. Is it because if it is an abomination and God wouldn’t create abominations, then who is responsible. Or is it as a servant of God, it is their job to eliminate abomination. There is conflict in thought there. If God created the heavens and earth, why would he create creatures prone to abomination. Then, why would he allow it. Why would he need people to cleanse the abominations. There is no love in that and God is love. God is not hate. Is the God aspect a rationalizing to fear of that which is different, what which is unknown? And, is it a fear that if something is different, then it could mean that what they believe is suspect, that who they are is suspect, that they can’t accept different ways of being can exist in harmony with the universe, with God’s plan, that God wouldn’t create things so different, that he would create all things uniformly adhering to a single standard? Your sins are not symptoms of unworthy. You are worthy as you are. They are symptoms of our fears. Cure the fears, cure the sin.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
"We all live in and experience the same universe; we have different ways of describing the universe that works for each of us." 2:15 mantra, 6:45 contemplation.
We all live in and experience the same universe; we have different ways of describing that same universe that works for each of us in our own individualities. Bottom line, we are all immersed in the same universe. But, because we start out differently (DNA), and develop differently, different places at different times, our perceptions of the universe are all different. We do have much in common in our perspectives because we are taught similar things. The closer in time and place and culture we are, the more our perceptions and hence our perspectives will be alike, or better to say, the more likely they will be alike as not all twins are alike. Some are some aren't. But, the most alike people in the world are most likely among the set of twins. Conversely, the farther apart in time and space and also culture in which we live are lives, the more our perspectives will be different. But, no matter how different we are in how we view the world and thing what is right about it and what it not, we have in common that we desire happiness and not suffering. I think happiness is being "right" with the universe, with the fundamental universe. I'm not sure exactly how to express the notion accurately, but is as close as I can get right now. It is a sense of peace, a sense of belong, a sense of being as I am supposed to be or that the universe accepts me as I am. Regardless of what anyone else says or thinks, the universe accepts you. Allow yourself to do so as well, and you will discover happiness.
"Regardless of what anyone else says or thinks, the universe accepts you as you are. Allow yourself to do so as well, and you will discover happiness."
We all live in and experience the same universe; we have different ways of describing that same universe that works for each of us in our own individualities. Bottom line, we are all immersed in the same universe. But, because we start out differently (DNA), and develop differently, different places at different times, our perceptions of the universe are all different. We do have much in common in our perspectives because we are taught similar things. The closer in time and place and culture we are, the more our perceptions and hence our perspectives will be alike, or better to say, the more likely they will be alike as not all twins are alike. Some are some aren't. But, the most alike people in the world are most likely among the set of twins. Conversely, the farther apart in time and space and also culture in which we live are lives, the more our perspectives will be different. But, no matter how different we are in how we view the world and thing what is right about it and what it not, we have in common that we desire happiness and not suffering. I think happiness is being "right" with the universe, with the fundamental universe. I'm not sure exactly how to express the notion accurately, but is as close as I can get right now. It is a sense of peace, a sense of belong, a sense of being as I am supposed to be or that the universe accepts me as I am. Regardless of what anyone else says or thinks, the universe accepts you. Allow yourself to do so as well, and you will discover happiness.
"Regardless of what anyone else says or thinks, the universe accepts you as you are. Allow yourself to do so as well, and you will discover happiness."
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
"Kindness (desire to ease burden), Compassion (desire for well-being) , Teaching (nurturing growth), Love (unconditional acceptance) are linch pins for happiness." 2:15 mantra, 6:45 contemplation.
These linch pins are not things that you do as the path to happiness. Or maybe they are. You can do these things and not find happiness. It may be more that when you are happy, you will do these things. It's sort of circular. I think it really boils down to self worth which leads to these virtues. It is hard to be kind, compassionate, nurturing and accepting of others if you cannot do these things for yourself. We are all deserving of these virtues. They are markers for happiness, not prescriptions for happiness. If you are happy, then the virtues follow. Happiness comes from realization the way you are is in harmony with the universe. I have trouble finding the words. It is knowing you are not in conflict with the universe. It is in choosing not to be in conflict with the universe. That is not to say you won't be in conflict with other people. And, maybe it isn't not being in conflict with the universe. It is knowing when you cannot overcome conflict with the universe and realizing the cost and benefits of the conflict and how worth it is. And, conflict itself can be acceptable if you are willing to bear the cost and be at peace with it.
You are worthy of kindness and compassion, nurturing and being accepted as you are. These virtues are linch pins of happiness and love.
These linch pins are not things that you do as the path to happiness. Or maybe they are. You can do these things and not find happiness. It may be more that when you are happy, you will do these things. It's sort of circular. I think it really boils down to self worth which leads to these virtues. It is hard to be kind, compassionate, nurturing and accepting of others if you cannot do these things for yourself. We are all deserving of these virtues. They are markers for happiness, not prescriptions for happiness. If you are happy, then the virtues follow. Happiness comes from realization the way you are is in harmony with the universe. I have trouble finding the words. It is knowing you are not in conflict with the universe. It is in choosing not to be in conflict with the universe. That is not to say you won't be in conflict with other people. And, maybe it isn't not being in conflict with the universe. It is knowing when you cannot overcome conflict with the universe and realizing the cost and benefits of the conflict and how worth it is. And, conflict itself can be acceptable if you are willing to bear the cost and be at peace with it.
