Posts by JamesThomas

16

"Dark Night, Early Dawn" self exploration

by frankiespeakin in

http://www.hofmann.org/reviews/dark%20night.html

foreword by stanislav grof.

by permission of the state university of new york press.

JamesThomas

It is great to see you here today, frankiespeaken, and hope to see you post more as you say you might.

As Bache himself convincingly demonstrates in the introductory chapter of his book, what is at stake is nothing less than our understanding of consciousness, our identity, and the nature of reality itself.
When we transcend all these boundaries in deep experiential self-exploration, we realize that all of existence is a manifestation of our Being that has been known throughout the ages by many different names--Atman, the Tao, Buddha, the Great Spirit, Allah, Keter, the Cosmic Christ, and many others. The ultimate identity of each of us with this principle, whom Bache chooses to call the Sacred Mind, is the deepest secret of all great spiritual traditions.

I applaud Bache's willingness to step outside the box; and suggest that the "deepest secret" is that there is no transcendence, simple because the "ultimate identity" is what is already (just beneath all the experiential drama).

j

54

What the Bleep do we know? Movie a must see!!!!

by Balsam in

what a thought provoking movie.

we just got in in the mail yesterday and it was released yesterday.

why are we here, what is reality, what is god?

JamesThomas

More dangerous, more greedy, and more seedy than the WTBTS. Let the viewer beware.

Robyn, I would not disagree with that.

It begs the question: why must we beware?

Watching the mind, I have found immeasurable instances of chronic identity construction within thought. In fact for most of my life most all of the minds activity was idol engraving: continual and frantic weaving and forming a life-story and identity. It was an unquestioned automatic phenomena that passed as natural and sane. That's why religions and groups can be so dangerous, as we come to incorporate their beliefs and dogma into our sense of "self"; and then because of a tendency for self-preservation we may come to kill or die for them.

In the same way, beliefs in Jesus, can be most deadly. We can listen and hear some of the words attributed to him and so then be motivated to look deeper within our sense of being and existence; and perhaps then awaken to the actual truth of what we are. Unfortunately, it seems far more likely we will become enslaved in a religious identity and dogma which supports a sense of lack and need of future salvation; and so blinding consciousness to it's inherent wholeness right now.

So perhaps the only message I am attempting to put forth is: indeed, be aware. This moment be consciously open and aware of the dynamics of thought and emotions. See them for what they really are; and more importantly come to see what is seeing -- really IS.

j

54

What the Bleep do we know? Movie a must see!!!!

by Balsam in

what a thought provoking movie.

we just got in in the mail yesterday and it was released yesterday.

why are we here, what is reality, what is god?

JamesThomas

No offense meant ignored_one, I am just going to use your statement to help make an earlier point.

Is this the film that says that because an ancient tribe hadn't seen a boat before they couldn't actually physically see it?

Notice how when we make such a statement it reinforces a sense that we already know what is going on without the necessity of any valid investigation. We do this continuously throughout the day as we view life through and within a very, very narrow prefabricated conceptual "reality". Tightly ensconced within our coffin of believed-self/reality we feel no need to investigate; and in fact fear any discovery that may pull the rug out from under our warm and familiar illusions of self and other. It doesn't matter what the Native Americans of that time could see or not see; but rather what am "I" missing right here, right now. j

54

What the Bleep do we know? Movie a must see!!!!

by Balsam in

what a thought provoking movie.

we just got in in the mail yesterday and it was released yesterday.

why are we here, what is reality, what is god?

JamesThomas

Often times it seems that the little self that we believe ourselves to be, is much like living in a coffin; and we are afraid to crack the lid open for fear of disrupting our warm and secure little "reality". One of the ways we lock the lid closed is by quickly labeling everything that does not support our well defined, miniature universe as "bogus". It's been months since I have seen the movie, but as I recall, it's main message was that what you think about life, may not be true; and there is a huge reality here that does not need to remain hidden.

Again, I feel the value in the movie was not in the movie, so much as in allowing oneself to crack open the lid of our coffin. We do this by openly looking and investigating into our own cherished definitions of "self" and what we believe the rest of the universe to be. What is here -- if anything -- to be discovered when we stop labeling and defining people, places and things, and rather with acute presence and awareness openly meet with what really IS? Could it be that what IS, is not anything ever believed or thought to be?

If or when the movie is watched, I suggest observing the mind at the same time to see how it spins and weaves judgments and thoughts into the patchwork fabric of "me"......and if possible watch what is watching -- and follow this silent path that goes deeper here within the most significant and alive sense of being. Of course no movie is needed. We can investigate right here, right now. The door is always open. The truth forever present.

j

17

God Almighty!

by BlessedStar in

funny how simple it is for people to trash god .

and then wonder why the world's going to hell.

how can we expect god to give us his blessing and his protection if we demand he leave us alone?

