Source: Tao Te Ching
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Letting go. So easy to understand its importance, so difficult to do. America faces civil war – let it go? Well there is little else we can do as individuals. These ancient Eastern thought systems are so obviously right. But I wonder whether they preclude us from acting in the world altogether? Perhaps so.
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Completely agree, Anthony. Buddhist writings clarify that non-doing does not mean doing nothing (like I did in the last 18mo 😊), it means doing what you have to but w/o attachment to outcome or process or whatever it is you are doing. Go figure. I will let you know more if I suddenly get enlightened 😂
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Likewise! The world is such a difficult place. Easy enough to be “intellectually” enlightened. Rather more difficult to feel enlightened and to go about your daily life with the lightness and happiness that that would bring.
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Yep. I think when nothing can upset, surprise or shock me (or rather I can be aware of an instant unconscious reaction triggered and do smth about it), I will have been enlightened. Not there yet. Be careful what to wish for though. As I understand now, enlightenment involves full personal disintegration (pain, identity/ ego death, suffering, near madness, homelessness, unemployment, etc). Not a walk in the park…
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Yes, I believe it must so. And let us not forget the translation of the word “nirvana” ~ a snuffing out. Realistically, the sort of emptiness described in Eastern philosophy requires a sort of death. Actual physical death or, as you say, a complete change in the nature if our consciousness.
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Let us see what lies ahead… 😱
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And look what JC and the Buddha went through. Much as you were saying ~ unemployment, poverty, homelessness and in one case a cruel death.
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JC 😂 Yep, it is in a way a horrifying path. The problem is once you peaked behind the veil, you can’t just go back. Sometimes I think I wish I could!
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I guess it is less about doing or not doing and more about your mental attitude to both.
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Yes. Absolutely ~ therein lies the key to true freedom.
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