Discussions

"I don't really know what you are talking about Jan"
You said that to me Candol

Jan, That's the same as saying, I don't understand what you've just said. What is wrong with that? And why are you clinging to it?

All right, i'm sorry for saying that i felt a lack of interest in my project is shallow. Still, I can't help but see the lack of interest as a personal rejection though. There is no other credible way to see it. Call it Ego. but i'm sure i'm correct.

I read the suttas as I read poetry - to be reminded again of that 'ne'er so well expressed' thought or emotion, to have my jumbled brain gently tapped back into some sort of order, and occasionally, yes, for some insight.

But having invoked Pope, I am also reminded of another couplet from the Essay on Criticism -

Words are like Leaves; and where they most abound,
Much Fruit of Sense beneath is rarely found.

Shades of the Golden Silence, I think.

A.

this link may offer some insight: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.099.than.html

"Just as a dog, tied by a leash to a post or stake, keeps running around and circling around that very post or stake; in the same way, an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill person — who has no regard for noble ones, is not well-versed or disciplined in their Dhamma; who has no regard for people of integrity, is not well-versed or disciplined in their Dhamma — assumes form to be the self, or the self as possessing form, or form as in the self, or the self as in form.

"He assumes feeling to be the self...

"He assumes perception to be the self...

"He assumes (mental) fabrications to be the self...

"He assumes consciousness to be the self, or the self as possessing consciousness, or consciousness as in the self, or the self as in consciousness.

"He keeps running around and circling around that very form... that very feeling... that very perception... those very fabrications... that very consciousness. He is not set loose from form, not set loose from feeling... from perception... from fabrications... not set loose from consciousness. He is not set loose from birth, aging, & death; from sorrows, lamentations, pains, distresses, & despairs. He is not set loose, I tell you, from suffering & stress.

"But a well-instructed, disciple of the noble ones — who has regard for noble ones, is well-versed & disciplined in their Dhamma; who has regard for people of integrity, is well-versed & disciplined in their Dhamma — doesn't assume form to be the self, or the self as possessing form, or form as in the self, or the self as in form.

"He doesn't assume feeling to be the self...

"He doesn't assume perception to be the self...

"He doesn't assume fabrications to be the self...

"He doesn't assume consciousness to be the self, or the self as possessing consciousness, or consciousness as in the self, or the self as in consciousness.

"He doesn't run around or circle around that very form... that very feeling... that very perception... those very fabrications... that very consciousness. He is set loose from form, set loose from feeling... from perception... from fabrications... set loose from consciousness. He is set loose from birth, aging, & death; from sorrows, lamentations, pains, distresses, & despairs. He is set loose, I tell you, from suffering & stress.