Coming full circle

[Snoopy]

Originally Posted by seattlegal

Oh, do you mean anointing with a fine olive oil?

Indeed, applied with a good piece of day old ciabatta

s.

[mee]

Originally Posted by seattlegal

**peeks in, sees all the old farts hanging out, and wonders what to do about keeping them sharp...**

Hey, guys! What's the best thing for lunch?

{If that doesn't do it, I don't know what will...}

GOOD SPIRITUAL FOOD matthew 24;45-47

[Snoopy]

Originally Posted by Paladin

Well, it has been a long time coming, but it's finally here. After many years of study and practice in everything from philosophy to Christianity, to Buddhism and several other diciplines I think I have arrived at the spot where I have no clue whatsoever about anything.
Oh, I still know why an engine works, and how to check the torque specs on a tranny cover, and even how to cook dinner, but as far as reality, ultimate truth, or enlightenment is concerned I know absolutely nothing.
There are some advantages to becoming stupid in this way I think, for example I can't really know for sure if someone else's ideas are right or wrong as long as no one is harmed. Oh, and I really like trees, and watching clouds makes me feel happy, but that isn't really knowledge is it?
I listen to poetry with the same intensity that I used to reserve for dharma talks, and stories and movies about the human condition make me pause as if there might be something there I need to hear.
AA meetings are interesting, people there are dealing with life as it is and trying their damndest to cope.

So I guess my question is, has anyone here become an idiot as well, or is it just me?

I've got a membership card and everything

“I don’t have any Dharma for you to practice here! And there isn’t any doctrine to be confirmed. Just eat and drink. Everyone can do that. Don’t harbour doubt. It’s the same every place!
Just recognise that Shakyamuni was an ordinary old fellow. You must see for yourself. Don’t spend your life trying to win some competitive trophy, blindly misleading other blind people, all of you marching right into hell, floundering in duality! I’ve nothing more to say.”

- Danxia Tianran.

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by Snoopy

I've got a membership card and everything

“I don’t have any Dharma for you to practice here! And there isn’t any doctrine to be confirmed. Just eat and drink. Everyone can do that. Don’t harbour doubt. It’s the same every place!
Just recognise that Shakyamuni was an ordinary old fellow. You must see for yourself. Don’t spend your life trying to win some competitive trophy, blindly misleading other blind people, all of you marching right into hell, floundering in duality! I’ve nothing more to say.”

- Danxia Tianran.

Brilliant, sums up the entire thread!

[China Cat Sunflower]

I always return to an idea I got reading about monks making a meditation out of their menial chores like sweeping or washing dishes. I want to make my work and play an active meditation. I'm a cabinet maker and high-end finish carpenter. Sometimes, especially lately, on a gorgeous day when I'm working alone, everything settles into a gentle groove and I become aware of my body working efficiently away, cutting perfect lines in accordance with its innate senses of straight and square. All the while my mind is working on multiple levels with no perceptible effort at focus on my part. The observer in me becomes a happy spectator just along for the ride, hanging it's head out the window like a happy dog. It's a cool experience!

Chris

[wil]

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

I always return to an idea I got reading about monks making a meditation out of their menial chores like sweeping or washing dishes. I want to make my work and play an active meditation. I'm a cabinet maker and high-end finish carpenter. Sometimes, especially lately, on a gorgeous day when I'm working alone, everything settles into a gentle groove and I become aware of my body working efficiently away, cutting perfect lines in accordance with its innate senses of straight and square. All the while my mind is working on multiple levels with no perceptible effort at focus on my part. The observer in me becomes a happy spectator just along for the ride, hanging it's head out the window like a happy dog. It's a cool experience!

Chris

Awesome, the fact that it isn't a menial chore, yet one that requires skill and attentiveness is incredible, in the zone man! Reminds me of the sculptors quote, "I just cut out everything that isn't an angel"

[Paladin]

Thats awesome Chris, somedays work is like that for me too. Days when I don't have to be in a hurry, the work gets done quite quickly and accurately. I love work on those days, it is a pleasure to be of service to the world if only one bit of ductwork at a time.

[Raksha]

Sometimes, especially lately, on a gorgeous day when I'm working alone, everything settles into a gentle groove and I become aware of my body working efficiently away, cutting perfect lines in accordance with its innate senses of straight and square. All the while my mind is working on multiple levels with no perceptible effort at focus on my part.

Chris,

I really envy you! That's the state called "Flow" and I understand someone wrote an entire book about it (which I haven't read). I haven't been there nearly enough lately--or if I have I've been unaware of it.

--Linda

[Virtual_Cliff]

This thread reminded me of this Cab Calloway song.

Everybody Eats When They Come To My House Lyrics

Have a banana, Hannah,
Try the salami, Tommy,
Give with the gravy, Davy,
Everybody eats when they come to my house!

Try a tomato, Plato,
Here's cacciatore, Dorie,
Taste the baloney, Tony,
Everybody eats when they come to my house!

I fix your favorite dishes,
Hopin' this good food fills ya!
Work my hands to the bone in the kitchen alone,
You better eat if it kills ya!

