Some of the things she says don't make sense. "The good seems to us as a nothingness, since there is no thing that is good. But this nothingness is not unreal. Compared with it, everything in existence is unreal." The good seems as a nothingness? Since no thing is good? I think there are lots of things that are good. And most good doesn't seem as a nothingness not a somethingness.
"If we find fullness of the joy in the thought that God exists, we should find the same fullness in the knowledge that we ourselves do not exist, for it is the same thought." This doesn't make very much sense to me either, what does she mean we don't exist? And I don't find fullness in that knowledge, I feel a lot of emptiness instead from that thought. We exist because of God, and God MUST exist because we exist.
I really like when she says "Absolutely unmixed attention is prayer." We should be able to take time out of our day to stop thinking about ourselves and everything going on in our life and just give all of our attention to God. It's not fair that we can give unmixed attention to the television but not in prayer.
And I really really like when she talks about perfect and infinite joy existing in God. And nothing can change this infinite joy, it's always there. It's like God is always there and God will always love us and have joy to share with us.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Bakhya Ibn-Pakuda
Well first of all, why did it have to be a girl who devotes everything to God in the first paragraph? Why not a guy? And I don't like where it says "devoting herself entirely to him, loving him, and trusting him completely. Every action she performs is for his sake. Every thought she has is of him.." And he keeps going. I think God gave us the ability to have our own thoughts and make mistakes so we can do so. If He wanted to be so selfish and have everyone do everything in honor of Him everyday and every minute, then He wouldn't have given us the ability to do otherwise. I don't mean that we shouldn't think about Him or thank Him everyday, but I don't think that he meant for every moment of our lives to be devoted to Him, maybe the ideas he taught so we can do good in the world for other people. So I guess in that way we could be doing things in honor of Him. I just think he'd be happier if we were out doing something like feeding or clothing the needy while thinking of Him, instead of spending all of our time in a church praying to Him.
Kuei-Shan
I would like to meet a Zen Master just to see if they really seem so honnest "without deceit or delusion." A lot of people can seem honnest and true but it'd be nice to see what honnest and true really looks like. I think trustworthy people have a welcoming glow about them but sometimes they end up not being so trustworthy, but a Zen Master would be so I think it'd be cool to be in the presence of one.
Isaac of Ninevah
I really like the first paragraph, God love in unconditional and never ending. I like to think that he'll never stop loving us no matter how much we sin or drift away, as long as we come back to him we'll always have a spot in his heart. And that kind of love is hard to find, not even all parents can love their children that way.
I liked the second paragraph as well. Especially when he says "who gives us more than we ourselves could ask for or even imagine." Maybe if we can see the big picture, everything God gives us in life, all of the blessings and difficulties, are meant to be to make us better people. The difficulties are actually blessings, we just have to trust God enough and let things happen and take whatever experience we can from it. He makes a good point, most people only pray when they want something, but no one ever prays to thank him except on Thanksgiving. The truth is everyday should be treated like Thanksgiving, thank God for every day and everything in life, give thanks for even having a life and having the people in that life. But it's very hard to trust God with our whole heart and not ask for things in our prayers, we're human and all we do is think about things we want, but I think we should try and remember to thank God at least once every day. And if we could stop asking for things, I think that goes along with that hes saying in the third paragraph about humility, "When he is completely hidden to himself in himself, he is completely with God." We should stop wanting and starting thanking and being more humble, and that way we can be closer to God.
I liked the second paragraph as well. Especially when he says "who gives us more than we ourselves could ask for or even imagine." Maybe if we can see the big picture, everything God gives us in life, all of the blessings and difficulties, are meant to be to make us better people. The difficulties are actually blessings, we just have to trust God enough and let things happen and take whatever experience we can from it. He makes a good point, most people only pray when they want something, but no one ever prays to thank him except on Thanksgiving. The truth is everyday should be treated like Thanksgiving, thank God for every day and everything in life, give thanks for even having a life and having the people in that life. But it's very hard to trust God with our whole heart and not ask for things in our prayers, we're human and all we do is think about things we want, but I think we should try and remember to thank God at least once every day. And if we could stop asking for things, I think that goes along with that hes saying in the third paragraph about humility, "When he is completely hidden to himself in himself, he is completely with God." We should stop wanting and starting thanking and being more humble, and that way we can be closer to God.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Abu Abdallah Al-Harith Al- Muhasibi
"..when solitude is combined with secret intercourse with the Beloved, the joy of that intercourse overwhelms the mind, so that it is no longer concerned with this world and what is in it." For some reason this quote really stands out to me. It makes me think that once you find God then you'll be happy and everything in life will have a different meaning because you'll see it differently because you'll be so consumed and surrounded by God that you can't help but be happy. By using the world "secret" it made me think of Sunday school when the teachers would tell me that you shouldn't do good to show off or expect anything from it, you should do good in secret so only yourself and God will know the good you've done. You shouldn't donate money towards an organization so you can have your name and picture published, instead you should make it annonymous so you're only doing it for the good it will do.
Another quote that really stuck out was when he says,"When love is established in the heart of a servant of god, there is no place there for remembrance of men or demons or of Paradise of Hell, or for anythings except the remembrance of the Beloved and his grace." It goes back to being so overwhelmed by joy once you find God that nothing in this world matters and you forget about everything. I think he also means that if you have faith in God then bad things mean nothing because you know you'll be taken care of in the end. Just keep focusing on all the good.
Another quote that really stuck out was when he says,"When love is established in the heart of a servant of god, there is no place there for remembrance of men or demons or of Paradise of Hell, or for anythings except the remembrance of the Beloved and his grace." It goes back to being so overwhelmed by joy once you find God that nothing in this world matters and you forget about everything. I think he also means that if you have faith in God then bad things mean nothing because you know you'll be taken care of in the end. Just keep focusing on all the good.
