--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "wayback71" <wayback71@> > 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. :-) :-) :-) > One word: Anejo.
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