There just is: Things as It is.

Its the only view that squares with both religion and science,

as Einstein put it, *Nothing exists except the energy that everything is made of.*

Reality is made of molecules, which are made of atoms, which are constantly degrading into other kinds of atoms, and forming new molecules, in a system of constant change.  Atoms dont die, they just continually change into other kinds of atoms.  A constant shifting of energy.  The universe is never the same place two seconds in a row.

Whether you view that oneness of everything as a *conscious self* or a current happenstance of evolutionary atomic science, It just is whatever It is being. 

At the present, I would say It must have self-consciousness or you could not be conscious of yourself.

We are all the same One from different points of view, like different facets of the same crystal, difusing the same light in different ways.

But if you know you are just a character in a play, a puppet in a puppet show, then easier to appreciate yourself, and your Self, and enjoy the show !!

There just is: Things as It is.

Its the only view that squares with both religion and science,

as Einstein put it, *Nothing exists except the energy that everything is made of.*

Reality is made of molecules, which are made of atoms, which are constantly degrading into other kinds of atoms, and forming new molecules, in a system of constant change.  Atoms dont die, they just continually change into other kinds of atoms.  A constant shifting of energy.  The universe is never the same place two seconds in a row.

Whether you view that oneness of everything as a *conscious self* or a current happenstance of evolutionary atomic science, It just is whatever It is being. 

At the present, I would say It must have self-consciousness or you could not be conscious of yourself.

We are all the same One from different points of view, like different facets of the same crystal, difusing the same light in different ways.

But if you know you are just a character in a play, a puppet in a puppet show, then easier to appreciate yourself, and your Self, and enjoy the show !!

Perhaps is quite same as my current understanding of Buddhism ...........myself is a polluted  energy in display and Buddhism is a PROCESS transforming it to purity / emptiness ......perhaps emptiness is the original source of energy before pollted .

Thks

CSEe

I dont hate anyone or anything.  Its unusual for me to actually dislike someone, but in your case I will have to keep trying to understand why that is so.

Why me, me me ?  Because I dont like you, you, you, esoteric.  The feeling of disgust that I have toward you is palpably visceral.  You turn my stomach, almost enough to put me off my food.

I think it is because you dont just express an opinion or point of view.  You seem to want to tell other people what they must think too.  You cant resist trying to correct other people.  I have found that people who try to control others are those who have the least control of themselves, and that they try to control others in an effort to gain more control of themselves.  Compensatory behavior. 

I'm reminded of the lyric, *You cant even run your own life, I will be damned if you will run mine.*  What you have related here of your personal history does not inspire confidence.  And as far as I can tell, the only thing you have mastered that I can see is an ability to stop the internal dialogue, which is really only a starting point.  Elementary.

Nonetheless, with you, I am trying to keep in mind the lyrics from the Rush song, Limelight, which I recently heard on the radio:

*Forget about the alienation,

get on with the fascination,

the real relation,

the underlying theme.*

I'm sorry to interrupt.
Esoteric seems to me as someone who has an understanding of other people's realization. None of his own. So, he parrots what he has heard. And, sometimes he throws a bit of his own personality in the mix. Which makes the mix bitter to the taste.
If you try to remember that he is no more than a parrot then you can let him be and still eat your food ... hahaha.

_________________________________________________________

I will try to remember that.  Good idea. I remember a suggestion in a psychology book that if you dont like someone then think of them as a favorite relative.  So I will think of esoteric as the pet parrot of the family, just repeating things he has heard.

A friend of mine, from way back in elementary school, is also very big on *paying attention* and likes to tell others what to do, and think.  I still consider him a friend although I havent seen him since I kicked him out of my house in 05.  His other friends are gone too.  His last two wives kicked him out.  He hasnt worked for years, lives off the family money his mom gives him. 

Still he still thinks hes the authority on everything.  Talked to him a couple of years ago, and he wanted to move back in with me again.  I said no thanks, we dont do well together living under the same roof.  We are fine with some distance, but last year when I was back home I didnt even try to look him up. 

I'm sorry to interrupt.
Esoteric seems to me as someone who has an understanding of other people's realization. None of his own. So, he parrots what he has heard. And, sometimes he throws a bit of his own personality in the mix. Which makes the mix bitter to the taste.
If you try to remember that he is no more than a parrot then you can let him be and still eat your food ... hahaha.
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Sugar and salt look alike, but are not interchangeable.  It doesnt work to put salt in the cakemix, or sugar on your veggies.

Reading and comprehending what someone has written about awakening is not the same as experiencing it.  As Gangaji says of the experience, *even a split second is enough to convey its meaning*, even though satori experiences usually last for minutes or even hours.

Its one thing to imagine nothingness, and quite another to experience being it.

There was another fellow here who declared himself *teacher*, because as he said he was a professional teacher and it should be his place to lead the discussion, hand out assignments, etc. 

