The Path to Enlightenment

[ckelly78z]

Surveying your (paid off) land on a quiet evening, while musing next to a crackling camp fire, with good friends, and adult beverages.

[Por_sha911]

All the stuff or fun things to do are great but in reality they are only distractions as we hurtle down the dead end path of mortality. He who dies with the most toys (or great memories) is still dead. Can you state that they give you enlightenment or lasting peace?

[ckelly78z]

I guess I really don't care about next level enlightenment, and achieving Zen through meditation. I am NOT concerned with my hurtling towards my mortal end, while I am still on this earth, I am concerned about achieving peace, and contentment.

[shaunmbenson]

Originally Posted by motion

Where is the path?

You are on it.

First become aware you are on it = Zen - good

Then forget you are on it = No Zen - better

[ckelly78z]

Much more worried about meeting small daily goals, than keeping my head in the clouds wondering why !

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

That's easy and I've said it many times here. True happiness is actively trying to make the life of the person next to you a little better whether they are family, friends or strangers. Most instances are tiny, sometimes you are blessed with bigger ones. You have to look for opportunities but they are always there, you just have to look at life a little differently. Sacrifice your own needs so that others may benefit. I urge everyone to try it, it's a lot of fun.

There is something to be said for that. Mrs WD is so like that. She will strike up conversations with people who are invisible to me. I am so focused on what I'm doing I don't even recognize a stranger let alone take a minute to have a conversation with them. She'll say something to someone in the grocery checkout line and she'll soon have a conversation going with 6 people - and they will all feel better for it. God bless her, I love this woman - she has taught me so much.

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

That's easy and I've said it many times here. True happiness is actively trying to make the life of the person next to you a little better whether they are family, friends or strangers. Most instances are tiny, sometimes you are blessed with bigger ones. You have to look for opportunities but they are always there, you just have to look at life a little differently. Sacrifice your own needs so that others may benefit. I urge everyone to try it, it's a lot of fun.

I know a few men that adhere to this, they are truly great people and they genuinely believe they are happy. Perception is reality...

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

I guess I really don't care about next level enlightenment, and achieving Zen through meditation. I am NOT concerned with my hurtling towards my mortal end, while I am still on this earth, I am concerned about achieving peace, and contentment.

Fair enough. Everyone has their own life and they spend it the way they want. I use the word spend because life is a limited resource and unlike money and stuff, at some point you run out and there is no way to get more.

Things to consider:
Am I content with what I have? Do I have peace that will last even if I lose the stuff?

I found that there is a difference between happy and peaceful. If all someone wants is to be entertained then they don't really want peace. For me, it was too tiring to keep the stream of stuff and kicks to avoid the quiet moments in the dark of the night when there was no peace in my heart or mind.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

no idea where this comes from, but my brother shared it with me on a ski lift. Stuck with me...

"Everyone has two lives, the second begins when you realize you only have one"

I have been told that "its what you learn after you know it all that counts".

[shaunmbenson]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

Much more worried about meeting small daily goals, than keeping my head in the clouds wondering why !

small daily goals is zen

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

All the stuff or fun things to do are great but in reality they are only distractions as we hurtle down the dead end path of mortality.

In the strictest, physical sense this is true but surely, like the conservation of mass and conservation of energy (energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can be altered from one form to another), there is the conservation of the soul, or spirit or whatever you wish the call the peculiar aspect that uniquely defines being Human.

The soul carries on and it is our duty to shape it positively in the short time we have here on Earth.

[svandamme]

read the Empty Mirror by Jan Willem van de Weteringe.
Dutch dude who not long after WW2 went to become a ZEN monk in Japan.

He tells the story in a very good, humorist way, you'll love it either way.
It's not so much a book about strict budhism or Zen or anything.. But it covers some good ground
I got that suggestion from my Kendo sensei, It puts things in perspective in more ways then one.

https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Mirror-Experiences-Japanese-Monastery/dp/0312207743

[sand_man]

If you're unable to find the "path", the words "Gunga Galunga" will bring you total consciousness on your deathbed...that's something, at least.

[CurtEgerer]

The trail to enlightenment has been previously discussed. It's clogged with vagrants.

Homeless-Encampments

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by sand_man

If you're unable to find the "path", the words "Gunga Galunga" will bring you total consciousness on your deathbed...that's something, at least.

Big hitter, the Lama.......

[asphaltgambler]

Is through Jesus .......it's that simple

[motion]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

That's easy and I've said it many times here. True happiness is actively trying to make the life of the person next to you a little better whether they are family, friends or strangers. Most instances are tiny, sometimes you are blessed with bigger ones. You have to look for opportunities but they are always there, you just have to look at life a little differently. Sacrifice your own needs so that others may benefit. I urge everyone to try it, it's a lot of fun.

I'm watching a really cool series on Netflix, The Kindness Diaries. A Brit travels around the world in his side-car 100% dependent on the kindness of strangers. Its really good!

[motion]

Originally Posted by Jims5543

You know any Buddhists? Serious question, every Buddhist I know seems to be centered, calm and at peace and exude that. Makes me want to explore it more. They seem to have found something I have not.

I bought a book, The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation. Maybe I'll learn something new

[motion]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

travel
surf
really listen to other people
meditate
do things that make you uncomfortable
ride bikes
plant stuff and watch it grow
ride bikes
don't worry about "things"
ride bikes


ymmv

I think you're on to something there, Peter. I've found that riding a small motorbike at slow speed in a new and foreign place with just a few provisions gives me a sense of peace and contentment that is hard to describe. It would be great to be able to do this in perpetuity. If only life could be that simple...

[motion]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Buddhism is less of a “religion” than a philosophy. There is no divinity, no mystical mumbo-jumbo, no hierarchy, no institution to be satisfied with tribute, none of that. It is simply a brilliant way of looking at suffering as stemming from craving and acknowledging that suffering can be ended if only one seeks to eliminate the underlying craving(s) that ultimately spawn it. I find something in studying the teachings of Buddhism that no other belief system has ever given me - a sense of truth - as in easy-to-understand, simple common sense truth without the need for obfuscated “teachings”, musty old books, fire-and-brimstone preachers or “faith” in completely intangible and impossible-to-prove principles. It’s so simple to understand and put into practice it’s almost laughable. The core beliefs (the four noble truths and the eightfold path) seem almost dumb in their simplicity.

A lot of it is about realizing and admitting ones own cravings - for material things but also things like prestige, position, power, recognition, acceptance by others, attention, etc. Only by lowering one’s expectations to nothing or nearly nothing can one really rid themselves of cravings and therefore, suffering. There’s simply no way around it. The moment you say “well, I still want X” there is craving and by extension, suffering. Where a particular person chooses to draw that line for themselves (i.e. how much suffering they’re willing to accept) is up to them. Not everyone is expected to become a Shaolin monk.

It is a fascinating belief system and way of thinking that I wish would take hold in a more mainstream way. There is simply nobody I can think of who wouldn’t benefit from giving serious consideration to what it teaches and the change in attitude / mindset it almost inevitably creates.

Hey Jeff, I gotta say... you used to be one of my least favorite posters here. I know you're a smart guy, but it seemed like your posts were always filled with so much vitriol. You have really come a long way and nowadays I appreciate your calm, thoughtful, intelligent posts here. I can tell you're really in a better place. And thanks for this post, its got me thinking.