Hugh of St. Victor
"..it is as if we were sailing over the waves, until we find the calm that is inside us." I don't think we'll find God outside of ourselves and no one can really explain him to us, we must really look inside ourselves and also know ourselves in order to know and understand God. Since God is in each of us, if we want to get to know God then why not start with ourselves. It's pretty simple when you think about it that way. "But when a man, through the senses of his flesh, goes out to visible things, desiring what is transitory and perishable, he descends from the dignity of his natural condition to what is unworthy of his desire." We won't find God or be happy by buying things or aiming to have the most luxurious life. "Happy is he who escapes unharmed from that storm-tossed sea, and reaches the safety of the port!" And safety is with God within ourselves.
Symeon The New Theologian
I don't like the last part that says "Our mind is pure and simple. When it is emptied of thought, it enters the pure and simple light of God, and finds nothing but the light." It sounds like something people at church would tell people to make them become zombies. It makes me think that you need to empty your mind from your own thoughts to have someone else thoughts pushed into your head and not think for yourself. If God didn't want us to think for ourselves then he never would have given us the ability to do so.
I really like the first paragraph that describes the man walking knee deep into the water and being able to see about him. But when he dives in, he can see nothing but the waster surrounding in. It's like seeing everything in a whole new way and if the water is God, than in ways he's seeing everything in a better way and through the eyes of God.
I really like the first paragraph that describes the man walking knee deep into the water and being able to see about him. But when he dives in, he can see nothing but the waster surrounding in. It's like seeing everything in a whole new way and if the water is God, than in ways he's seeing everything in a better way and through the eyes of God.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
al-Bistami
He was asked, 'What is the way to God?" He answered, "Leave the way and you have arrived at God." I think what he means is if you stop seeing God as a thing or destination and let go, then you'll realize that God comes from within ourselves and he is everywhere. Once you give up everything and let God in, then he will be everywhere.
"This thing we tell of can never be found by seeking, yet only seekers find it." That didn't make sense at first, but I think what he's trying to say is that you can't go out and find God like a treasure map. You just have to be ready and open and waiting and seek Him into your hearts, and then you'll find him, well more like He'll come to you.
"This thing we tell of can never be found by seeking, yet only seekers find it." That didn't make sense at first, but I think what he's trying to say is that you can't go out and find God like a treasure map. You just have to be ready and open and waiting and seek Him into your hearts, and then you'll find him, well more like He'll come to you.
al-Misri
"The saint becomes more humble every house, for every house he draws nearer to God. The saints see without knowledge, without sight, without information received, without observation, without description, without veiling, and without veil." They are not them themselves, they are God and God is them. Saints know so they don't need to know because God is with them. They are to do God's work and it seems to me that they're suppose to be some kind of consious to people. If they've forgetten about God, remind them. If they're afraid, reassure them.. It sounds like if people are in need or unsure then the Saints should go out and help them be reassured. I like the end, "You are my saints, my beloved: you are mine and I am yours." It reminds us that God is equal and it's possible to be more like him, forgiving, loving, and trusting. And it reminds me that he loves us like equals and doesn't want to rule us. It's intimidating to think of him as the most powerful everything. God must truely be unbelievably amazing to not want to rule us, people with power always want more power or to control everything. But God just lets us be and live. What an amazing everything. I don't want to call him a person or Him or anything like that because he's not, he's everything.
Muhammad
Islam means "surrender to God." When we surrender ourselves fully, there is nothing but God: not even a "there"; not even an "is"; not even a "God."
I think that is my favorite part of the entire reading. I think what he's trying to say is that there is not beginning and no end, and there isn't even a thought of what is God or that there is a God, God is just there and everywhere. No thought needed, it's plain and simple. Like being enlightened, you don't have to think about it to know it, you just simply know it.
The second part of the reading just sounds like it's coming from a preacher. "All that is in the heavens and in the earth magnifies God. He is the all-strong, the all-wise. To Him belongs the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth. He gives life and He brings on death and He is omnipotent over all things.." It's weird studying Islam and hearing it the same way the Christians teach. But at the same time where it says things like "Whoever knows himself knows God" and "True religion is surrender" are phrases that remind me of Buddhism back to the clearing your mind thing. I think it all comes down to knowing God. We all were born with him and know he's in us and in everything. So by knowing ourselves or clearing our minds, we can remind ourselves of what we already know deep down.
I think that is my favorite part of the entire reading. I think what he's trying to say is that there is not beginning and no end, and there isn't even a thought of what is God or that there is a God, God is just there and everywhere. No thought needed, it's plain and simple. Like being enlightened, you don't have to think about it to know it, you just simply know it.
The second part of the reading just sounds like it's coming from a preacher. "All that is in the heavens and in the earth magnifies God. He is the all-strong, the all-wise. To Him belongs the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth. He gives life and He brings on death and He is omnipotent over all things.." It's weird studying Islam and hearing it the same way the Christians teach. But at the same time where it says things like "Whoever knows himself knows God" and "True religion is surrender" are phrases that remind me of Buddhism back to the clearing your mind thing. I think it all comes down to knowing God. We all were born with him and know he's in us and in everything. So by knowing ourselves or clearing our minds, we can remind ourselves of what we already know deep down.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Dame Julian of Norwish
Once again, I love the beginning of this.. "There are no accidents. God is not a well-intentioned bungler. All things that happen, even the most ostensibly terrible ones, happen by God's will. If you don't see the point, please look again.. there are no accidents. To realize this is to enter into God's love." It really should be placed on doorposts of houses and in our hearts. I think about that almost all the time. Everything happens for a reason, it's just really hard to see sometimes. Sometimes it seems like there was absolutely no reason. But everything is connected and helps us become who we are. I think it's better to learn and try and find the good in everything that's happened, instead of being bitter and taking it out of the rest of the world.
I don't know what to say about the rest of the reading that everyone has already heard or said. This reading just reminded me of teen church nights.
I don't know what to say about the rest of the reading that everyone has already heard or said. This reading just reminded me of teen church nights.
