Wow. I finally get it! The Enlightenment.

If one is awakened he will most surely fall asleep again..... being awake is transitory.

The amount of joy or sorrow one feels is not the measure of enlightenment... understanding that joy and sorrow are merely aspects of the same thing is the beginning of the path.

pffft!

I could'a told you that.

It's also why different people have fun doing different things..... unfortunatly some people have fun killing people and things of this nature.

but if you smile then 50% of the world smiles with you and the other half gets suspicious and gives you funny looks.

Some of the mods don't really get this concept. I base this statement on the number of times i've had a comment removed where i was trying to have a laugh but the mod in question was too busy having fun being an anal $%^$%

reply to post by arpgme


there are 4 stages to enlightenment, if you achieve even the first you can perform miracles and the 2nd you can read minds, it should also be noted that the Buddha hated the first two stages because usually once achieved, the prospect would feel that this was good enough and go on to use their power for less than respectable purposes.

can you do either of these things, both or more?

reply to post by intrptr


I would love to just run off and have no obligations and perhaps someday I will. But I have a family and humans that cannot take care of themselves which must be provided for. That means providing for them until I can find a better way. Leaving does not negate these needs and shurking my responsibility to have neither a care in the world, is not an option. I accepted these duties with eyes wide open and unlike many these days take it as a badge of honor to stick around giving stability and support no matter the cost to me!

reply to post by intrptr


P.S. I have been there, not by my choice or my doing as I was too young but that is no way for children to live. Maybe 200 years ago or something but not now it is not healthy.

Bravo, i'm very impressed with the way you are handling the protestant trolls. 2 Stars and a Flag for you. i could actually skip reading the troll posts because you recap the important stuff in your replies. Very diplomatic and even tempered. You certainly are generating merit for this post and if you aren't enlightened yet, you should or soon will be. Congratulations! Many people are commenting/defending the poor or suffering, but poor people always have more fun than wealthy and when people stop suffering or starving, they usually realize they had more fun then than they are now. I know i did...reply to post by arpgme

reply to post by abeverage

I agree. It's not for everybody. Getting there is the important thing, not how. Everyones path is different. Maybe I should have said, IF one can be happy in a situation like I described...

I knew a dude who used to reflect, "The cops are going to arrest me for trespassing (sleeping outdoors)? Instead of playing the rat race and paying rent I like to be free and sleep out under the stars. And they are going to take me away from that and put me in jail? Give me a shower, three "hots" and a cot?" He holds his wrists out together in a gesture of submission, "Lets go". Everyone laughs.

Of course you can't do that with your family. I think that is marvelous that you are able to handle all that that represents. I couldn't. The fulfillment of keeping it together with your kids dependent upon you? The way they look into your eyes?

Priceless.

Thats surely a better path .

reply to post by abeverage

Sorry if I double replied . There was two responses from you?

Maybe 200 years ago or something but not now it is not healthy.

That was the healthiest I have ever been. That may sound unbelievable but it's true.

I was out there for seven years. When I finally came back from the edge, I was worried that I may have become sick in some serious way. I felt fine, better than at any time previous time in my life. The concern I had was that I may have picked up some sickness or toxin from somewhere... I dove in 10,000 dumpsters in that time and spent years sleeping under bridges... God only knows what I picked up.

I was amazed when a full blood work up was completely negative for any illness whatsoever. My cholesterol was lowest, I was lean and in good shape. I can only attribute this to living on faith alone. Like the birds and trees? Or something like that. Can't explain it.

Since I have become re domesticated as it were however, my health has begun to slip again to that border line civilized mode. I make that distinction. There is some kind of "protection" (call it what you will), when living with your soul to the void that I can't begin to explain. As opposed to being more dependent upon the system.

One may seem more dangerous and unhealthy than the other, but actually quite the opposite is true.

reply to post by intrptr


Yes there is a difference between the physical health and the mental health we endure in a so called civilized life.

reply to post by bowtomonkey


Nothing you said makes sense.

reply to post by arpgme


Not so. People sometimes make others suffer out of love. I think of the judge that condemns a kid to jail time in hopes he will change. That is compassion and love. And it is also suffering.

When you "play" with someone, both parties are willing participants. This is what I mean by it is all about fun and playing by yourself and with others.

Oh sure. It's all fun and games until someone yells rape, right?

Just for fun, I looked up the word "fun" in many differently languages and the definition from the other language was "fun, amusement". In most languages, these two words are connected.

Some find amusement in suffering.

Originally posted by Gorman91
reply to post by bowtomonkey

 

Nothing you said makes sense.

I won't bother explaining because I doubt that you can understand and it's too hard finding ways to put things into words, for you.

You can decide for yourself who is in charge of your life.

Originally posted by grey580
reply to post by LifeIsEnergy

 

I'm gonna go with U. G. Krishnamurti.
en.wikipedia.org...

Once you are enlightened you will see there really is nothing to see.
I feel that he was onto something.

I feel that once you are enlightened you see "everything." I get what you're saying but you can see what others cannot. Well I guess they can see it too but they're either ignorant or oblivious to it, such as, truth, lies, love, energy, messages, etc. You are highly aware. I feel less "tunnel-visioned" and feel that I have a larger field of vision. At the same time you're right though, you don't see anything different, just more beautifully, I guess.

Originally posted by arpgme
The Buddha said that when one becomes enlightened they'll look up towards the sky and laugh. Laucius (Lao Zi) says that The Way is so simple that it is there and yet people can not see it!

Now that I finally get it, I have to agree. It is there and no one sees it! Some people spend there entire lives trying different philosophies and never find it, and yet, every single child and animal know it. This is why they say that IT is "child-like".

It all makes sense now. It is so simple and easy and natural...

Actually, it is not simple. This could be with the improper translation. It is direct, not simple. The way getting there is direct, but no means it is simple.

reply to post by bowtomonkey


Ah yes. Speaking down to the mere mortals.


Of course, great prophet. Surely you can only be right.

Originally posted by Gorman91
reply to post by bowtomonkey

 

Ah yes. Speaking down to the mere mortals.


Of course, great prophet. Surely you can only be right.

Seriously, you won't understand. I've spent many years getting to where i am and i need 1000's of words and your undivided attention to make myself clear. This is not arrogance.

Most if not all the people here are talking about life expressing itself through the soul.
Another way to put is, is that the man divided becomes one.

There is only one essence to whom the man can be and that is what people become enlightened to.

This is just a step in the journey.

If you think you know, then I don't think you know.

reply to post by bowtomonkey


If you need that, then you're doing is wrong.

Truth is focused, simple, few words, and to the point.

Originally posted by Gorman91
reply to post by bowtomonkey

 

If you need that, then you're doing is wrong.

Truth is focused, simple, few words, and to the point.

This is true, but how can I teach you the necessary lexicon and symbols needed to grasp, what in essence may only be understood through intuition.