--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "wayback71" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <no_reply@> wrote: > > > > I think that the book I recommended to Shemp a couple > > of posts ago is pretty good. "The Tibetan Book of > > Living and Dying." I think that's a very well-written > > overview of the strange way that Tibetans look at death, > > dying and the reincarnation process. > > > Barry, turns out I have that very book on my bedside table, > got it in December and I have been eyeing it ever since > while I indulge in novels (Embers by Marai and Saturday > by McEwan are good).
Cool. Synchronicity. That's how that book happened for me, too. I bought it, put it on a shelf, and didn't get around to reading it until years later. > The whole death and dying thing looks awfully > complicated. Quite possibly. Just diving into it and trusting in the will of God or whatever is definitely easier. :-) > Regarding the idea of free will, I would agree with you > entirely except for experiences I have had (and sadly > have not had iin quite some time). The few experiences > I have had, and I know many many others have too and > have written books about etc etc, are unmistakable. > Life all happens, just happens and unfolds - kind of > like a plant grows without any planning, so does a > human act and think and feel. I've had those experiences, too. I think the difference is that I do not consider them any different than any *other* experience I've ever had. In other words, the state of attention in which one is not the doer has no more importance or weight for me than any other. It's Just Another Fleeting State Of Attention. > My understanding is that even brain research is beginning > to suggest that our volitional actions actually got > triggered before we have had time to feel or ponder or > choose. This is all irrelevant until the experience occurs, > but it is a real relief to experience, and the shock of > all shocks, let me tell you. I think the keyword here might be in your use of the word 'relief.' IMO, some people are actively *searching* for experiences that "prove" to them that they are not in control, and that something bigger and greater than they are *is* in control. So (also IMO), when they have the particular fleeting experience of "not the doer," they tend to interpret that experience as an "ultimate" experience, a glimpse of some ultimate truth. I don't see it that way. I treat such experiences, interesting as they may be, just like any other experience. They come, they go...NONE of them is any more advanced or "higher" than the other. > Perhaps just a distorted brain state, although I don't > think so. But I agree with you that this appears to be > a fundamental difference between Bhuddists and Hindus > and goes beyond just using different words. *Incredibly* fundamental difference. > I am all in favor of Bhuddism and all the compassion and > good works and honesty that it encourages. I am a Hindu > type, tho. Cool. I wish you well on that path. I'm definitely more of a Buddhist. May we all get to the same party location at some point, and get to sit down over a few margaritas and talk about the incredibly different routes we all took to get there. :-) :-) :-) ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