The Cloud of Unknowing
“And be sure not to think of anything but himself, so that nothing may work in your mind or in your will but only himself.” This just reminds me of the same idea: to let go of everything, and once you have nothing, then you will have everything. The way I normally think of Jesus and Christianity is not to let go of everything so God can come from within, but to let go of everything and replace it with everything the church teaches. I don’t really know what to say because I don’t want to insult God, even though I’m not sure what I believe in anymore. I do believe that there’s someone or something out there, but whoever or whatever that someone is, I don’t think he wants us to concentrate our everything on him. I think he must love us and want us to be happy and live the life that he’s blessed us with. I believe in what Buddha said... “But when you realize that something is unwholesome and bad for you, give it up. And when you realize that something is wholesome and good for you, do it.” And I believe in being nice and helpful to everyone, and hopefully they’ll be nice and helpful back. But I really think that every religion started from the fear of dying and what’ll happen to us after. Everyone wants to believe that there’s something better for us in the life after death. It helps everyone get through their days and their lives knowing and feeling comforted by the idea of a God who will take care of us after. But what if there’s not, what if when we die, we die and that’s it. What if we don’t go anywhere cool, we just stop existing.
Gregory of Nyssa
My favorite part that really hit me was the beginning when the rabbi asks the scholars “Where does God dwell?” And they laugh and reply “God is everywhere, of course. “ But the rabbi disagreed and told them “God dwells wherever man lets him in.” That’s such a powerful statement. I agree and disagree to some extent. Yes, you should believe in God in order to let him in, but isn’t he already in all of us? And isn’t he suppose to love and help everyone?
“In our human existence physical health is a good thing; and indeed it is a blessing not only to know the reasons for good health but actually to enjoy it. Now suppose a man should speak the praises of good health and then proceed to take food that was unwholesome and contained unhealthy juices. What good would his praise of health be, when he himself was afflicted with disease?” He makes such a good point that I can’t even say anything in return. How can we mistreat the bodies we’ve been born with? Most of us slowly kill our bodies with alcohol, cigarettes, and greasy heart clogging delicious foods. It’s horrible, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to change. Maybe the devil is in all of our fast food. Temptations are no good.
“In our human existence physical health is a good thing; and indeed it is a blessing not only to know the reasons for good health but actually to enjoy it. Now suppose a man should speak the praises of good health and then proceed to take food that was unwholesome and contained unhealthy juices. What good would his praise of health be, when he himself was afflicted with disease?” He makes such a good point that I can’t even say anything in return. How can we mistreat the bodies we’ve been born with? Most of us slowly kill our bodies with alcohol, cigarettes, and greasy heart clogging delicious foods. It’s horrible, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to change. Maybe the devil is in all of our fast food. Temptations are no good.
John the Evangelist
When I was little my dad use to always tell me the same thing to explain God to me, “Behold, I make all things new. I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.” (My dad isn’t Catholic, he doesn’t believe in anything but my mom is a strong believer.) The idea that God is the alpha and the omega means so much if you think about it. There is no beginning; we will never know the beginning, because God is the beginning. And there is no end, the end is with God and he is the end. I always wonder then: Who made God? I was always told that God made God.
Once again, back to the same idea of enlightenment being within, “The spirit you have received from him remains in you, and you don’t need to have any man teach you; but that spirit teaches you all things, and is the truth.” When I read that I think about truth as the knowledge about God. I’m not sure what they mean exactly by “truth.” So then why don’t they believe in clearing the mind and letting the knowledge just come to you from within? Why is it absolutely necessary that you must to go to church once a week to learn about God and his teachings about what’s right and wrong? Some religions are so similar, yet so different.
Once again, back to the same idea of enlightenment being within, “The spirit you have received from him remains in you, and you don’t need to have any man teach you; but that spirit teaches you all things, and is the truth.” When I read that I think about truth as the knowledge about God. I’m not sure what they mean exactly by “truth.” So then why don’t they believe in clearing the mind and letting the knowledge just come to you from within? Why is it absolutely necessary that you must to go to church once a week to learn about God and his teachings about what’s right and wrong? Some religions are so similar, yet so different.
The Gospel of Thomas
This reading really surprised me. It reminded me of everything we’ve just been reading. “It will not come if you look for it. Nor can you say, ‘It is here’ or ‘It is there.’ For the kingdom of the Father is already spread out over the earth, but people don’t see it.” It’s exactly what everyone has been saying in the Hinduism and Buddhism readings. I’ve never heard Jesus and Buddha sound so similar before, and that says a lot because I use to go to church at least twice a week for about 9 years. The part where Thomas says Jesus says “But the kingdom is inside you, and it is outside you. If you know yourselves, then you will be known; and you will know that you are the sons of the living Father.” That is exactly what everyone’s been saying about being enlightened. It comes from within, and you already know it, you just have to clear your mind and truly know yourself.
I really like where it says “Recognize what is in your sight, and what is hidden will become clear to you.” How I understand that is that when you recognize everything in sight, and really understand, then you will start to see things that you’ve never seen before because of the new understanding.
I really like where it says “Recognize what is in your sight, and what is hidden will become clear to you.” How I understand that is that when you recognize everything in sight, and really understand, then you will start to see things that you’ve never seen before because of the new understanding.
Jesus of Nazareth
The beginning paragraph is the best part. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.” It’s really hard to follow that, but I think if everyone could then we’d be much better off. Anger between two people or two countries can build so easily, it happens everyday. Even if it started off as an accident, like a girl A glares at girl B, now girl B hates girl A, so girl A hates her back, then they’re friends get involved and you have two schools hating each other. That’s only a minor thing, anger towards other countries builds up all the time as well, before you know it, countries hate each other because of one or two guys.
I really like when he says “Don’t judge, and you will not be judged; don’t condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.” The way you treat everyone, is the same way you’re treating God. God is in all of us so we should start treating everyone else well if we expect God to treat us the same way in Heaven. I think of judging as more of an acceptance. Because judging is seeing the world the way we think it should be, rather than how it is, so that’s what we base our judgments on. So if you start accepting everyone, then people will tend to be more accepting of you. And if you forgive, people will tend to be more forgiving towards you in the future, and so will God. And if you give, you will be rewarded in Heaven.
