New Morning et al: writes snipped ___Thus, for example, I understand, directly, that thoughts, and the subset of thoughts called desires, is not from any individualities' effort. Thus, the nuance, that "might" be sympathetic and understanding of Jim's and Rory's apparent position of: they don't desire the end to suffering in Iraq because they are not in control of such a desire, and such a thought never arose in them.
(On of the several things that is odd, IMO, here is that EVEN if the thought to end suffering did not arise in them, at all, through natural observation and interaction with the world, then at least it was introduced to them as a possibility in the on-line discussion. And yet "the thought to help the suffering in Iraq never arises in me, thus how can I fulfill that desire" is the thought that still arises in them.) TomT: In the past I have shared here an experience at the end of a Byron Katie weekend workshop where she asked three questions of the 100+ folks on the weekend. 1. Who is Happy with their weight? 2. Who is happy with the way they look? 3. WHo is happy with their life?. If you are happy leave your hand down, if you answered No to any of the question then put up your hand. There were only three hands down in a sea of NO's. most folks were unhappy with their lot after a full weekend of focusing on Loving What IS. By the way Byron announced to the entire group that when they could be happy with the hand that was dealt to them then the War in Iraq was over for them. There seems to be an understanding that comes with the knowledge of who you are that it is all me and the only place I can fix is in me. The only place I have any control over is in me. The best thing one can do for all of creation is to deal with my monsters inside me and see how that changes me and the universe. The final verses of the Shiva sutras states it in a way that I find appealing. Third awakening from Swami Lakshmanjoo version 40. By the slight appearance of individual desire, one is carried far away from the state of God Consciousness. 41. By firmly establishing one's own Self in the state of Turiya, all desires disappear and individuality is lost into universality. 42. Such a yogi is liberated in life and as his body still exists, his is called bhuta-kanchuki - having his physical body as a mere covering just like an ordinary blanket. Hence he is supreme and one with the universal Self. 43. After remaining in this state of universal Transcendental God Consciousness, the functions of inhalation and exhalation automatically take place with the object that this whole universe of action and cognition is united in God Consciousness. 44. When one contemplates on the center of Universal Consciousness, what else remains there to be sought in the practice of prana, apana, and sushumna? 45. When a Shiva-yogi is completely established in God Consciousness, he experiences this state spontaneously within and without or both. I take verse 45 to mean that some will see all things inside them. others will see all things as me but appearing to be outside as opposed to inside me, and some will have it both ways. Rory and I got into it one day in a conversation as he definitely sees it all inside him. I on the other hand see it as all me but my inside is splattered all over creation so it feels like it is outside. When I finally found the above reference in verse 45 it all made sense and we both could then understand the other. TOm T PS by the way verses 41 and 42 are not a prescription but a description of how it goes down.
