Before Religion there was ZEN !
Siddhashunyata
JoinedPosts by Siddhashunyata
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20
From JW to Atheist; Now, how do I face my family?
by AlmostAtheist inhey gang,.
i've read dozens of threads here, some sounding similar to what i'm writing now.
i can't help it, i want to talk about it.
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So then, here's a question...about "meditation"
by onacruse inrecent threads have got me to thinking about this.. i've never "meditated," insofar as i've always understood the term.. i always avoided even trying to "meditate," (and still have a reluctance even to consider doing so) because the wts not-so-obliquely suggested that "meditation" was parmount to 'opening your mind to demons.
' even though i've totally trashed the wts mumbo-jumbo, i still find in my soul a reluctance to embark on such a journey.. kate gave me a different perspective last night.. so, your comments, and especially, your experiences?.
craig.
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Siddhashunyata
By observing your thoughts and letting them go , not following them, merely noting them as they arise, and doing so without judgement (bad thought, good thought etc) you will discover the wild nature of your minds movement and by observing this movement (without attaching to it) you will ,with practice ,find that your real, original, mind is unmoving, peaceful and intelligent. The WTBTS knows nothing about this because they advocate "conditioning" of the mind through thought.
Thought conditions perception. In Jehovah's Witnesses, a loving person is not understood if that person does not attend meetings, field service, etc. Jehovah's Witnesses minds are conditioned by thought. Taking the situation to its extreme, all the World is conditioned by thought. So if you can get free of your conditioning , you really will be free, free to see the world as it is and to know yourself as you really are. This is why some advocate the idea that Jesus was a Buddhist and that he was taught at Alexandria as a boy.( There is evidence that Buddhist missionaries existed there when Mary and Joseph went down into Egypt). It is truth that sets you free. Not an idea, not dogma. Truth, the active perception of what is, free of conditioning.
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What is the Official stance of the WT about beards?
by smokin ini am an non-active jw for abaout a year, and during my inactivity i had grown a goatee (a beard at first).
my family were no to happy about it,but made no big stink.
one of my closest friends insists it is very bad.
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Siddhashunyata
When I had a beard, I was taken aside by the PO and another Elder and told that it was a sign of rebellion......... I promptly gave the PO permission to shave it off but he refused !
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Take back the Kingdom Halls? What do you think?
by Dogpatch in.. this letter was sent to me last week.
sounds kinda implausible, especially from a legal angle, but jim is asking your opinion.
what do you think about this proposal?.
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Siddhashunyata
Assume a large enough group, peaceful but determined. The second or third time, they will meet resistence at the local hall. Don't get physical. In effect the excommunicated are not accepting their fate at the hands of the local body and they are continuing to be members of the congregation. The local police will be brought into the fray. At this point the excommunicated should be ready to file a law suit against specific "brothers, the Kingdom Hall, the Society and the police.The mere threat of such a suit will wake up the police and politicians to the fact that the court is about to get into the muck of "church" law and authority. The battle may end right there and the local elders may be told that as long as the group is peaceful they can attend. If it doesn't end there . the question will be who has the burden to prove to legal authorities that excommunication was fair or unfair. I don't think it will ever, ever , ever get to this point because the authorities know this is a hot potatoe. So it boils down to getting enough people to do it peacefully and persistently. Ultimatly the Society will have to deal with it. The problem is who will get the ball rolling and keep it rolling. The larger the group the better. But who can do it?
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What makes marraiges last
by desib77 inmy husband and i have been married a little over a year now and it has been the happiest year of my life.
i have finally found someone that i truly love and that truly loves me.
he's also my best friend.
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Siddhashunyata
No one has mentioned , deceit, money, and denial. All the examples of a good lasting marriage are either based on fantasy or a lack of experience. Good , lasting marriages of the kind described here are very , very rare and, in my opinion, most would fall apart in an open and honest psycho drama. Even Solomon would attest to this. I don't blame those who continue in the sham of a ' lovely " marriage after all, religion serves the same purpose, it is comfortable. My suggestion is to look at it honestly and respect and honor that life itself is not what we thought . Perhaps that realization could be the basis for continuing with respect. Otherwise we are marking time to the grave. Find new ways to see your partner. This business about toilet seats and bad habits is small minded decadence, absurd, the expression of complacent habit and neurotic tolerance, Your partner is infinitely interesting and within his or her mind is a fountain head of dynamic thoughts and emotions, ready to be expressed if he or she felt safe. It was this that you shared when you were infatuated in your youth. It has been covered over with "conditioned" ideas. Life has taken its toll. Open up, take the chance and see who it is you are really married to.