Pass me a pancake, Mandrake,
Have an hors-d'oeuvre-y, Irvy,
Look in the fendel (?), Mendel,
Everybody eats when they come to my house!

Hannah! Davy! Tommy! Dora! Mandrake!
Everybody eats when they come to my house!

Pastafazoola, Talullah!
Oh, do have a bagel, Fagel,
Now, don't be so bashful, Nashville,
Everybody eats when they come to my house!

Hey, this is a party, Marty,
Here, you get the cherry, Jerry,
Now, look, don't be so picky, Micky,
'Cause everybody eats when they come to my house!

All of my friends are welcome,
Don't make me coax you, moax you,
Eat the tables, the chairs, the napkins, who cares?
You gotta eat if it chokes you!

Oh, do have a knish, Nishia,
Pass me the latke, Macky,
Chile con carne for Barney,
Everybody eats when they come to my house!

Face! Buster! Chair! Chops! Fump!
Everybody eats when they come to my house!

cliff

[Still thinking]

Wow, I am so glad I signed up for this site! I, too, feel that I am coming to the place where I can finally admit that I know nothing. Growing up I was taught, and believed, such definite and absolute things about life. I thinks it's a sign of maturity for someone to admit that they really are, as you put it, an idiot. It is so liberating, as a reformed church lady, to just listen to somebody and not be planning a way to convert them. To genuinely consider all possible answers to life's great questions, and not have to choose one of them. I feel free to be myself, but mostly to allow others to be themselves. Strangely enough, this release of religious thought has, I believe, shown me more about the love that God has for people than any church could have taught me. I see people as more than just numbers; more than possible converts. This release of religious thought has brought me closer to God. It has left me very critical of organized religions, especially the one I come from. It has made me a better friend, since my judgemental tendencies are wearing off. Greetings to you all; I look forward to great discussions!

[flowperson]

Hi and welcome to CR Still Thinking! I tend to shorten names in my posts so don't be offended if I up and call you Still, or Thinking, or just ST.

Come to THINK about it, after the last seven years' experience here in the U.S. I probably won't use the "T" word very much since if you think too much, there are some people in the U.S. who consider you to be some kind of extremist or terrorist.

You'll find no end to the nice people here. Just play along and you'll have fun like the rest of us.

flow....

[China Cat Sunflower]

Originally Posted by Still thinking

Wow, I am so glad I signed up for this site! I, too, feel that I am coming to the place where I can finally admit that I know nothing. Growing up I was taught, and believed, such definite and absolute things about life. I thinks it's a sign of maturity for someone to admit that they really are, as you put it, an idiot. It is so liberating, as a reformed church lady, to just listen to somebody and not be planning a way to convert them. To genuinely consider all possible answers to life's great questions, and not have to choose one of them. I feel free to be myself, but mostly to allow others to be themselves. Strangely enough, this release of religious thought has, I believe, shown me more about the love that God has for people than any church could have taught me. I see people as more than just numbers; more than possible converts. This release of religious thought has brought me closer to God. It has left me very critical of organized religions, especially the one I come from. It has made me a better friend, since my judgemental tendencies are wearing off. Greetings to you all; I look forward to great discussions!

Wow! Welcome aboard sister friend! Tell us where you've been and how got here. What was your previous religious affiliation, and how did you break out?

Chris

[China Cat Sunflower]

Originally Posted by flowperson

Hi and welcome to CR Still Thinking! I tend to shorten names in my posts so don't be offended if I up and call you Still, or Thinking, or just ST.

flow....

Hmm...still thinking. Shorten each word and you get st inking! Welcome aboard Stinky!

Chris

[Tao_Equus]

Originally Posted by Still thinking

Wow, I am so glad I signed up for this site! I, too, feel that I am coming to the place where I can finally admit that I know nothing. Growing up I was taught, and believed, such definite and absolute things about life. I thinks it's a sign of maturity for someone to admit that they really are, as you put it, an idiot. It is so liberating, as a reformed church lady, to just listen to somebody and not be planning a way to convert them. To genuinely consider all possible answers to life's great questions, and not have to choose one of them. I feel free to be myself, but mostly to allow others to be themselves. Strangely enough, this release of religious thought has, I believe, shown me more about the love that God has for people than any church could have taught me. I see people as more than just numbers; more than possible converts. This release of religious thought has brought me closer to God. It has left me very critical of organized religions, especially the one I come from. It has made me a better friend, since my judgemental tendencies are wearing off. Greetings to you all; I look forward to great discussions!

Welcome to CR!! I am so happy to read your post. Liberation is always joyous

Tao

[Virtual_Cliff]

Originally Posted by Still thinking

Wow, I am so glad I signed up for this site! I, too, feel that I am coming to the place where I can finally admit that I know nothing.

You'll feel at home here then. We tend to start out with all the answers and an urgent need to shout them out. Later we come round to the fact that we know very little and are happy to listen to others. It's a little haven of insanity in an unremittingly sane world. -cliff