Its very hard to express how it works but there really is simultaneously joy and sadness when meditative states start to significantly break down barriers. What prevents us from becoming open to great peace & compassion is also what prevents us from letting in the suffering of the world and experiencing it as one.

This is an absolutely brilliant explanation about how to deal with overwhelming emotional states and places where you don't believe you can go.

I go through what this woman speaks of sometimes. I feel like I can be giving so selflessly until I realize that I am saturated in disappointment that great change has not occurred. This makes me realize that there is a piece of me invested in my service. I see now that my service is not selfless because I look for gain or a liberation from the pain. It's tricky being of service. Sublimate the sorrow and use it as the force. The greater the sorrow, the greater the force.

Thank you Integral Life. This was a total tonic to me. I have long loved Ken Wilber's wisdom--so needed and timely in this season of our planet's life--and it has certainly changed my own life, like so many others'. Your description of the clip also brings to mind Rumi's poem about the fire and water--how those who run from the fire, into the nice water, end up burning in a fire, while those who willingly face the fire find it turning to what you describe above as "the cool waters of liberation." I have always found that to be true, but I still am averse to the fire.

This question she asked about the sadness and bliss is such an ongoing practice for me as well. I suppose it's the same for a lot of us on the spiritual path living in these times of great disharmony.

for whatever reason, can't leave comment using Mozilla. anyway, to the point being discussed, I love your picture of a state where the bodhisattva, enlightened, living in pain-free bliss is able to enter into the stage of pain of the 'other' and maintain his/her bliss while being in the 'other's' hell. It's the ideal, maintaining compassion while not getting entangled and enmeshed in the other's suffering, and doing it without words or actions, just by being present to the other's suffering. It's the true monastic experience. As a bodhisattva I don't mind visiting someone's hell as long as I can stay in my heaven all the while. This is only possible when the bodhisattva has attained enlightenment. otherwise the danger resides in the bodhisattva's sacrifice becoming their temptation and fall from grace through the attachment to craving or desire.

This man seems to definitely get it. It may have helped to note and articulate the difference between Joy and Fulfillment, though he also probably handled everything in perfect synchronicity even still.

"The bodhisattva does not wear white robes" somebody said to me once. Sometimes he's a celebrity in a suit coat who gesticulates lots. I like Wilbur, he rings true and correlates with some Zen teachers I trust.

I vow to be stupid until everyone wakes up...that cracked me up and I was in such a Zen mode 🕉️😂😂😂

There is a very simple and straightforward truth: What ever we experience in this world this is what we have to experience. It includes the mass of sorrow. There is a reason that we have to experience it from a result of karmic antecedents. If you embrace it and let it flow trough then it won't cause as pain as when you try to hold it back. Beside we do our duty or live along our fate we have to learn to distance the ourself from the illusionary world of objects and happenings we call reality...

Whoa.... that makes so much sense at the end. Thanks for posting.

I think if I had known this could happen, in theory, before entering into a year of prolonged meditation I would never have done so for fear of the suffering I would see & feel everywhere - that it might cause me to take risks and make sacrifices. However, knowing it as experience is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me.

I appreciate someone giving insight and indirect advice yet it does not quite cover it and help it.

Maybe a silly question, but does anyone mind clarifying the story. What happened to the other two blankets? Were the boys killed? Thanks

@jackson4socks Ah you are quite right that the observer which is the whole of the past is the place where the ‘suffering’ enters into the present moment and creates a duality that resists change to a better reality. Me thinks you might have seen this fact from the teachings of Krishnamurti as he pointed it out clearly. The clue is to remain steadfast in the whole of ‘what is’ and not be caught up in trying to get rid of the ‘bad’ parts. This is another way to understand the response KW gave to the question.