I really like when he says “Don’t judge, and you will not be judged; don’t condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.” The way you treat everyone, is the same way you’re treating God. God is in all of us so we should start treating everyone else well if we expect God to treat us the same way in Heaven. I think of judging as more of an acceptance. Because judging is seeing the world the way we think it should be, rather than how it is, so that’s what we base our judgments on. So if you start accepting everyone, then people will tend to be more accepting of you. And if you forgive, people will tend to be more forgiving towards you in the future, and so will God. And if you give, you will be rewarded in Heaven.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Tzu-ssu
“The sincere person does the right thing without trying,” then what do you say about the people that make mistakes. Are they not sincere because they messed up? Or maybe they weren’t sincere because they were trying to outsmart fate. To be something they’re not so in a way they are lying to themselves and must lie or do a wrong thing to be the person they are trying to be. “Live in perfect serenity with who you are.”
“The mature person accepts his situation and doesn’t desire anything outside it. If he finds himself rich and honored, he acts as a rich man should act; if he is poor, he acts as a poor man should act;” I disagree with parts of that, but I guess to find perfect serenity within yourself than you should be content with what you have.
“The mature person accepts his situation and doesn’t desire anything outside it. If he finds himself rich and honored, he acts as a rich man should act; if he is poor, he acts as a poor man should act;” I disagree with parts of that, but I guess to find perfect serenity within yourself than you should be content with what you have.
Hui-Hai
I like how he related the mind to a mirror. The mirror has nothing in it, but it can reflect anything and everything without trying. So if the mind is not trying, then it should be able to reflect everything once it is clear. “If the mind were clear, it wouldn’t give rise to delusions, and its attachments to subject and object would vanish; then purity would rise by itself, and you would be capable of such perception.” It says that if your mind is perfectly empty, then that is the essence of wisdom. But how do you get every possible thought out of your mind? That seems a bit unrealistic, but I guess that’s why it takes years, even decades of practice.
I think a big step to clear the mind would be to lose track of time. Don’t think about the future and don’t think about the past. Only think about the present moment, and if you can somehow not even think about the present moment then nothing can hurt you or make you worry. That’s the path to inner contentment.
I think a big step to clear the mind would be to lose track of time. Don’t think about the future and don’t think about the past. Only think about the present moment, and if you can somehow not even think about the present moment then nothing can hurt you or make you worry. That’s the path to inner contentment.
Pai-Chang
"The ordinary person's mind is the same as the sage's, because Original Mind is perfect and complete in itself." I like the think that the mind started perfect but as we grow up it gets foggier and things start filling it up and kicking other information to the far back of the brain. And to find enlightenment again, we must forget about everything thats cluttering up the mind and clean out our minds to get rid of the fogginess so we can go back to our original enlightened mind. Because we can't find anything to be enlightened outside of ourselves, it comes from within our own mind.
Chuang-Tzu
I think what he’s trying to say in this passage, like all the other readings this week, is that there needs to be complete equality. Everything has its opposite but one can’t exist without the other. If we never went through any pain or suffering, then we would have no idea how happiness could really feel.
“Those who divide fail to divide.” If you try to find the difference between everything, you won’t find anything. For example: trying to find the difference between hot and cold. You can’t find hot without the cold. Sooner or later, you will experience the cold that comes with the hot. Like a hot shower, it’s nice and hot but as soon as the shower ends, you experience the cold. If you’re always trying to differentiate everything then you’ll only make your life more complicated. Just take things for what they are.
“There is a beginning. There is a not yet beginning to be a beginning. There is a not yet beginning to be a not yet beginning to be a beginning.” I think what he’s trying to say in a different way is that there is a now. Then there must have been a before. And there must have been a before to the before the now. There is no end to the forward or the past so why focus on anything other than the present.
“Those who divide fail to divide.” If you try to find the difference between everything, you won’t find anything. For example: trying to find the difference between hot and cold. You can’t find hot without the cold. Sooner or later, you will experience the cold that comes with the hot. Like a hot shower, it’s nice and hot but as soon as the shower ends, you experience the cold. If you’re always trying to differentiate everything then you’ll only make your life more complicated. Just take things for what they are.
“There is a beginning. There is a not yet beginning to be a beginning. There is a not yet beginning to be a not yet beginning to be a beginning.” I think what he’s trying to say in a different way is that there is a now. Then there must have been a before. And there must have been a before to the before the now. There is no end to the forward or the past so why focus on anything other than the present.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Shunryu Suzuki
“Our ‘original mind’ includes everything within itself.” Well at what point do we lose our original mind? I like how he says in the beginners mind there are lots of possibilities. We can have an empty mind that’s open to all possibilities. “In the experts mind there are few” I think in the experts mind, he or she gets so caught up with what they think are the truths and focus only in that area. It isn’t as open to all possibilities.
“The reason why everything is beautiful is because it is out of balance, but its background is always in perfect harmony.” I’m not sure how to interpret that but how I see it is that everything in life has some good and some bad, some things have more bad than good or more good than bad. But when you look at the bigger picture, all the good in bad in everything equals out. So in the end, everything is in perfect harmony.
“The reason why everything is beautiful is because it is out of balance, but its background is always in perfect harmony.” I’m not sure how to interpret that but how I see it is that everything in life has some good and some bad, some things have more bad than good or more good than bad. But when you look at the bigger picture, all the good in bad in everything equals out. So in the end, everything is in perfect harmony.
Wu-Men
This writing was hard to understand. A lot of strange things came to my mind, like the eyebrows entangling doesn’t sound very pleasant. But looking through the eyes and hearing through the ears of the great Ancestral Teachers appealing, but the thought of swallowing a red-hot iron ball and not being able to vomit it out takes most of the appeal out of everything else. And I don’t understand why he says “When you meet the Buddha, you kill the Buddha. When you meet Bodhidharma, you kill Bodhidharma.” It doesn’t make sense to me.
