And as I age I am getting much faster at immediately recycling or giving away stuff I don't need right away. I could hold onto it for years and years and use it in ten years, but I can also just find someone that can make it useful right away.
Joko Beck writes a story of how some roommate of hers kept stuff in case she needed it again, and how she, Joko, gave away stuff relentlessly, and how constantly both of them couldn't find stuff they needed - the roommate because it was covered up by other saved stuff, and Joko because she'd gotten rid of it. She was able to just laugh it off as part of life, using it as an example of how there's not some perfect person we are trying to become, but rather we are trying to live comfortably with who we actually are. @Edgar: how will you keep your useful stuff if society collapses, if other people with guns/crowds of fanatical believers, want your useful stuff? Thanks, --Chris ch...@austin-lane.net +1-301-270-6524 On Fri, Aug 31, 2012 at 4:33 PM, Edgar Owen <edgaro...@att.net> wrote: > > > Merle, > > Interesting, I tend to save things I am unlikely to need because I might > need them someday, especially if/when society collapses. To some extent > that's practical, to some extent perhaps attachment. > > On the other hand there have been a number of cases I found a use for some > of that stuff, actually on a fairly regular basis. One can also consider it > as an alternative to our throw away consumerist society where most people > always have to spend their money on something new even when something old > will do quite well. > > I think the important point here between practicality and attachment is > what happens if one (or many) of those items is lost. If there is emotional > suffering then it was an attachment, if not it wasn't... > > Edgar > > > > On Aug 31, 2012, at 7:07 PM, Merle Lester wrote: > > > > > as i age..i have a dreadful attachment to things..i cannot even throw a > cardboard box out... once i was good at discarding..now it grips at my > heart. > .i was a child in the era of the 50's..when we collected everything and it > was useful...e.g string. > .you who have lived in that era would know...i think the depression had a > lot to do with it...and then there is "oh i might be able to use that > later"... even to make an artwork. > .as a kid we had a rubbish tip walking distance from my home..i loved > searching through it..i like looking at things...everything is so amazing. > .if i lost my eye sight..which i could have well done in 2001..the stroke > is in the area that is linked to eyesight... and the top corner of each eye > is da maged. > .so i am forever grateful..is that attachment?..sure it is... > > detachment feels so cold..like with people..jesus..does one present a > detached aura... i am northern european..from the coldest parts of the > world..and yes they are detached..and rather cold..if you get my > drift..nothing like the ever embracing italian style of personality.. > . > any thoughts on this folks? > > what is detachment? > what is desire? > what is need and what is want? > > how much of our wants are thrust upon us by society that we are > brainwashed to believing we must have it and have it now? > > the vow of poverty and vow of silence holds much appeal to me now. > .we talk too much. > .we want too much. > .our society is out of balance > i question > merle > > > > > Thanks, > Chris Austin-Lane > Sent from a cell phone > > On Aug 30, 2012, at 21:20, "Joe" <desert_woodwor...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > Chris, > > > > Yes, well, I think so. > > > > Do you disagree that Desire is for what one does not have, > > and Attachment is to what one has? > > They are just words, I was trying to explain what the largely > mental/physiological experiences behind "attachment is the root of > suffering." In my experience the suffering comes from not the thought "I > wish it were otherwise" but from the belief in that thought, the > indignation that this self should experience that! > > If you want to refine wanting to have the moment be otherwise than it is > into a list of two different types of dissatisfaction is fine, but not the > idea I was trying to add my two cents to. > > > Personally, I don't see alternatives, so I ask. > > > > --Joe > > > >> Email <brintala@...> wrote: > >> > >> Attachment to your health, your family, your possessions, your > reputation, your intellect, your mind, your life. > >> > >> Sent from my iPhone > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are > reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
