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Originally posted by Buddha1098
reply to post by poet1b
I didn't say noticing the attractive woman is wrong.
I'll try again... An attractive woman is in a room. That is (subjective) truth. The thoughts that accompany that observation are not truth only your thoughts. Meditating will quiet the mind so that your thoughts don't carry you away from the truth.
Originally posted by poet1b
reply to post by Buddha1098
So we are talking about the truth here, and the example put forth is how to hit on a hot chick in an elevator?
You need to get yourself a girlfriend.
Ok, lets go with it, more interesting than many of the other philosophy threads I have been participating in.
Let's go for background first. You are in the market, so to speak, when you enter the elevator, and notice the attractive person. We could leave it neutral for all participants.
Truth:
You are in an elevator with an attractive person, probability your perspective is true, extremely high, depending on your taste in women, which really doesn't matter because beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
You want to hit on this attractive person, as the example has gone so far. Recognizing the truth means admitting you want to hit on her, emotional control should greatly improve your odds of actually making some kind of proper mood, the whole importance of passion and attitude thing. See my other thread if you would like. Now according to Buddha1098's interpretation, the best way to proceed is to calm your mind meditatively. The western concept would be, do what Fonzi would do, be cool. I think we could say this is true, the best thing to do, probability wise, but some people are able to pull off different approaches. Take the time to observe the subject of your desire, is there a ring, does the person seem to be in the wrong emotional state, do you have a legitimate shot?
Ah, but clearing one's mind isn't enough, you have to think of something to say to the object of your desire, in order to get at bat. Experience should tell you that first you have to make eye contact. Ideally, you make eye contact right away, and there is a spark. Whether or not you get a spark, you have to think of something appropriate to say. Even if they are staring at a spot on the wall, you can still pull it off, but your opening will have be much more clever.
The next big step will then be finding the courage to make your move. Meditation isn't going to help you here. A consequences be damned sense of mirth would be the best state of mind, IME. The rest is going with the flow, and again, I don't see meditation as being all that helpful, but I guess some people can pull it off.
In each of these steps, you have to do your best to ascertain the truth of the situation, but you will never know exactly what to do, all the factors that make up the truth. All you have is your own experiences combined with ongoing observations to clue in to the truthfulness of the moment.
Originally posted by Buddha1098
reply to post by absolutely
I'm sorry I can't understand what you are saying.
Is it the fact I said (subjective) truth? Truth is there is a woman in the room. The subjective part is whether she is attractive or not.
edit on 20-3-2012 by Buddha1098 because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by Buddha1098
reply to post by NorEaster
Thinking isn't the issue.
It's following the usual mental chatter that goes on between the ears of your average Human.
I'll try again.
In my example there is a woman in the room. You find her attractive. That is Truth.
If you're lost in your thoughts you'll have all these thoughts that will occupy your mind. Some may lead you to think you should go up and talk to her, some will tell you shouldn't. But these thoughts have no basis in truth.
Contrasted to the second example. I see a woman. I find her attractive. Still truth. The rest is up to me. If I want to find out whether she finds me attractive, I ask her for a drink. No mental Chatter, no thoughts that carry me away from the truth.
I still use my mind to talk to her, I still get ideas, but I can quiet my mind and not listen to it's incessant ramblings too. And that skill comes through meditation