Dogen
I don’t know where to start. I have a million thoughts about everything he said. I really liked when he talked about the fish, I thought of a fish in the ocean. The ocean never stops so the fish has no reason to stop swimming. The fish does not need to take up a lot of room, he only uses the space he needs. We don’t know what the fish thinks, but I like to think that he’s perfectly at peace. He never worries about how much space he has because wherever he goes, he has all he needs. Lucky peaceful free fish.
“To start from the self and try to understand all things is delusion. To let the self be awakened by all things is enlightenment. To be enlightened about delusion is to be Buddha. To be deluded in the midst of enlightenment is to be an ordinary person.” I really like this. I think what he means is to just let go. Let go of everything in the mind and you’ll soon be enlightened. But when you’re enlightened about being enlightened than you’re truly enlightened. I think a better way to explain what I’m trying to say is looking at a blind man as an example. If a blind man lives his life knowing he can’t see (if he, for some strange reason, grew up with a bunch of other blind people) then it’s never a problem, he grew up that way and has no idea about a completely different world involving sight. Then one day, he meets someone that can see and realizes that there’s something else out there, something he knows nothing about but now he’s beginning to hear and learn about an entire different world, but never really experiences it himself. That is the first way of being enlightened. And then one day, he gets his sight, and he can really experience and see things for himself. That is how he is truly enlightened.
I liked what he said about meditation. Let thoughts come and go, but don’t hold on to any of them, and don’t desire to attain enlightenment. The truth is within, so if you can’t find it within yourself, where are you supposed to find it? He makes a good point. If all of these wise enlightened people could find such wisdom within themselves, then if we try hard enough, should we? Well I guess if we tried, then we would really never attain enlightenment. I think before we research deep into the insights and thoughts of others, we should first try to find some truths and insights within. I think that’d make a better foundation and understanding of what other people already know.
“To start from the self and try to understand all things is delusion. To let the self be awakened by all things is enlightenment. To be enlightened about delusion is to be Buddha. To be deluded in the midst of enlightenment is to be an ordinary person.” I really like this. I think what he means is to just let go. Let go of everything in the mind and you’ll soon be enlightened. But when you’re enlightened about being enlightened than you’re truly enlightened. I think a better way to explain what I’m trying to say is looking at a blind man as an example. If a blind man lives his life knowing he can’t see (if he, for some strange reason, grew up with a bunch of other blind people) then it’s never a problem, he grew up that way and has no idea about a completely different world involving sight. Then one day, he meets someone that can see and realizes that there’s something else out there, something he knows nothing about but now he’s beginning to hear and learn about an entire different world, but never really experiences it himself. That is the first way of being enlightened. And then one day, he gets his sight, and he can really experience and see things for himself. That is how he is truly enlightened.
I liked what he said about meditation. Let thoughts come and go, but don’t hold on to any of them, and don’t desire to attain enlightenment. The truth is within, so if you can’t find it within yourself, where are you supposed to find it? He makes a good point. If all of these wise enlightened people could find such wisdom within themselves, then if we try hard enough, should we? Well I guess if we tried, then we would really never attain enlightenment. I think before we research deep into the insights and thoughts of others, we should first try to find some truths and insights within. I think that’d make a better foundation and understanding of what other people already know.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Diamond Sutra
“When I attained Absolute Perfect Enlightenment, I attained absolutely nothing. That is why it is called Absolute Perfect Enlightenment.” I did not understand that at first, but after re-reading that about 5 times, it makes much more sense. Absolute Perfect Enlightenment isn’t about attaining anything. I don’t think you can attain Perfect Enlightenment if you are trying, I think when you stop looking and just let go of everything, needs/wants/thoughts/belongs/whatever it may be, then you can be truly enlightened. He even says that “The mind should be kept independent of any thoughts that arise within it. If the mind depends upon anything, it has no sure haven.” What I’m getting from that is to let go of any thoughts that are just clutter or distractions. Like how personal belongings or eating much more than the body needs out of selfish want, those are just distractions just like thoughts can be. The mind wanders easily, and it’s even easier to get caught up in thoughts that involve emotion like fear, worries, hate, revenge, want, desire, ect. So it’s better just to let it all go. Then the mind will be ready to be enlightened. If you really think about it, it sounds good when you’re just thinking about it, but I think it’d be pretty close to impossible in reality today. I don’t know anybody that could let go of everything they own and forget about all of the “important” thoughts that really don’t mean anything when you look at the bigger picture. Sometimes I wish that everyone would read this book “The Enlightened Mind” so everyone would calm down and stop being so stressed out about pointless things.
The Buddha
I love everything that Buddha is saying. I’m not sure what name I should call him. I think he has a really good point on everything. If something is unwholesome and bad for you, just don’t do it. And when something is wholesome and good for you, then do it. So many people today, even myself, hear that little voice in the back of our head telling us something is bad for us morally or physically, but we choose to ignore that little voice and do it anyways. I think most people know the difference between right and wrong to an extent but when we choose to ignore ourselves and just do the wrong anyways, the line between right and wrong becomes thinner and thinner. Some of the excuses people use to justify the wrong they’re doing are really stupid. Whether it’s “Oh, that girl has been really mean to everyone so I don’t care about being mean to her.” No, that’s not okay. Or “Everyone in my family has drug problems so there’s no hope for me, why fight it,” even stupider. If it’s bad-don’t do it, if it’s good-do it. That’d be amazing if everyone could follow that.
I just wrote a long paragraph about the raft, but now I don't know where I was going with that. I think if you look at what he's saying in a physical way is that once you've used something for what it was needed to do, then leave it. I think about everything most American families have used, and can no longer use, but they still keep everything. Think of all the old skis and snowboards and stuffed animals in everyone’s garages. Even all the old clothes that we no longer want to wear or no longer fit us, but we still keep everything in the back of our closet. Most people have soooo much stuff that we’re never going to use, so I don’t know why we hold on to it. And I don’t know why we can’t let go. Think of all the good our stuff could do for other people if we just let it go. There’s a lot of people that need our clutter more than we do.
