tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post2039620480940515004..comments2023-10-22T12:12:04.100+01:00Comments on American Buddhist in England: Back on and in search of Buddhist EthicsBuddhist_philosopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14246929532585980356noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post-18833149593553391602008-02-04T16:57:00.000+00:002008-02-04T16:57:00.000+00:00Heya Patia, yea - I think we actually talked about...Heya Patia, yea - I think we actually talked about this last spring a bit. Sleep has been a hard one here with the noisy late night eaters... but a flatmate of mine has volunteered to talk to them, and I have new noise canceling headphones (see Feb 4 post) and I might move to a quieter neighborhood... so... peace and healing are a'comin! :)Buddhist_philosopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246929532585980356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post-19255266320292799162008-02-04T01:18:00.000+00:002008-02-04T01:18:00.000+00:00Although most mainstream doctors dismiss the idea ...Although most mainstream doctors dismiss the idea of adrenal fatigue, I'm pretty sure that's what I had when I finished grad school last spring. For months, I was incredibly lethargic and exhausted. It's gotten better .....<BR/><BR/>One thing that article barely mentioned was SLEEP! Your body uses sleep time to heal itself. If you're tired, it means you need sleep!Patiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13266018405604523361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post-61543677920559103512008-02-03T18:05:00.000+00:002008-02-03T18:05:00.000+00:00Hia Gary, Many thanks! I hope the recovery contin...Hia Gary, Many thanks! I hope the recovery continues :) Your kind and insightful words certainly do help. Thanks for reminding me of the very immediate and accessible aspects of anatta and dhamma. I think as a philosopher I too often ask, 'what does that <I>mean</I>?' when the correct question is 'how does that work? - how does this fit in with my path and development?' <BR/><BR/>Perhaps the work of the philosopher is to clarify the concepts that shape our world, and the work of the sage (including the lay-sage) is to cut through them. Just a thought. Thanks again.Buddhist_philosopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246929532585980356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post-89292699105721495042008-02-02T14:42:00.000+00:002008-02-02T14:42:00.000+00:00Good to read that you're recovering from your rece...Good to read that you're recovering from your recent challenges, Justin. :-)<BR/><BR/>Fatigue and stress are kinds of dukkha (suffering), of course, so you've had plenty of material to reflect on, lately! It's difficult to view such negative states of mind & body in the light of contemplation, but if we make the effort, over time it becomes easier. Then we find that the reflective mindset kicks in either while the bad stuff is happening or immediately afterwards. This is setting the scene for living wisdom to arise.<BR/><BR/>As to anatta & Dhamma being concepts or "hopelessly detached notions" that laypeople can't get to grips with in anything but intellectual or faith-based contexts, I guess that may well be the case for most of us...in the beginning. Anatta is knowable in the here and now every moment that we are conscious. Observing the nature of thoughts as being out of one's control is to reveal them as anatta. To witness the aging of the body, with wrinkling skin and graying hair (amongst other things!), is to see it as anatta. Anatta doesn't have to be restricted to the intellect: it can be experienced right now. <BR/><BR/>Similarly, Dhamma is the way things are/the truth/the nature of the universe/etc., which includes The Four Noble Truths, the Three Characteristics & Dependent Arising. Again, the Dhamma is knowable now. If we approach these objects of reflection as mental concepts to be philosophized over, but not meditated on, then, yes, they will appear 'dry', detached notions that do not relate to everyday life. If we establish a cool heart that no longer reacts from personality but from an impersonal stillness, we can begin to see things as they are (as the Dhamma). <BR/><BR/>Sure enough, for some who aren't ready or willing to walk the 8-fold Path in this life, Anatta & Dhamma (& Nibbana, of course) will remain distant conceptual lights at the end of the (self-made)tunnel. And yet, if we look at the life of the Householder Citta, as found in the Citta Samyutta (see the Access to Insight website), we find a layman promoted by the Buddha himself as the epitome of a layperson able to understand from direct experience the deep truths of Buddhism. <BR/><BR/>Be well in the Dhamma,<BR/>Gary at Forest Wisdom.<BR/>http://forestwisdom.blogspot.comGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post-32596480201349325402008-01-31T22:04:00.000+00:002008-01-31T22:04:00.000+00:00Sounds good. Thanks, Justin.Sounds good. Thanks, Justin.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13718601770472939313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post-82132044377703104612008-01-31T19:47:00.000+00:002008-01-31T19:47:00.000+00:00Hia Tom - brilliant question. Yes, I dodge the who...Hia Tom - brilliant question. Yes, I dodge the whole 'suffering' issue. I think everyone else has hammered it in pretty good: 'suffering, suffering, suffering, follow the precepts and cultivate the paramitas.'<BR/><BR/>I take it though that all of this leaves out other, perhaps bigger, questions. My sense is that, as we traverse this path, our selfishness reduces and our suffering takes on a new light.<BR/><BR/>In light of my AFS, when I am dealing so much with my own issues, I am pretty worthless to those around me who need a hand. That's not to say I shouldn't deal with my issues, but that hopefully I do overcome them, and quickly. So my sphere of suffering is very small, it really only deals with this particular living being. <BR/><BR/>When I am in better shape I can more easily reach out and share in and help with the suffering of those I love, and then to neutral people, and then to enemies (starting to sound like a <I>metta bhavana</I> meditation), and so on. We loosen the grasp of (individualized) selfishness and come to see (experientially) interconnectedness and maybe even get some glimpse of whatever the heck <I>dhamma</I> is.<BR/><BR/>How's that sound?Buddhist_philosopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246929532585980356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9223684.post-6104207238665833472008-01-31T15:05:00.000+00:002008-01-31T15:05:00.000+00:00It occurs to one that you are intentionally dodgin...It occurs to one that you are intentionally dodging 'ending suffering' [one's own or others'] as Buddhism's goal to strive for.<BR/><BR/>But I'm all for that; heck, I like suffering. [Not that I fancy Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, mind you.]<BR/><BR/>But I am interested to know in what way we <I>strive</I> for no-self and dhamma.<BR/><BR/>For myself, and for most Western people [I would wager] 'ending suffering' is Stage One. After all, our motivations always begin selfishly. We are selfish animals that, at our best, turn against our selfishness.<BR/><BR/>Thus, the worm turns in Stage Two when suffering seems more ephemeral [that is, at least, the 'not getting what we want' kind of suffering] and we crave a more-universal understanding of the meaning of <I>our</I> life and all life. Tho, it's not really 'an understanding' that we want; rather it's finding a framework to have things operate more smoothly. [And, thus, we find ourself, again, trying to end some kind of suffering.]<BR/><BR/>Suffering [The idea and word <I>dukkha</I> is better; I know.] alway impinges. We suffer. Then we suffer to escape suffering. Then, as we approach some supposed perfection, we find ourself [happily!] stuck in the melieu of life where suffering is perennial.<BR/><BR/>All the while, we still have one foot stuck in the concrete of our original selfishness. BUT this loathed reptilian selfish self is what allows us to retain our connection and compassion to all of stinking and festering humanity in all its loveliness.<BR/><BR/>[Have I lost track of the topic of this post? Possibly.]<BR/><BR/>Anyway, in light of your AFS, how does dukkha fit in with Kantian Buddhist morality?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13718601770472939313noreply@blogger.com