@mindrunfree It seems like you illustrate what commonly happens in the world, and that is the desire to change and better life for others. The next step is always "disappointment that great change has not occurred." The reason being is you are looking to correct the effect of the suffering, not the cause of the suffering. And the cause of the suffering is internal, within you. What you are seeing is merely an outward projection of an internal error in thought, which says "that which is out there

wow she realy touched Ken! he allmost cried

needs correction." The process of believing there is an "out there" needing correction, is merely a diverson from going within and finding the root of your suffering. It is the reason real change (end of poverty, starvation, murder, etc) can never be corrected in the world, because it doesn't exist in the world. The only place it exists is in the mind of man.

I wish Ken well as I do all beings including myself. However I am saddened that he cannot see the massive suffering caused by his country which truly is slipping into virtual Nazism. He has a responsibility to speak out againt those in power who REALLY are more concerned with their own comfort than those of the people instead of being concerned with his status and book sales.

awesome explanation.

I think the zen koan or a slap in the face not directed to the 'situation' is the way--it is not in analyzing 'it' but in something outside of it.

@FetidFetusXYY and by the way who said i was buddhist?? one doesn't have to be buddhist necessarily to accept their philosophy.i just support all rational and wise philosphies. did i ever mention that i was a buddhist or you just assume things since your brain is in utter disorder with so much negative forces that you must hallucinate. am i right??

Pain/suffering exists in multiple levels, ie physical pains, discomfort, uneasiness, anxiety, worry, hopelessness, expectation, disappointment, desire for joy/happiness, etc. Do not expect anything, take life one step at a time, don't let your pre-conception into your works, think scientifically and logically, be a nice person, and don't harm anything/anyone (either in the name of your god or religion). If you can do all these, then you are well on the way.

@DoyeRox9 Suffering only exists one place: within the observer. There is no "place" outside of self where suffering exists.

Not even a speck of dust is out of place in this crazy crazy universe

To Jamesve1, it is good to know that you are on the way, the key to self-liberation is not to dwell on finding happiness or bliss, these are by-products of the Sati, and can potentially trigger further suffering for you, because when you experience happiness, and you like it, then chances are, you are going to find or expect it again during your next retreat, now, what if it just does not come again...

can't lie, Wilber's "aw's" made me smirk. Why might this be?

@Ma_rkw589

3 жыл бұрын

I love Wilber and his message

@chrisbroesky2932

15 күн бұрын

Me too. I dunno it's just funny how he does it I guess.

... you are going to be very frustrated and angry, and so happiness is just happiness, we feel it, we note its presence and we go on, don't dwell in it (the desire for happiness is the source of most of our problems). Then comes a day when you are feeing happy, you will say "OK, I am happy, let me share my happiness with someone else, starting from my closest ones, transmitting to the unseen and unknown" when that happens, you are practicing Metta mentally, and soon you will do it physically.

So you change your mind to encompass "bad" as a transformative tool.

That is a great answer.

Awesome question

@FetidFetusXYY You post a very logical argument there.... thank you for backing up your claims with such great evidence....

@1PostPoMoMaN1 your language is pretty troubling. i'm not even sure language can be said to represent anything concrete, but rather it communicates something from one person to another, and their ideas of this language cannot be concrete because they are not identical.

I dunno.....I think at some point, one is empathic, yet not empathetic. An example is that I can dig what he's saying, I can go there/model it, yet I don't identify with it. I entertain/allow it, yet have no need of it.

best to trust within yourself

Pull your self up until the whole world follows Self.

why is he using so complicated lingual dispositions....

Isn't it interesting how the symbol of Christianity is Christ on the cross? This is the same thing as the Boddhisattva vow. It's too bad that most New Agers or American Buddhists can't understand this truth yet. He is saying that you have to have the spiritual power from somewhere in order to not be pulled down into the pain of illusion/pain of separation from Good. You must be living in peace and love in order to minister to pain without becoming that pain yourself.

there is always a positive to a negative maybe the taken blankets severed a equal purpose. It's just a game, enjoy your role

hes very.... openly sympathetic

SECRETZX, is your god free from his own anger, happiness, desires and power? Are you saying that if you praise President Bush 5 times a day and emigrated for his sake, he would give you a US Green Card? I think everyone want to ask the same, but prefer not to, as certain people are easily offended. So, clarify as you may.