I just wrote a long paragraph about the raft, but now I don't know where I was going with that. I think if you look at what he's saying in a physical way is that once you've used something for what it was needed to do, then leave it. I think about everything most American families have used, and can no longer use, but they still keep everything. Think of all the old skis and snowboards and stuffed animals in everyone’s garages. Even all the old clothes that we no longer want to wear or no longer fit us, but we still keep everything in the back of our closet. Most people have soooo much stuff that we’re never going to use, so I don’t know why we hold on to it. And I don’t know why we can’t let go. Think of all the good our stuff could do for other people if we just let it go. There’s a lot of people that need our clutter more than we do.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Yehiel Mikhal of Zlotchov
How can you live forever if you don’t believe in God? Man lives only a short time on the earth; he can only live forever in the mind of God. I think what he means in this writing is that if you are only great in your own eyes, or only thinking about yourself, no one will remember you or want to remember you. By living your life to serve others and God, your memory will live on long after you have passed away.
By accepting that we are nothing except through the will of God, that we came from God through creation , we will become a part of God, “like a drop that has fallen into the great sea and is one with the waters of the sea and cannot be recognized as a separate thing.“ We will always exist as long as God exists.
By accepting that we are nothing except through the will of God, that we came from God through creation , we will become a part of God, “like a drop that has fallen into the great sea and is one with the waters of the sea and cannot be recognized as a separate thing.“ We will always exist as long as God exists.
Shmelke of Nikolsburg
This writing reminds me a lot of the Tu-Shun story with the jewels, in the fact that everyone is reflected through everyone else. “It is our right to hate an evil man for his actions, but because his deepest self is the image of God, it is our duty to honor him with love.” Just because someone did something wrong, doesn’t make them any less of one of God’s children as well as a reflection of God Himself.
I like the Rabbi’s response saying “You must understand these words correctly. Love your neighbor like something which you yourself are. For all souls are one.” We all one, and we are all created from the same thing. So how can we hate someone for being human and making mistakes?
I like the Rabbi’s response saying “You must understand these words correctly. Love your neighbor like something which you yourself are. For all souls are one.” We all one, and we are all created from the same thing. So how can we hate someone for being human and making mistakes?
Dov Baer of Mezritch
I don’t understand the first paragraph very well. If looking at an object brings greater vitality to the object, then why does it become cut off from its divine root and vitality once you look away? Do things not really exist unless we acknowledge their existence?
“I will teach you the best way to say Torah. You must be nothing but an ear that hears what the universe of the word if constantly saying within you. The moment you begin to hear what you yourself are saying, you must stop.” I think what he is trying to say is that the Torah is meant to be accepted as it stands, without interpretation or rationalization. You can’t reject the parts you don’t understand and only accept the parts you do understand. Otherwise, everyone would have their own interpretation of the Torah. It would no longer be God’s word.
“As it is said in the Talmud: ‘Greater than the first miracle is the last.’” It’s a wonderful thing that God did indeed create heaven and earth out of nothing. But the fact that we can actually realize that God, through His purpose, created everything from nothing; that is the real miracle.
“I will teach you the best way to say Torah. You must be nothing but an ear that hears what the universe of the word if constantly saying within you. The moment you begin to hear what you yourself are saying, you must stop.” I think what he is trying to say is that the Torah is meant to be accepted as it stands, without interpretation or rationalization. You can’t reject the parts you don’t understand and only accept the parts you do understand. Otherwise, everyone would have their own interpretation of the Torah. It would no longer be God’s word.
“As it is said in the Talmud: ‘Greater than the first miracle is the last.’” It’s a wonderful thing that God did indeed create heaven and earth out of nothing. But the fact that we can actually realize that God, through His purpose, created everything from nothing; that is the real miracle.
The Bible
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” So simple, yet so true. If everyone did that, then I think our world would be a better place. I don’t think he meant for people to just pretend that they love everyone and just be nice to everyone, but truly accept and forgive everyone is to truly love. To care and know about peoples biggest flaws and mistakes, and still be able to look past that and love them for the kind heart they have somewhere, even if it’s a really deep somewhere. But what kind of world would it be if everyone loved each other? I can’t even imagine what a world like that would be like.
My High School counselor use to work with homeless people in urban cities, and she made a video of an interview with a homeless man in San Francisco. He was really interesting and one of the nicest people I’ve ever seen with some really insightful things to say. One of the things he said that really stuck with me was “You don’t have to know someone to care about them.” Coming from someone that had nothing, who had the right to be bitter towards people, I thought that was really cool.
“I form light and create darkness; I make peace and create evil.” God made everything. I think he was trying to balance out our world. You can’t appreciate beauty if you’ve never seen the ugly. Happiness wouldn’t mean anything to us if we’ve never suffered.
My High School counselor use to work with homeless people in urban cities, and she made a video of an interview with a homeless man in San Francisco. He was really interesting and one of the nicest people I’ve ever seen with some really insightful things to say. One of the things he said that really stuck with me was “You don’t have to know someone to care about them.” Coming from someone that had nothing, who had the right to be bitter towards people, I thought that was really cool.
“I form light and create darkness; I make peace and create evil.” God made everything. I think he was trying to balance out our world. You can’t appreciate beauty if you’ve never seen the ugly. Happiness wouldn’t mean anything to us if we’ve never suffered.
Philo
I think Philo was an optimist. He believed that “God loves to give, and freely bestows good things on all people, even the imperfect…That is why every soul he created has the seed of goodness in it.” I don’t think he had any proof that everyone had goodness in them, but he just liked to believe that everyone had goodness in them. I like to believe the same way. If you wait long enough, I think you’ll eventually see the goodness in everyone. But most people are pretty selfish and aren’t willing to spend time waiting to see the good in someone.
