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lmfao

Frequently occurring thoughts I have about trying to be in the present

Started by lmfao,

7 posts in this topic

Posted (edited)

I think that the main part of becoming enlightened requires the awareness of "what reality really is". And in paying attention to what reality really is, I find that our egoic notions and beliefs about time, "what is real" and also of causility to be huge barriers in our awareness. There are so many angles I could try to talk about this but I'll just go for one. 

I want you to just try this experiment to get what I mean. Wherever you are, find an object nearby you and just get close to it. Just look at it. You might be seeing a water bottle in front of you. Now close your eyes and keep them closed and ask yourself "Is a water bottle in front of me?". Whilst your eyes are closed you certainly have the memory of the water bottle, but the water bottle is literally not in your experience anymore. This is by no means a trivial finding. 

Try a variation of this experiment. Everyone has their own mental catalogue of memories of the past. Now consider the fact that as far as the present moment is concerned, those things that you think that happened LITERALLY DO NOT EXIST. The only thing that exists is your memory of the events.

Now here's something that might drive you mad. Just say the word "cat" out loud. Now just realise that after you have finished saying the word, you have absolutely zero proof that you ever said the word cat in the past. The belief that you ever said the word cat is a delusion! This is true for absolutely all events and experiences, not just for situations where you say the word cat! 

Being in the present moment requires a radical rexontextualization and I hope these thought experiments pointed someone to that idea. 

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Besides what I've just mentioned here, this all becomes far more absurd when you question the nature of what is the present moment. Let me ask you. Suppose that you believe that time doesn't exist and all you have is the present moment. In the absence of time, how does ANY perception and experience exist at all? Could flux be an illusion if time doesn't exist? Because if there's no time, then things have no capacity by which to change. In the abscence of time just what is reality then? Does anything exist at all in the abscence of time? "Thinking" about these questions is pointless. Just meditate my niggas. I don't have a fucking clue what's going on with reality and experience but maybe you'll find out. 

Edited by lmfao

Hark ye yet again — the little lower layer. All visible objects, man, are but as pasteboard masks. But in each event — in the living act, the undoubted deed — there, some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth the mouldings of its features from behind the unreasoning mask. If man will strike, strike through the mask! How can the prisoner reach outside except by thrusting through the wall? To me, the white whale is that wall, shoved near to me. Sometimes I think there's naught beyond. But 'tis enough.

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Posted

Absolutely brilliant, my friend, your post gave me an "a-ha" moment, especially the bit about saying "cat"

Thanks. :)

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Posted

This is akin to Leo's hand exercise. Stare at your hand. Massage your hand. See and feel what is actual in the moment. Now put your hand behind your back and imagine your hand. Come to know what is actual and what is imagined. Most people conflate the two.

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Posted (edited)

@Serotoninluv @Serotoninluvn@Serotoninluvn

8 minutes ago, Serotoninluv said:

This is akin to Leo's hand exercise. Stare at your hand. Massage your hand. See and feel what is actual in the moment. Now put your hand behind your back and imagine your hand. Come to know what is actual and what is imagined. Most people conflate the two.

First time I've heard of this. Yeah that hand exercise sounds good. 

@EvilAngelnp my dude

Edited by lmfao

Hark ye yet again — the little lower layer. All visible objects, man, are but as pasteboard masks. But in each event — in the living act, the undoubted deed — there, some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth the mouldings of its features from behind the unreasoning mask. If man will strike, strike through the mask! How can the prisoner reach outside except by thrusting through the wall? To me, the white whale is that wall, shoved near to me. Sometimes I think there's naught beyond. But 'tis enough.

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Posted (edited)

Frequently occurring thoughts I come across when trying to be in the present?? 

Trying to be (becoming) is a movement of thought. Anytime we are in this process of becoming(moving away from what is to what should be) that is itself a movement of past/present/future(self-thought). 

Its a reactionary movement that arises from still acting as a divided entity distinct from its wantings. 

 

Edited by Jack River

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Posted

@Jack River I changed the title of the thread lol, because it was innacurate. 

Hark ye yet again — the little lower layer. All visible objects, man, are but as pasteboard masks. But in each event — in the living act, the undoubted deed — there, some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth the mouldings of its features from behind the unreasoning mask. If man will strike, strike through the mask! How can the prisoner reach outside except by thrusting through the wall? To me, the white whale is that wall, shoved near to me. Sometimes I think there's naught beyond. But 'tis enough.

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