The Path to Enlightenment
 

Where is the path?

I think that path would be fine, but Mrs. Motion would frown on it.

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SOunds like you should ask your wife for that path. :cool:

Zen pool...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQPaDzdlBQg

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 you go..being serious and truthful.

To me its somewhat the other way around. Be brutally honest with yourself regarding what you need to fulfill your inner most desires. Do it.
That will make you happy and being truly happy is the only way to give you the power to make other people happy too.
Works for me and my wife anyway.
And as she keeps reminding me: Happy wife, happy life.

Path needs enlightenment?

Try a flashlight.

There it is, at least for me.

In my opinion, "enlightened" people would be the last to know they are...

I bet my lifestyle would cause you and Mrs. Motion to flee in terror and disappointment, but it is my gig and I love it.

Not on the internet....

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.

Perhaps they did but it likely involves losing every thing you have.

I know nothing about the religion. My neighbor around the corner, another car guy is a Buddhist. He just traded his 700HP Twin Turbo 911 for a newer Turbo 911.

Either he does not follow his religion to the T. Someday I will ask. Every time I stop to talk to him it is typically about cars, I always leave impressed by how mellow he is.

Next time I will ask him about his Buddha statues all over his front garden. Maybe I am assuming too much. Maybe he just likes the statues.

This, my comment (in green) was meant to be facetious, most philosophies that offer enlightenment recommend letting go of earthly possessions.

As Seahawk said enlightenment can mean very different things to different people... my dream was to move to Hawaii, live off fruit and fish and go swimming in the ocean every day.

My wifes dream is to move back to the PNW where she grew up.

Someone else's dream may be to move to Idaho and become a potato farmer.

Get this book, grasshopper, and all will be revealed.

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The next motorcycle you buy?
(no green font)
:p

This be more relevant to motion: ;)

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That's a great post - inspirational. Thanks, Shaun!

To follow the Shining Path and the teachings of Chairman Gonzalo.

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.

Thanks Baz, appreciate it coming from who I consider the happiest person on this board. You should definitely tell us your secret! SmileWavy

Porsches (full boat Porsches) and a yard full of Buddha statues. Is he taking a page from Creflow Dollar's playbook?

If people didn't want X, nothing we have today would exist. Wanting leads to progress. I welcome cravings and hope that my society does as well. Why live at all if your objective is to deny your own humanity?

Inner peace.

Oh no wuhat a concept. So what does this inner peace consist of? So that I might see if I have some of it already lyeing about.

Nobody’s passing judgment but if you invite wants / cravings then you also invite all the suffering that goes with it. The two are linked and there’s simply no getting around it. I suspect for most people there is a willingness to accept some suffering and inner conflict for some craving. The path to inner peace certainly doesn’t lie in a big bank account, flashy car, McMansion, job title or even list of personal accomplishments however. Those things have value but they also create pain - both for us and for others. Just consider what you do and the cost to your own true happiness, that’s all. Most people (particularly those in western societies) do not.

I guess that’s how I’d consider it and try to. I’ve found a lot of joy in simplifying my life, getting away from the “climb the corporate ladder” ratrace mentality and not being so competitive about everything. Of course being around folks that really enjoy life and in a beautiful / peaceful place that’s not such a grind anymore helps with that too. At least for me.

Ambition isn’t all bad or evil - it just has its price and that price can be pretty insidious.

Some of the happiest people I know are those with the least to show by our western / ‘mercian standards. By contrast I’ve worked at (and been) a very high-functioning, driven, type A but truly, deeply miserable inside. Many “religions” teach that the path to salvation lies through suffering. I don’t believe that at all and Buddhism certainly doesn’t teach it either - rather that the path to true peace and happiness and enlightenment is the result of eliminating suffering. Ironically this is pretty similar to what Jesus taught (Christianity) too (“sell all you have and come follow me” - Buddhism might suggest “sell most of what you have and do more for others” rather than “follow me”, but it’s not too far off) but that message is completely lost on most so-called Christians these days it seems.

Just consider it. That’s all. Best of luck on your path.

Watched this recently:

https://www.netflix.com/title/80185801


Studied Socrates in college. Although I watched this thinking it would be a good review of him (and it did have some good insight into how his methods were not well received in the changing political climate he lived in), I found the episodes on "The Buddha" especially interesting. If you can get past the series presenter's ever present presence, this series is a quick and accessible review of these three trains of thought.

Contentment.


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A road trip or overseas trip frees up the mind from our normal surroundings. Besides a moving target is harder to hit than one standing still. Keep walking, cycling or running and do what the body was designed to do.

I drove my daughter to her hairdresser's place yesterday and she was there six hours. That was the longest time she had been away from her baby since the baby was borne six weeks ago.

I learned from that you should not take your freedom for granted.....

"To find your path to enlightenment you start by defining enlightenment. That determines the direction to start looking." —RKDinOKC

Is enlightenment happiness, calmness, zen, detachment from possessions, accumulating possessions, being centered, at peace, these have all been described here so far.

Thank you for taking the time to post this information. Buddhism and Hinduism have both been in my periphery for a while now, the wife and I have discussed learning about them more. Being raised christian in 2 different versions of Christianity I developed a disdain for it about 10 years ago. I walked away from all religion about 6 years ago.

Now that I am no longer being told how to think or worship I find other religions or philosophies regarding spirituality interesting and want to learn more about them. You might be the push I needed to start exploring now and stop putting it off.

She wants to sign up for some transcendental meditation instruction. I know I would benefit from it as would both our sons.

Thanks Motion, see!! Everything has not been covered on here.

I’ve come to the realization in my life that stuff doesn’t bring happiness. Experiences, moments, sharing with people I love, that is happiness. Cars are great but they can be fairly selfish in the enjoyment that they bring. For me I’m finding that I enjoy shared moments better. It’s why I’m selling cars, bought a bigger boat, and am paying off my house. I want to be able to fully enjoy the experiences that life brings, particularly while my kids are still at home.

Let's start with understanding the situation.
The rest of the book is the enlightenment.