Philo says that “God alone… lives in eternal bliss. His nature is absolutely perfect, or rather, God is the height, the goal, and the limit of happiness. There is nothing outside himself that he needs, but he has given a share of his own beauty to all particular beings, from the fountain of beauty: himself.” Philo holds on to the belief that since God is good, every good thing comes from God. Then where do the bad things come from? And if God did make the bad things, then why did he make them? I think Adam and Eve should be blamed for the mosquitoes.
“According to our holy teacher Moses, the goal of wisdom is laughter and play—not the kind that one sees in little children… but the kind that is developed in those who have grown mature through both time and understanding.” I think once you mature and experience enough, you start to look at life and yourself in a different understanding, and through that different aspect, it’s easier to laugh at yourself and your own mistakes. And also when you live long enough, you begin to realize life is short, and to enjoy it and laugh often.
Philo says that “God alone… lives in eternal bliss. His nature is absolutely perfect, or rather, God is the height, the goal, and the limit of happiness. There is nothing outside himself that he needs, but he has given a share of his own beauty to all particular beings, from the fountain of beauty: himself.” Philo holds on to the belief that since God is good, every good thing comes from God. Then where do the bad things come from? And if God did make the bad things, then why did he make them? I think Adam and Eve should be blamed for the mosquitoes.
“According to our holy teacher Moses, the goal of wisdom is laughter and play—not the kind that one sees in little children… but the kind that is developed in those who have grown mature through both time and understanding.” I think once you mature and experience enough, you start to look at life and yourself in a different understanding, and through that different aspect, it’s easier to laugh at yourself and your own mistakes. And also when you live long enough, you begin to realize life is short, and to enjoy it and laugh often.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Ramana Maharshi
This reading was my favorite. I really liked Ramana Maharshi and everything he had to say. I liked reading all his different thoughts about things.
“Reality is simply the loss of the ego. Destroy the ego by seeking its identity. It will automatically vanish and reality will shine forth by itself.” I think he’s trying to say that most people are mostly thinking about everything physical, whether it’s your own physical appearance or all the things money can buy you. But happiness doesn’t come from anything physical. I think if you can truly let go of only thinking about yourself, then it’ll be easier to find happiness.
“Silence is perennial flow of language, interrupted by words.” I think that line is so clever. Thoughts are always going on through everyone’s head, but when you start talking, the flow of your thoughts come to a stop to focus on the conversation. I think that’s why people that don’t have many friends or keep to themselves a lot more than others start talking about things that either seem weird to us or things that we’ve never really thought about before because they have more time to think than people who are constantly talking.
“Reality is simply the loss of the ego. Destroy the ego by seeking its identity. It will automatically vanish and reality will shine forth by itself.” I think he’s trying to say that most people are mostly thinking about everything physical, whether it’s your own physical appearance or all the things money can buy you. But happiness doesn’t come from anything physical. I think if you can truly let go of only thinking about yourself, then it’ll be easier to find happiness.
“Silence is perennial flow of language, interrupted by words.” I think that line is so clever. Thoughts are always going on through everyone’s head, but when you start talking, the flow of your thoughts come to a stop to focus on the conversation. I think that’s why people that don’t have many friends or keep to themselves a lot more than others start talking about things that either seem weird to us or things that we’ve never really thought about before because they have more time to think than people who are constantly talking.
Padmasambhava
From the Tibetan Book of the Dead, they are told to use a guru or a disciple of a guru, or a Dharma-brother, to help them focus on their own enlightenment and perceive their own consciousness. They are supposed to help them keep their thoughts from straying back to the present world and all the things they will be leaving behind. They believe that the mind is more than just emptiness after death; it is a great luminosity that goes forth. I see the luminosity as a spirit or soul going towards another life, or “heaven” as most people will call it.
The Book of the Great Liberation tells us that we are all one and we are inseparable. It keeps telling us that until we are able to grasp that idea, we will not be able to reach enlightenment. The Book says the mind is the unity of all things, yet not composed of them. It says the mind is without beginning or end and has been shining forever, like the sun. It says the ultimate goal is to understand your mind.
I think our “light,” or I like to think “spirit” or “soul,” will always “shine on” so to speak. I agree with the ideas from the Tibetan Book of the Dead and the Book of the Great Liberation, that our light has always been there and will always live on.
The Book of the Great Liberation tells us that we are all one and we are inseparable. It keeps telling us that until we are able to grasp that idea, we will not be able to reach enlightenment. The Book says the mind is the unity of all things, yet not composed of them. It says the mind is without beginning or end and has been shining forever, like the sun. It says the ultimate goal is to understand your mind.
I think our “light,” or I like to think “spirit” or “soul,” will always “shine on” so to speak. I agree with the ideas from the Tibetan Book of the Dead and the Book of the Great Liberation, that our light has always been there and will always live on.
Shankara
The Atman is an understanding of what you are and what you are made of. It’s not just your physical characteristics; it’s also the inside of you: your thoughts, your dreams, and your beliefs. “Therefore, know that you are the Atman, ever-blissful, one without a second, and find the ultimate peace.” I agree with that correctly. Nothing can make you happier in this world than knowing what you are and who are you and truly knowing one self. Almost everyone in this world is constantly trying to figure out who they are or what their purpose is.
Tu-Shun
This reading was confusing at first, what I think they are trying to say is basically: We are all one. Whatever happens to one person happens to everyone else. Everyone is a reflection of everyone. That statement makes me want to be a nicer and better person since my reflection is also a reflection on everyone else. I think that your friends and people, even strangers that you come across, all make an impact on you. When you come across a stranger that does something nice for you, whether it’s flash a smile and offer a dollar when your short for coffee, they can make a day better. And my being in a better mood, you’re more likely to do something nice for someone else as well. Or if they’re rude or shove by without apologizing, they can turn a day sour, or at least for me it can. But I tend to be sensitive towards other people’s emotions and feed off of other people’s energy.
I don’t think that everyone is an exact reflection on everyone. There’s definitely more a connection to the people that are closer to you. Who you’re friends are and the choices they make in their lives can make a huge difference in your world. You’re more of a reflection to them then a reflection to someone you don’t know on the opposite side of the world living a completely different life style.