JamesThomas

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God

Yes, I feel this myself when people give credence and glorification to the Bible god. How can they so blindly shrink and belittle the source of an infinite and wondrous universe to such a limited and vile little anthropomorphic deity? Have we no shame? It seems our foolishness and stupidity is also without end.

j

43

JESUS AND ZEN

by onesong in

jw
friends

in his book " the zen teachings of jesus",michael leong presents a very different way of understanding some of the things jesus taught--thru the eyes of eastern thought.. here's a couple of examples.

(he first explains that we should try to view jesus as a poet teaching us how to live beautifully.).

when jesus is questioned as to the greatest commandment and his reply "you must love god with your whole heart, mind and strength.

JamesThomas

Exactly. All we need, we already have. It's only a matter of seeing.

j

43

JESUS AND ZEN

by onesong in

jw
friends

in his book " the zen teachings of jesus",michael leong presents a very different way of understanding some of the things jesus taught--thru the eyes of eastern thought.. here's a couple of examples.

(he first explains that we should try to view jesus as a poet teaching us how to live beautifully.).

when jesus is questioned as to the greatest commandment and his reply "you must love god with your whole heart, mind and strength.

JamesThomas

onesong:

I've pondered this concept of false selves, ego's that are created and can see the deeper "oneness" of everything but it seems to me that these false selves or ego's have a purpose, I'm just not sure what it is....Are they something used to navigate thru reality and no longer hinder us once they are seen for what they are?

From what I have discovered the false-self or ego, can not "see the deeper oneness of everything", and it has no purpose other than to cause a great deal of suffering...not that this is it's purpose, so much as a natural result of living in ignorance.

By far the god and master most in need of relinquishment is the false-self; for it is focus on the false that blinds consciousness to it's truth and reality; and all the other gods are but supportive structures for the lie. Surrendering our cherished gods is but a step in surrender of all we believe ourselves to be.

cognizant dissident:

we don't want to become so attached and enslaved to their teachings that they cause more problems for us then they were originally intended to help us solve. Or we become so convinced that we have found the correct path to enlightenment that we are now "experts" and no longer have anything to learn.

The problem with "teachings" and "masters", is that they often support the false belief that we are a "student" that needs to lean and evolve, or that we are less than those who know and or are "masters". Such feelings and beliefs support and so sustain the false sense of broken "self" that needs some thing, or some one.

What this is about is realizing the perfect and pristine wholeness and purity that is our true and real identity, already.

Does this make sense? It can get very tricky.

j

15

How Does Your Garden Grow?

by OpenFireGlass in

jw
friends

life is like growing a garden... there's alot of people who may swear by, "miricle-gro"(the bible)... but that is not the only way to grow your garden green... .

i mean, yes there is an optimal formula to grow a nice garden, but not everyone uses "miricle-gro"... some of us use bone meal, blood meal, and chicken manure.

while others use, bat guanno, soy meal, and fish emulsion.

JamesThomas

Books are Ok for many things and great for fiction. However, when it comes to what the word G-O-D points to, there needs to be somethings far more substantial and real....at least for some. I see this as a healthy sign.

j

15

How Does Your Garden Grow?

by OpenFireGlass in

jw
friends

life is like growing a garden... there's alot of people who may swear by, "miricle-gro"(the bible)... but that is not the only way to grow your garden green... .

i mean, yes there is an optimal formula to grow a nice garden, but not everyone uses "miricle-gro"... some of us use bone meal, blood meal, and chicken manure.

while others use, bat guanno, soy meal, and fish emulsion.

JamesThomas

Me, I'm not a Miricle-Gro kinda guy, I gotta figure it out for myself

In other words: it's time to stop reading the menu (the Bible), and start eating the food.

j

43

JESUS AND ZEN

by onesong in

jw
friends

in his book " the zen teachings of jesus",michael leong presents a very different way of understanding some of the things jesus taught--thru the eyes of eastern thought.. here's a couple of examples.

(he first explains that we should try to view jesus as a poet teaching us how to live beautifully.).

when jesus is questioned as to the greatest commandment and his reply "you must love god with your whole heart, mind and strength.

JamesThomas

Indeed there seems to be required a surrender of all masters, gods and deities. Not that they, specifically, are standing in the way. Often our gods and masters are but foundations on which is build a false identity and definition of "self", e.g. I am a Christian, I am Muslim, I am Buddhist, etc. In reality, we are none of these things. In reality there is no individual "me", that exists at all.

j