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Is your 'reality' just thought?
by Markfromcali inmost of the time there seems to be talk that essentially consists of whether this thought is better, is more logical or makes more sense - but what about the nature of it being just thought?
in one way this may seem obvious or boring so as to be easily dismissed, but for example when it comes to religious beliefs things can get really screwed up, even if you think your particular brand is better.
(however, this would not be limited to religion) it would be like someone who thinks everything on tv is real, and being disinterested in that fact in favor of being entertained by the various stories portrayed in all the shows.. consider the follow quote from thought as a system by david bohm.
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Siddhashunyata
onacruse writes: " How many layers of an onion are there, anyway? "
Krishnamurti asks " Is there a way for all the layers to fall away at once? He answers "Yes ! " but no one and no teaching can do it for you. It takes unwavering "attention" to the mind's action (ie noting the action, being "aware" of the action) in every relationship ( to people, things , the body, thoughts, everything. ( Here's the hard part : the attention or noting must be done without trying)
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Is your 'reality' just thought?
by Markfromcali inmost of the time there seems to be talk that essentially consists of whether this thought is better, is more logical or makes more sense - but what about the nature of it being just thought?
in one way this may seem obvious or boring so as to be easily dismissed, but for example when it comes to religious beliefs things can get really screwed up, even if you think your particular brand is better.
(however, this would not be limited to religion) it would be like someone who thinks everything on tv is real, and being disinterested in that fact in favor of being entertained by the various stories portrayed in all the shows.. consider the follow quote from thought as a system by david bohm.
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Siddhashunyata
" The Ending of Time" J. Krishnamurti and David Bohm. 1985 copyright Krishnamurti Foundation.
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Hi, I'm new to the site, and kind of don't understand...
by my-journey ini was just curious as to the aim of this website?
i thought it was a discussion board for those interested in/ for jehovah's witnesses, but it seems like you're all former jehovah's witnesses?
so is this site just to bash jehovah's witnesses?
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Siddhashunyata
TO UNDERSTAND THIS SITE CONSIDER THIS.... ...........IF A BLIND MAN FOLLOWS A BLIND MAN AND BOTH FALL INTO A PIT, WHICH ONE COMES OUT FIRST ?
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Shrewed Apostates of the 1 Year Class
by Siddhashunyata inlast year at this time "shrewed apostates" side stepped and survived the elder's question " do you consider yourself one of jehovah's witnesses?
" this year no question is asked.
if you show no hostility they ask " can we visit you again in say one year?
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Siddhashunyata
Blondie, I just saw you question. Actually the way the conversation went was like this:
Elders:" We love you . Can we come back in say 6 months or 1 year?"
Me (having some fun): "But Armageddon will be here by then ! "
Elders: "Gufaw, Gufaw, we can come by next week if you want us to."
Me: Well....... how about putting me down for 1 year.
Elders (smiling approvingly) : OK we'll see you then, you were on our list (explain, explain etc.)
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Shrewed Apostates of the 1 Year Class
by Siddhashunyata inlast year at this time "shrewed apostates" side stepped and survived the elder's question " do you consider yourself one of jehovah's witnesses?
" this year no question is asked.
if you show no hostility they ask " can we visit you again in say one year?
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Siddhashunyata
candidlynuts, welcome. There were quite a few threads on that question about this time last year. How you answer depends on where you want "things" to go. If you want to stay in control of your situation you may simply lie ( spiritual warfare) and say "of course I do". Then create confusion about meeting attendence and field service without ever giving a direct or confrontational answer. Never be direct, stay general, simply imply and evade and do it all with common courtesy. Down the "road" if you decide you've had enough and you want to be "direct" then it will be on your terms. Each one's case is a little different but the issue is always the same....who's in control?