People didnt like that, someone taking control of them.  Alan and Chontri stepped in and said there are no teachers here.  Just say what you have to say.  There are posting guidelines and rules, visible with each posting dialogue box.

I dont think Im better than anyone else. I know for a fact that I am not.  If you have not yet become awakened, you will gain nothing from it that you do not already have.  Although it may be said you will lose a great deal, your life as you know it, materiality, although not possessions, many things you take for granted, including the value of your own opinion, gone.  And also, in speaking of it, you may attract derision from those who do not understand. 

Still, I dont know of anyone who is awakened who would opt to reverse the process.

"
.........

Yes, teacher.

"
.........

I've got to learn to keep my mouth shut. Sorry.

Quote: "You all seem to enjoy, nay thrive, on the damage. "
.........

That could be said to be true. 

Lets say one is trapped in an empty barrel, and then the barrel is smashed to bits, and one finds oneself in an infinity and eternity of emptyness, a Void per se.

The only real difference is that one can then see that the emptiness was not contained within the barrel, but is universal.  One is not trapped in it, one is it because nothing else exists.

Would such an experience be revolutionary ?  How would it affect your daily life ?

In the movie Annie Hall, little Alvie is taken to the shrink by his mother because he won't do his homework.  He says this is because he read that the universe is expanding and will come to an end eventually.  So, he says, *Whats the point* of doing homework ?

This is a microcosmic example of how the truth sets you free.  You dont have to worry about your homework anymore.

Your mouth is fine, open or shut. It's your mind we have to worry about.

--------------------------------

Ive changed my mind about esoteric.  My big brother irritates a lot of people with his attitude.  But we are as we are, and there is not much we can do about it.  I dont blame him for being who he is, I just choose not to have anything to do with him.

One day when we were kids, Fat Pete grabbed me and said, *Call for your brother to save you.*  I said, *NO !  I wont do it !*  He said, *I dont want to hurt you, I like you, its your brother I dont like.  He picks on both of us, but you cant beat him, and I cant catch him, so get him over here and I will beat him up for both of us.*  Then I said, *Help !  Help !*

About the time I got to be 15, and was finally the same size as my brother, I called him out into the back yard to fight.  I won.  He ran away waving his arms in the air like a little girl after I nearly killed him.  And he has not presumed to get physical with me since, after many many years of bullying, and nearly killing more times that either of us can remember.

Hes a lot like you, esoteric.  He reads up on things, memorizes a few facts, and then he thinks hes an expert and should set the standard for everyone else.

Well, in Zen, if not Buddhism or any other religion, there really is no standard.  There only is what you experience, what you understand from it, and hopefully a happier and more comfortable life because of it.

Probably not.  More subjective than objective, Id say.  I just got to the bottom of why I have not liked you.  You remind me of my older brother.

Now that I know that, I probably will not have any particular feelings toward you at all, positive or negative. 

However, you can still take that stick of yours and stick it where the sun dont shine.  You have no business hitting anyone with a stick.  It is certainly not to your benefit, and you have not been duly appointed to do that, and youre not qualified.

Ive always had a problem with authority, and especially with self-appointed superiors.  If someone is duly appointed I will follow them.  Ive even been criticized for supporting bosses that no one liked, including me, and I just said I had to because they had a right to expect my best.  But those who are self appointed, or exceed their authority, have no place with me.

I worked for a guy in the Navy who was abusive.  Almost in the same breath, he would take credit for my ideas, and then turn around say something mean to me.  Oddly, he had specifically requested that I be assigned to his section in the first place.

I had been asked to put a flow chart together by our boss, because I was a draftsman.  Then later, I was walking down the hall and noticed our boss was in a meeting room next to our office.  We always had to clear out when there were meetings because the wall didnt go all the way to the ceiling and everything could be heard between the two rooms.

As I walked into our office, the guy I worked for jumped all over me saying I had done way too good a job on the flowchart, and that I needed to learn because if you do good work like that they will expect it all the time.  I knew our boss next door could hear us, and jumped right back at him.  I dont remember all that I said but it started with, *They better damn well expect my best because thats all they are ever going to get....*  Then I stormed away.

The next day, my supervisor was called into the bosses office.  He was told I was being transferred out of his section, that he was stripped of all authority over me, and was not to give me any orders, and that if he caused me any more problems he would be sent to sea on the first available ship.  I was promoted and worked directly for the boss after that.

Some things just fall into place.

Quote: "In fact, you could do both. At the same time. Might be good for you.

Whatever you choose, I love you anyway. :-)
"
.........

Youre not pushing my buttons anymore, esoteric, so Im sure we will get along better.

Not to worry, the Spirit and I, the Divine Goddess of the Universe and I, have a very good relationship that promises to last forever.

Quote: "What's the difference between right and left. Any ideas?"
.........

A deer at the side of the road broke to the right instead of the left,

so I did not hit him on the way to work tonight.