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#3164 - Monday, May 12, 2008 -
Editor: Gloria Lee
Nonduality Highlights - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NDhighlights
"We must implement these good
teachings in daily life.
Whether you believe in God or not does not matter so
much, whether you believe in Buddha or not does not
matter so much; whether you believe in reincarnation
or not does not matter so much. You must lead a good
life. And a good life does not mean just good food,
good clothes, and good shelter. These are not
sufficient.
A good motivation is what is needed: compassion
without dogmatism, without complicated philosophy; just
understanding that others are human brothers and sisters
and respecting their rights and human dignity. That we
humans can help each other is one of our unique human
capacities. We must share in other peoples' suffering;
even if you cannot help with money, to show concern,
to give moral support and express sympathy are them-
selves valuable. This is what should be the basis of
activities; whether one calls it religion or not does not
matter."
~ Dalai Lama
posted to Allspirit Inspiration by Gill Eardley
S: There's all these devious kinds of
tricks that the ego uses to usurp for itself whatever
understanding comes.
AD: And in turn?
S: And in turn, lay the groundwork for its own demise.
AD: No. Not demise. In turn it lays the groundwork for its own
suffering, from which it then learns. And then has to continue.
It's better to keep it THIS way. It's
better to keep to the paradoxical nature of the problems we're
confronted with in trying to understand the ego, than to throw it
out or to make out they don't exist. This IS my ego. This is the
way it is. It's a bundle of contradictions. On the one hand it
desires the good but on the other hand doesn't hesitate to steal
or to rob or to do whatever it thinks would give it happiness. Is
this so?
S: Yes.
AD: Is it possible for me to affirm, more and more, the
tendencies towards the good rather than the bad? Well, then this
will make sense of education, culture, civilization. That's what
it's all about, to give these tendencies -- to strengthen them,
and weaken the others. But if this process continues -- and it
can continue indefinitely and for a very long time -- then it's
the ego that has to struggle with itself. But isn't this the way
it is? What the hell are you looking for birds in the sky?
S: It seems peculiar.
AD: It's not peculiar.
S: It seems there is a peculiar aspect to a spiritual quester's
endeavor in that it is the truth that is sought, and that when
the ego gets frozen in regards to its search for truth, there's a
kind of crystallized state of egoity or inflated spirituality
that really can't be dealt with.
AD: Don't worry, it won't last indefinitely.
S: Well, for a few lifetimes.
AD: Not even. You have no guarantee of what's around the corner,
let alone the next life. (pause) Or tomorrow. As crystalized as
your ego is, it could be pretty thoroughly crushed within a few
minutes.
-- Anthony Damiani and student 4/11/84
posted to Wisdom-l by Helen Perl
Anthony Damiani (1922-1984)
bio
http://wisdomsgoldenrod.org/ad_about.html
Here is a link to a bit of talk on ego by Adyashanti given in San Francisco CA 5/4/08
http://www.box.net/shared/fwd70aaskk
What Is The Point?
So what is the point of waiting? What exactly are you waiting for? Is somebody going to give you what you always wanted? Will a train come from Heaven bringing you goodies? But nothing that could ever happen could be as good, as precious, as who you are. What stops you from being, from being present, is nothing but your hope for the future. Hoping for something to be different keeps you looking for some future fantasy. But it is a mirage; you'll never get there. The mirage stops you from seeing the obvious, the preciousness of Being. It is a great distortion, a great misunderstanding of what will fulfill you. When you follow the mirage, you are rejecting yourself.
-- A.H. Almaas, from 365 Nirvana,
Here and Now by Josh Baran
'True spiritual maturity means to stand in the moment completely naked of attachment to any and all ideas, concepts, hopes, preferences, and experiences. Stop running away from yourself and simply be. By ceasing to follow the mind's tendency to always want 'more', be 'different' or 'better', one encounters the opportunity to be still. In being still, a perspective is revealed which is free from all ignorance and bondage to suffering. This is an invitation to discover eternal, unborn, undying Truth of Being. The truth of Being, your own self. Let the entire movement of becoming end, and discover That which has always been present at the core of your own Being.' -- Adyashanti posted to Wisdom-l by Mark Scorelle
http://www.pbase.com/1heart/image/96904741/original
http://www.pbase.com/1heart/image/96904760/original
photos by Bob O'Hearn