You are worthy of kindness and compassion, nurturing and being accepted as you are. These virtues are linch pins of happiness and love.
Monday, January 26, 2015
"Happiness comes most strongly from making others happy." 2:15 mantra, 6:45 contemplation
Happiness comes most strongly from making others happy. The words come from the Dalai Lama. I first come up with the sentiment on my own sometime ago. It's a little different, though, I don't think I've thought about it explicitly sense here from the DL. In order to be happy, be at peace, find joy, etc. I must love others. I'm think the sentiment I had may not be what feel today and my mind seems resistant to write down something I don't believe now but did in the past. In order to be happy, I have to not try to make myself happy, but instead love others. (There we go, I like it, italics for a statement that may not be what I believe now.) To receive what I want I have to get it to others. At the top level that is saying don't worry about what I want, what my spiritual needs are. Give to others and I will receive what I need by virtue of the giving. Sacrifice myself for others to receive what I give them. Something like that. I feel like I'm not capturing well the thoughts I had a long time ago. By letting go of trying to attain happiness for yourself, you will attain it in pursuit of happiness for others. I like that way of putting. God, you, want us to be happy. It is through loving others, pursuing happiness for them that we will attain it. But, that is not entirely true. Love yourself, too. Be kind and compassionate. So, that statement isn't as good as I thought it was. Happiness is attained through the pursuit of happiness for all, so, love all you encounter including yourself.
Happiness comes most strongly from making others happy. The words come from the Dalai Lama. I first come up with the sentiment on my own sometime ago. It's a little different, though, I don't think I've thought about it explicitly sense here from the DL. In order to be happy, be at peace, find joy, etc. I must love others. I'm think the sentiment I had may not be what feel today and my mind seems resistant to write down something I don't believe now but did in the past. In order to be happy, I have to not try to make myself happy, but instead love others. (There we go, I like it, italics for a statement that may not be what I believe now.) To receive what I want I have to get it to others. At the top level that is saying don't worry about what I want, what my spiritual needs are. Give to others and I will receive what I need by virtue of the giving. Sacrifice myself for others to receive what I give them. Something like that. I feel like I'm not capturing well the thoughts I had a long time ago. By letting go of trying to attain happiness for yourself, you will attain it in pursuit of happiness for others. I like that way of putting. God, you, want us to be happy. It is through loving others, pursuing happiness for them that we will attain it. But, that is not entirely true. Love yourself, too. Be kind and compassionate. So, that statement isn't as good as I thought it was. Happiness is attained through the pursuit of happiness for all, so, love all you encounter including yourself.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
"No one has any less or more right to be who they are." 2:15 mantra, 6:45 contemplation
No one has any less or more right to be who they are. This is kind of abstract. What does it mean for some to be who they are. We all have the right to express who we are. Even devaluing, dehumanizing, hating and harming. I take exception to these because they cause suffering among us and happiness is a fundamental value of mine so those things conflict with who I am. We are who we are. We can choose to change ourselves, but then who we are determines the will to do that. I think if someone is seeking true inner peace and happiness, that which is the truest happiness, then they will not be one with those harmful values. I can choose how I react to someone who lives by those sins. Yes, let me call them sins because for me they are sins. Sin is something that undermines love and happiness. I don't want that to be judgmental though. Being judgmental basically means deciding whether someone has the right to be who they are or not. I just want to use sin to mean action that causes suffering. So, is it okay for me to want to change them. It is okay for me to want them to be happy and those actions cause suffering. So it is okay for me to desire they want to be happy and so it is okay for me to desire they want to change. If they choose not to change, then they will face consequences. I don't mean that in a negative way, just that for every way of living there will be consequences and living harmful lives has it's own set of consequences.
Even the greatest of sinners are worthy of love even though their actions bring upon themselves the consequences of inner suffering and outer scorn.
No one has any less or more right to be who they are. This is kind of abstract. What does it mean for some to be who they are. We all have the right to express who we are. Even devaluing, dehumanizing, hating and harming. I take exception to these because they cause suffering among us and happiness is a fundamental value of mine so those things conflict with who I am. We are who we are. We can choose to change ourselves, but then who we are determines the will to do that. I think if someone is seeking true inner peace and happiness, that which is the truest happiness, then they will not be one with those harmful values. I can choose how I react to someone who lives by those sins. Yes, let me call them sins because for me they are sins. Sin is something that undermines love and happiness. I don't want that to be judgmental though. Being judgmental basically means deciding whether someone has the right to be who they are or not. I just want to use sin to mean action that causes suffering. So, is it okay for me to want to change them. It is okay for me to want them to be happy and those actions cause suffering. So it is okay for me to desire they want to be happy and so it is okay for me to desire they want to change. If they choose not to change, then they will face consequences. I don't mean that in a negative way, just that for every way of living there will be consequences and living harmful lives has it's own set of consequences.
Even the greatest of sinners are worthy of love even though their actions bring upon themselves the consequences of inner suffering and outer scorn.
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