I don’t think that everyone is an exact reflection on everyone. There’s definitely more a connection to the people that are closer to you. Who you’re friends are and the choices they make in their lives can make a huge difference in your world. You’re more of a reflection to them then a reflection to someone you don’t know on the opposite side of the world living a completely different life style.
The Upanishads
This reading was nuts. When I read this reading, the “force” came to mind. (Star Wars)
I think what the Upanishads are trying to say is that God is untouchable and indescribable. The more you think you know God, the less you actually do. His presence is everywhere but not in any one describable location. “That is perfect, this is perfect. Perfect comes from perfect. Take perfect from perfect, the remainder is perfect.” Those lines would make more sense is the word perfect was replaced with “God.” Essentially, I feel that’s what the Upanishads are trying to say.
I think what the Upanishads are trying to say is that God is untouchable and indescribable. The more you think you know God, the less you actually do. His presence is everywhere but not in any one describable location. “That is perfect, this is perfect. Perfect comes from perfect. Take perfect from perfect, the remainder is perfect.” Those lines would make more sense is the word perfect was replaced with “God.” Essentially, I feel that’s what the Upanishads are trying to say.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Chief Seattle (1786-1866)
Once again, the white man has come to take advantage of the nice Indians. Chief Seattle was pretty sarcastic about the offer to give them a reservation and safety for their land when it was inevitable anyways.
“This seems generous, since the red man no longer has rights he need respect.” It’s hard to tell if he’s being serious or just giving up cause there’s nothing him and his people can do to stop the white man. It seems all the white men would do was lie and lie to the Indians to get whatever they wanted.
“But I will not mourn the passing of my people. Nor do I blame our white brother for causing it.” I laughed out loud a bit when I read that line. The white men certainly didn’t do anything to keep the Indians from dying. When the young Indians would try to fight back they always lost, but at least they always died with pride.
“So how can we be brothers? How can your father be our father and make us prosper and send us dreams of future greatness? Your God is prejudiced.” He makes a valid point. God seemed to have given white men the Book, but he forgot the Indians? If the white men would call the Indians their brothers, then how come they get treated so differently than the way the way white men would treat each other?
“To us the ashes of our fathers are sacred. Their graces are holy ground. But you are wanderers, you leave your fathers’ graves behind you, and you do not care.” He seemed appalled that white men would leave the land where their ancestors had died and move clear around the world to start a new life. This really makes me think about how we think so differently about our great ancestors and could leave them so easily, when it’s so hard for the Indians.
The end of his speech scared me a bit, now I’ll be thinking of Indian spirits all around me when I think I’m alone. Spooky.
“This seems generous, since the red man no longer has rights he need respect.” It’s hard to tell if he’s being serious or just giving up cause there’s nothing him and his people can do to stop the white man. It seems all the white men would do was lie and lie to the Indians to get whatever they wanted.
“But I will not mourn the passing of my people. Nor do I blame our white brother for causing it.” I laughed out loud a bit when I read that line. The white men certainly didn’t do anything to keep the Indians from dying. When the young Indians would try to fight back they always lost, but at least they always died with pride.
“So how can we be brothers? How can your father be our father and make us prosper and send us dreams of future greatness? Your God is prejudiced.” He makes a valid point. God seemed to have given white men the Book, but he forgot the Indians? If the white men would call the Indians their brothers, then how come they get treated so differently than the way the way white men would treat each other?
“To us the ashes of our fathers are sacred. Their graces are holy ground. But you are wanderers, you leave your fathers’ graves behind you, and you do not care.” He seemed appalled that white men would leave the land where their ancestors had died and move clear around the world to start a new life. This really makes me think about how we think so differently about our great ancestors and could leave them so easily, when it’s so hard for the Indians.
The end of his speech scared me a bit, now I’ll be thinking of Indian spirits all around me when I think I’m alone. Spooky.
SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA (1752-1830)
I really enjoyed this speech. It seemed like Sa-go-ye-wat-ha really appreciated life and accepted people for their differences. He didn't want to push his own religion on him like the missionary was doing; he didn't even want anything from the white men. All him and his people did was help the white men when they needed it and in return, the white men took advantage of them.
“You say there is only one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is only one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why don’t you all agree since you can all read the book?” I love this quote. He makes a very good point and has really made me think. How can there be so much arguing about one religion if we have a book telling us all the same thing? I know many Christians that will argue about religion when they’re going to the same church and it makes no sense.
“He has given us a different skin color and different customs. He has give great powers to you; about these he has not opened our eyes. We know that these things are true. Since he has made so great a difference between us in other things, why shouldn’t we conclude that he has given us a different religion, according to our understanding?” Again, he makes a very good point. If the Great Spirit made everyone so different and made us all advance technologically at different paces, then why can’t our religious beliefs be different as well? How do we know what’s true and what’s not? Religion helps a lot of people get through each day, especially people living in poverty. So why not let people believe what they want to believe? I know these questions have been repeated a million times, but I just wanted to make my point.
I do not like that Christian missionary at all. People like him are afraid of anything different than themselves or anything that’s not usually in their everyday life.
“You say there is only one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is only one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why don’t you all agree since you can all read the book?” I love this quote. He makes a very good point and has really made me think. How can there be so much arguing about one religion if we have a book telling us all the same thing? I know many Christians that will argue about religion when they’re going to the same church and it makes no sense.
“He has given us a different skin color and different customs. He has give great powers to you; about these he has not opened our eyes. We know that these things are true. Since he has made so great a difference between us in other things, why shouldn’t we conclude that he has given us a different religion, according to our understanding?” Again, he makes a very good point. If the Great Spirit made everyone so different and made us all advance technologically at different paces, then why can’t our religious beliefs be different as well? How do we know what’s true and what’s not? Religion helps a lot of people get through each day, especially people living in poverty. So why not let people believe what they want to believe? I know these questions have been repeated a million times, but I just wanted to make my point.
I do not like that Christian missionary at all. People like him are afraid of anything different than themselves or anything that’s not usually in their everyday life.
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