Things I Wrote In My Notebook (a series)
Since I've gathered stacks of notes, I'l put up two at a time.
(1)
Yeah, Buddhism. It goes roughly like this ... I had for years been a "seeker", but mostly not in a spiritual way. I had a science education background, and it was science that was going to have all the answers. And of course, science is very good at answering certain questions. But as my thinking broadened, it was clear that what science really didn't do was even ask the big questions. I think part of the reason Douglas Adams was able to riff on the idea of "Life, the universe, and everything", is that while science has gone to amazing places, it can seem further away from tackling such a big question. Really, the answer truly may as well be 42.
While Buddhists don't proselytize, what does reach public ears reached mine, and to me was really curious. Somebody told me the Buddha was an ordinary guy who figured out how to get relief from suffering. I'm ever skeptical, but it was enough to start reading. I think I was lucky that I decided to first read only the Buddha 's own words - those which he himself wrote. You might be aware of the thousands of books on Buddhism out there; indeed there's so many, the original point, honestly, easily gets obscured.
The Buddha's advice is essentially: Do the right thing, and calm your mind. Of course, he elaborates on this with many ideals of "right" doings. In doing so, he illuminates the path toward ultimate enlightenment - which is certainly not necessarily expected of "everyday followers".
So it was the pure good logic, and non-religious advice that appealed. I can be wordy, but I'd like to finish by dispelling a strong myth about it all ...
In those original teachings, the Buddha basically did not mention a higher power of any kind. God is, to him, irrelevant. Which is to say, if you have such a faith, that's fine - no need to give it up. God's word, as it appears in any religious text, can be happily embraced as being so very good. Or not. It doesn't matter.
So when you look to Buddhism's birthplace - Asia, you of course find all these variations on Buddhism, most of which include rituals and worship (but never worship of the Buddha; that would be silly - he was just a guy). Over the last so many decades, Buddhism made a leap into the West (carried mostly by just a handful of monks). On arrival here in the West, its more likely to be received as a philosophy. Or, overlaid on existing faith, like the East. Its worth noting though, that using Buddhism strictly as a philosophy is definitely not that singular path to true enlightenment. That takes some dedicated effort and training.
(2)
On The Nature Of Genius And Stigma
----------------------------------------------
Alex - you're already a good friend - we inevitably can connect around our intelligence level. But here's what frustrates me. I was willing to bet on your intelligence simply because you're younger than me. Strange? Not at all. For lack of a better term yet, you (and apparently I) are Indigo Children. I wouldn't use that term - it comes with new age quackery. But the name does spark people, so let's use it for now. The relevant part is : Supposedly beginning around the early 1970s, most children had some increase in intelligence. As far as I know it hasn't
Can you tell someone exactly how they are about to be deceived, and then go ahead and do just that? Yes, you can. It's odd. It's the nature of the concept. For us humans, determining our comfort level around such an idea takes a lot of processing. Basically, just enough that you can slip it right by them as they watch it happen. :)
Doing absolutely anything in response always works well (Buddhism). To get it right every time, you must never do anything (Taoism). What is going on here (me)?
I really don't know if this is all original thought (I'm pretty sure it's at least logically more satisfying). You see, I don't realy know, because this awesome brain wants still yet more power. Why? Well, given that I believe our future is God-like, it might be like the
Turnng a bad accident into success ... check CERN's progess in nearly two off years. (they doubled the power of the accelerator, while fixing the damage. Awesome.)
The important truths are, in fact, always blindingly obvious. There is therefore really no mistaking them - we mostly sort of .. look through them. Another way of saying, we can ignore reality. I can hardly imagine why this is so.
Although I don't practice enough to write great songs, I already knew I was good - my good "feel" is effecetively instant or real-time if you prefer.
Madness is simply that which is unintelligible.
