tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3627066232096656465.post6464298088516430800..comments2023-05-21T04:54:36.609-03:00Comments on Somewhere in Dhamma...: self/others吉道 Giuseppehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451938938458412188noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3627066232096656465.post-1936736434514037492011-01-08T22:19:44.000-04:002011-01-08T22:19:44.000-04:00Self isn't a problem. A self is a useful tool...Self isn't a problem. A self is a useful tool for navigating the world. It comes in handy, especially, when dealing with others. "Where's my hat?" "Who wants soup?" "Stop hitting me!" These are meaningless if not backed by the idea of a self to whom "my", "who", and "me" refers.<br><br>Self is a tool mind creates, not something we find. This is the important part; mistaking the self as something real, like a hammer, existing independently of our mind, and then identifying with it, is a problem. Once we've identified with this self, we're bound to protect it, worry about it -- to suffer for it. When we see it as it really is, conditioned, dependent on mind and body, an empty idea, it's not so important how it's viewed by the world, how much money it makes, who loves it and who hates it, how much blame or fame it receives, whether it is treated fairly or unjustly punished. That's some freedom.Bob Erbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3627066232096656465.post-42864053832436592792011-01-09T19:05:32.000-04:002011-01-09T19:05:32.000-04:00"If you pay attention only to emptiness and i..."If you pay attention only to emptiness and ignore the material world, or if you ignore your present circumstances, saying 'Everything is impermanent' or 'There is no self', then this is not the middle way. If you see only one side but not the other side, then you have deviated from the middle way, without which there is no enlightenment."<br> - Seon Master Daehaeng Sunim, 'No River to Cross', chapter 7.<br><br>Good job old Sidhartha did accept that food, else he'd never have reached his insights under the Bodhi tree and never have given a teaching. And did he enjoy that meal? I bet he did, even as he ate for the benefit of all.<br><br>Great post, great questions, thank you.Marcushttp://wakeupandlaugh.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3627066232096656465.post-29065329046078212672011-01-15T08:24:19.000-04:002011-01-15T08:24:19.000-04:00[...] last weeks post, self/others, I thought it w...[...] last weeks post, self/others, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss some of the obstacles I’ve encountered in [...]challenges of learning to live selflessly « Somewhere In Dhamma…http://somewhereindhamma.wordpress.com/2011/01/15/challenges-of-learning-to-live-selflessly/noreply@blogger.com