GENIUS FORUMS

Dennis Mahar wrote:take electricity.
can't see it, can't touch it, can't smell it, can't hear it etc

Isn't lightning visable electricity ?

Dennis Mahar wrote:I'm sure we can make something up.

It has something to do with light,
and physical phenomena is a dense form of light.

So,
if we could see our true nature,
it would be luminous,
like a clear light.

This (material phenomena),
is the illusion.
All is of the same substance. (Light)

Or is that my bullshit theory ?

lightning is an effect.

Buddhahood is an effect,
a condition brought about by the elimination of errors in reasoning.

Dennis Mahar wrote:Buddhahood is an effect,
a condition brought about by the elimination of errors in reasoning.

But if we ultimately do not exist,
then who errors ?

then who errors ?

a possibility for existence.

Dennis Mahar wrote:
a possibility for existence.

That doesn't make sense,
you mean this illusion makes mistakes ?
Can a dreamer make mistakes in a dream ?
If so,
are there real consequenses ?

a display of nature, appearance.
Buddhists call it a display of Buddha Nature and a Buddha has realised 'what's so'.
Buddhahood wins hands down.

Think of it as a movie and you are an actor.
Shakespeare noted,
all the world's a stage and we are players upon it.

So, what's your act Sandy?
your possibility?
your project?
your winning formula?

Dennis Mahar wrote:a display of nature, appearance.

Yes, but what i am asking you is why form appears ? Why don't we remain formless ? Why is emptiness form ?

What's your winning formula?

don't burn the toast
clean knickers every day
always say please
turn the other cheek
shiny shoes
reject everybody before they reject you, get in first
money in the bank

Dennis Mahar wrote:Sherlock knew motive was key to arrive at the who. He wanted the who. He didn't dwell on the psychology of the who that generated the motive. Sherlock used inference or constructed models for possible suspects and these models didn't find the who, they only narrowed the field of possibilities. He looked for opportunity, who was where and when: deduction.

You seem to make some kind of distinction between who/motive and who/psyche. Or between "psychology of the who" and "field of possibilities". This is a meaningless distinction, made by you and then abolished by you. And then revealed it was meaningless to begin with! And of course it is. But did this exercise solve anything?

Dennis Mahar wrote:What's your winning formula?

Compassion

For human beings motive is implicit.
the why and a who.
Sherlock wanted the who and looked for the opportunity, who was where and when.

Kunga asks:

Yes, but what i am asking you is why form appears ? Why don't we remain formless ? Why is emptiness form ?

She is inferring 'true nature' has a motive,
next she'll want the who,
then we'll wind up with a God and a game plan.
We'll have a religion and a bunch of prayers.

There are no reasons.

Compassion

How does compassion win hands down strategically.

Dennis Mahar wrote:How does compassion win hands down strategically.

How does hatred,
greed and violence win?

So, you've got a duality set-up.

compassion cuts out hatred, greed and violence.
an antidote to existential terror.
a winning formula,
a practice,
an existential activity.
a doingness for being in relation to other.
a strategy.
a motive.
what's the payoff for you.

Dennis Mahar wrote:what's the payoff for you.

,


I am less greedy,hate-filled and violent.

America wins basketball Gold.
thank God for slavery.

Dennis Mahar wrote:She is inferring 'true nature' has a motive,
next she'll want the who,
then we'll wind up with a God and a game plan.
We'll have a religion and a bunch of prayers.

There are no reasons.

No,
I just want to know the truth. Why do you say there are no reasons for the formless to form?

Have you ever read the Buddhas explaination?
We were once composed of clear light. Google the Agganna Sutta.
desire is the cause of our true nature devolving into course material.

Is compassion desirous?

A reason for true nature hasn't been given.
Desire is given as a reason for a predicament.
That desire is an error of reasoning.

What's the value of abstractions of causality? Why not accept it as a given like awareness as part of submission?

Dennis: I think what you're getting at Pam is you're studiously withdrawing your projections.

Very well put.

Kunga wrote:

Dennis Mahar wrote:She is inferring 'true nature' has a motive,
next she'll want the who,
then we'll wind up with a God and a game plan.
We'll have a religion and a bunch of prayers.

There are no reasons.

No,
I just want to know the truth. Why do you say there are no reasons for the formless to form?

Have you ever read the Buddhas explaination?
We were once composed of clear light. Google the Agganna Sutta.
desire is the cause of our true nature devolving into course material.

Kunga, it is true that desire, ignorance, causes the material, but what causes desire? Ultimately, the mind arrives at silence of cause. Nibbana.

The Buddhist Phony wrote:America wins basketball Gold.
thank God for slavery.

Yes. Australia should be proud that there are Aborigine Reservations.

Very well put.

Pam, the reasoning goes something like this.

the problem is the projection of a self-image,
running counter to one's primordial nature not-self,
this self-image projected into the world, affected by constant buffeting, requiring constant makeover, demanding compliance from others,
gets angry, frustrated, crestfallen, needy because its expectations are rarely met,
and falls deeper and deeper into inauthenticity and suffering.
the self-image is actually a projected winning formula that is meant to win hands down but sustains some wins and some losses that constitute the up and down of samsaric existence.
One is tied to the self-image and hangs on grimly, believing it exists inherently.
It's the story. the self narrative, the activity of selfing.


projecting a self-image of a compassionate nature, bringing the possibility of virtue into play,
generates peace, harmonious relations, has one relatively free of affective emotions like anger, fear, grief,
generates moods of enthusiasm, joy, a bit like winning the lottery.
It's noble in nature and not to be dismissed lightly.
It does a power of good in the community.
Nevertheless it is a self-image that one ties one self to, and can be easily defeated if expectations are not met.
it is an intelligent step in the direction of eliminating suffering but is vulnerable.

The activity of Bodhisatva involves the prior realisation of emptiness (not-self),
projecting compassion into the world,
in order to draw those suffering into a greater possibility.
the safeguard for the bodhisatva pattern is that realisation of emptiness.

Taking the Bodhisattva Vow as a student doesn't make one a Bodhisattva, although you take it seriously, and have bodhicitta (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhicitta), it's still a practice until perfected. There are many levels of Bodhisattva (10, I think).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bh%C5%ABmi_%28Buddhism%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva_vow

movingalways wrote: Kunga, it is true that desire, ignorance, causes the material, but what causes desire? Ultimately, the mind arrives at silence of cause. Nibbana.

Greed, caused desire (according to the Agganna Sutta/Buddha).http://tipitaka.wikia.com/wiki/Agganna_Sutta
But I agree that trying to figure some things out can be fruitless,
and only lead one to more unanswerable questions,
thus prolonging ignorance, when the energy can be used for other more liberating and useful activity.

Like if someone shot you, would you be more concerned knowing who fired the shot,
or try to save yourself from bleeding to death ?