These two statements are merely results of striving to understand/believe
At my best I do know, almost impicitly, how to productively meld creativity with ability - which is the potential for orignal thought
Too scattered, must break it's uniquely
(the end)
(1)
Yeah, Buddhism. It goes roughly like this ... I had for years been a "seeker", but mostly not in a spiritual way. I had a science education background, and it was science that was going to have all the answers. And of course, science is very good at answering certain questions. But as my thinking broadened, it was clear that what science really didn't do was even ask the big questions. I think part of the reason Douglas Adams was able to riff on the idea of "Life, the universe, and everything", is that while science has gone to amazing places, it can seem further away from tackling such a big question. Really, the answer truly may as well be 42.
While Buddhists don't proselytize, what does reach public ears reached mine, and to me was really curious. Somebody told me the Buddha was an ordinary guy who figured out how to get relief from suffering. I'm ever skeptical, but it was enough to start reading. I think I was lucky that I decided to first read only the Buddha 's own words - those which he himself wrote. You might be aware of the thousands of books on Buddhism out there; indeed there's so many, the original point, honestly, easily gets obscured.
The Buddha's advice is essentially: Do the right thing, and calm your mind. Of course, he elaborates on this with many ideals of "right" doings. In doing so, he illuminates the path toward ultimate enlightenment - which is certainly not necessarily expected of "everyday followers".
So it was the pure good logic, and non-religious advice that appealed. I can be wordy, but I'd like to finish by dispelling a strong myth about it all ...
In those original teachings, the Buddha basically did not mention a higher power of any kind. God is, to him, irrelevant. Which is to say, if you have such a faith, that's fine - no need to give it up. God's word, as it appears in any religious text, can be happily embraced as being so very good. Or not. It doesn't matter.
So when you look to Buddhism's birthplace - Asia, you of course find all these variations on Buddhism, most of which include rituals and worship (but never worship of the Buddha; that would be silly - he was just a guy). Over the last so many decades, Buddhism made a leap into the West (carried mostly by just a handful of monks). On arrival here in the West, its more likely to be received as a philosophy. Or, overlaid on existing faith, like the East. Its worth noting though, that using Buddhism strictly as a philosophy is definitely not that singular path to true enlightenment. That takes some dedicated effort and training.
(2)
On The Nature Of Genius And Stigma
----------------------------------------------
Alex - you're already a good friend - we inevitably can connect around our intelligence level. But here's what frustrates me. I was willing to bet on your intelligence simply because you're younger than me. Strange? Not at all. For lack of a better term yet, you (and apparently I) are Indigo Children. I wouldn't use that term - it comes with new age quackery. But the name does spark people, so let's use it for now. The relevant part is : Supposedly beginning around the early 1970s, most children had some increase in intelligence. As far as I know it hasn't
Can you tell someone exactly how they are about to be deceived, and then go ahead and do just that? Yes, you can. It's odd. It's the nature of the concept. For us humans, determining our comfort level around such an idea takes a lot of processing. Basically, just enough that you can slip it right by them as they watch it happen. :)
Doing absolutely anything in response always works well (Buddhism). To get it right every time, you must never do anything (Taoism). What is going on here (me)?
I really don't know if this is all original thought (I'm pretty sure it's at least logically more satisfying). You see, I don't realy know, because this awesome brain wants still yet more power. Why? Well, given that I believe our future is God-like, it might be like the
Turnng a bad accident into success ... check CERN's progess in nearly two off years. (they doubled the power of the accelerator, while fixing the damage. Awesome.)
The important truths are, in fact, always blindingly obvious. There is therefore really no mistaking them - we mostly sort of .. look through them. Another way of saying, we can ignore reality. I can hardly imagine why this is so.
Although I don't practice enough to write great songs, I already knew I was good - my good "feel" is effecetively instant or real-time if you prefer.
Madness is simply that which is unintelligible.
These two statements are merely results of striving to understand/believe
At my best I do know, almost impicitly, how to productively meld creativity with ability - which is the potential for orignal thought
Too scattered, must break it's uniquely
(the end)
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