Are we real?

[Snoopy]

Who "I am" appears coherent only because of the monologue we keep repeating, editing, censoring, and embellishing in our heads.

- Stephen Batchelor.

[wil]

"I am what I cut, copy and paste' ~me

[Postmaster]

Originally Posted by Snoopy

Who "I am" appears coherent only because of the monologue we keep repeating, editing, censoring, and embellishing in our heads.

- Stephen Batchelor.

I like, thanks.

[Postmaster]

I think this drifts abit but i found it interesting.

"The wise therefore rule by emptying hearts and stuffing bellies,
by weakening ambitions and strengthening bones.
If people lack knowledge and desire,
then intellectuals will not try to interfere.
If nothing is done, then all will be done." --Tao Te Ching 3

[flowperson]

Something on the subject from today's NY Times.

flow....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/22/he...pagewanted=all

[Snoopy]

Originally Posted by Postmaster

I like, thanks.

Mr Batchelor knows his onions. (if that saying means anything to you!!)

s.

[Snoopy]

Originally Posted by flowperson

Something on the subject from today's NY Times.

flow....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/22/he...pagewanted=all

interesting one. ta.

s.

[Tariki]

Originally Posted by Snoopy

Who "I am" appears coherent only because of the monologue we keep repeating, editing, censoring, and embellishing in our heads.

- Stephen Batchelor.

It does seem to be this constant stream of consciousness that creates and sustains the sense of "I" that then leads, itself, to the life of wanting more of that which pleases the "I", less of that which displeases the "I", the on-going "samsara" of birth and death. Why Buddhadasa Bhikkhu speaks of the heart of the Dharma as being that nothing whatsoever should be clung to as "I", "me" or "mine"...........all else being ultimately superfluous.

It explains why even simple breathing meditation is efficacious (like Lily the Pink's medicinal compound... ) in creating what could be termed a lighter sense of being, a small release from dukkha/suffering. After even just a few weeks of formal meditation of returning to the breath whenever the mind is found to wander, the mind finds itself - outside of such formal meditation - breaking into and interrupting the on-going stream of thoughts that itself creates the deep sense of "I". There is during each day a constant "awakening", a "returning to the moment/breath"...........and what is experienced is, as said before, a "lighter sense of being".

And, yes, I have found that Stephen Batchelor does indeed know his onions........

[Snoopy]

Perhaps the narrative in our head shapes our ideas as to what we are and who we are, which then limits our options for changing our thinking, and our behaviour both now and (obviously) in the future. So the more we can let go of the past the freer we can become.

s.

[dot]

this is an article in relavent to this question? like how "journey" and "destination" are two different thing, the same way, is the question and my comment.
Mission: To break the container that contains everything about me (“I”).
Preface:
The above listed are few of my favourite Trojans among them are few inspired from my spiritual teacher (Gopal, my respects to him, in his words he always used to say “people who visit me get infected”), and the list will go on, and im grateful and thankful that I met these Trojans in “this” life.
Intro:
“Our life is a result of what we have thought” said the great Buddha and im sure he isn’t joking about this. Now if my life is a collection of memories about the events, situations, and emotions involved in them, etc. so I carry my respective wisdom bags with me at all time, and face my reality to the best of my knowledge.
About Trojan: for precise information you could get this movie called “troy” troy is a city, and they had the best barriers to protect their city from the intruders or enemies. Now Trojan are people for some political reasons would like to acquire troy. And Trojans betray them by sending a gift (a gigantic model of horse) which was stuffed with its soldiers, that night the soldiers come out of the horse (Trojan) and destroy the Troy. And so was the name given to the Trojan virus in IT that could destroy your operating system.
Trojan – Who am i?
Trojan – Am I Real?
Trojan – Am in struck in a dream?
Trojan – Who is it that is asking questions, who is answering, who is happy and who is not?
Trojan – who I want ? what I need?
Trojan – Am I happy? Should I try to be happy?
Trojan – am I asking the right question?
Trojan – Am I evaluating the “Right” way?
Trojan - now you add yours.
When one bombard these Trojan(s) in a particular interval, for a particular emotion(s), for a particular sequence I guess then our “WISDOM” (which is a part of our memory) which is a cluster (symbolically - coiled serpent) of much wisdom, this will start decompiling (unfold the knot) the cluster. This will lead to an extent that you would be able to see the origin of every thought that bind or associated with the other and procreated/ replicated/ extinguished/ revamped the other or the source thought(s) itself.
Dosage: “The Trojan” Adults should bombard this Trojan 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening.
Caution: Need to speak truth at all times.
Add-ons: faith, passion to know and doubt everything on the way, forgiving, and willing to stay till the “END”.
Symptoms:
Things that you should be aware are, when you try to ask these questions, your adoption and adaptation will rebel and could resist you at the gateway, for this it would bring in any possible, sensible or senseless, and try its level best to apply it as antidote to save you “SYSTEM”. Here they don’t care what they use to patch you up, it needs a result and will try every thing to stop you letting these Trojan into your “TROY” (a kingdom that had the great defensive wall, but the Trojan broke this and overthrew the kingdom). So be aware who is selling what to you.
Thank you

[17th Angel]

For REELS?????????

[Neemai]

If we're not real, then why would the un-real exist?

How can there not be a reality behind an illusion?

Surely the proof of now means that existence, even if illusory, is still something?

Just some random thoughts,

... Neemai

[Snoopy]

Just a thought...

BBC NEWS | Technology | Are my online friends for real?

s.

[flowperson]

Did someone say "ghostwriter"? I'll assume that someone will AI the entire thingy soon and then we'll all be participating in one humongous "Turing Test" each day we're online. Woe is me !

flow....

[satay]

namaste!
goodness, I don't recall even writing the OP it has been such a long time!

I think I am real...just have a bad memory.