What other parts of your body do you realize things with besides you brain?

@Morganna_lefay

5 жыл бұрын

Your heart, and your gut

@Psa1mist9 Well, I don't really know. Don't get me wrong, please -- I'm sure your comment is entirely well intentioned. But I myself think that you're maybe . . . being just a little too kind. This woman is a fucking horror story . . .

@FetidFetusXYY and cosmology?n u??haha..where did you hear the word?? and where did the question about time,space and center n causality come from randomly anyway?may be couple of documentaries on discovery channel n u consider yourself knowledgeable in that.hmmm..an imp.characteristic of being sane is the ability to stay within context also

As Melisandre might say, "There is only one hell: the one we live in now."

@FetidFetusXYY now i believe this is enough for u. i have done a lot to help you destroy the rage of narcissism that has grown beyond limit in you. i really didnt have to respond at length in this manner. but i guess its okay. so take care sweet boy n dont feel too embarrased n angry. its okay.

@qcon81 Hahaha you just found out, what, did i irk you so much that you just had do a little PI work? Did I really crawl under your skin?? Maybe because, despite a single personal trait, what I say rings true? Do you have a center? Or does apparent causality break at the seams under your own wasted perception?

sorry nothing is not simple. If it's simple its probably too simple, wrong, or not worth knowing. thinking is crucial if you want understanding. enlightenment is a cognitive realization.

@fmafan123456789

6 жыл бұрын

Enlightenment is beyond the mind. beyond the noosphere. im sure you may have changed your stance on this since 8 years ago

1:58 start

aha!

@FetidFetusXYY well, the random questions you asked has to do with one of the very basic ideas on reality in buddhism(the quetion you asked about time n spacen causality n all) you probably thought that such random question would make you look smart. huh!!funny little boy. let me not try to elaborate on this subject further just to waste my time here

@FetidFetusXYY hmm...please finish up with your high-school diploma first and then may be you qualify to come here and post your great insights. may be then i can suggest you to get acquainted with some quantum physics(which i doubt will be even possible for a mind like you, but you can always try without getting a stroke).

@FetidFetusXYY PI work?? well when one mentions carbon atom the other is bound to first find out whom he is going to even honor by responding. it'd be just a waste of time trying to explain color to a blind man, wouldn't it??i can now see that you were just trying to make yourself look smart by posing such question when in fact you don't even know what you just asked

@FetidFetusXYY i wish you were a little more educated so i could recommed you some physics. thats okay though. you are not alone.

@FetidFetusXYY a little advice to you- with your level of intellect you can comment on Britney spear's videos, not on something as profound as this.save your randomly-learnt couple of words(causality,carbon,center,cosmology) that u have added to your vocabulary to impress kids of your age

By the way, I like that chick's nose.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

@FetidFetusXYY don't waste your time coming around here making idiotic points..(n also let me make clear- i did not say i support lame n absurd religious philosophies that for instance, claim the world was created in 7 days by a human form of god sitting in the sky n so on..i m talking buddhism here.first make yourself acquainted with the discipline you are commenting about before you make yourself lookk like a complete fool.)

The woman is very familiar. Im experiencing an active witness state which is like a prison (nothing like Tanzania). It mimicks psychosis or hell. Orwell's boot stepping on your neck is not exaggeration. Paul Simon described it metaphorically in 40 year old songs, At The Zoo, The Only Little Boy In NY. I would normally say ridiculous, those are just songs, how the hell would he know? These days I don't have to ask. Regarding the latter song: there are way more extremely tall people in NYC than there should be of both sexes (or of neither sex). Women 6' 1+ and guys 6' 5+. (I'm "only" 6' tall) So what the hell's going on? Extreme height, extreme weather, extreme politics, extreme uphevel, extreme cruelty. 9 civil wars going on in Muslim countries. Orwell wasn't just describing a metaphoric dystopia. It was a clever disguise for a metaphysical state NOT confined to the imagination, the future or Big Mind.

lol why

Or she could drop her white savior complex and instead redirect her energy towards helping her own people

Boring!!!