Playing With Perspectives

[UnbornTao]

Something

 

[Leo Gura]

@UnbornTao Lots of wisdom here. Good work!

[UnbornTao]

@Leo Gura Thanks Leo, appreciate it.

[UnbornTao]

Stop avoiding pain

A few consequences of avoiding pain: 

1. Numbness, decreased sensitivity and awareness
2. Lack of profundity
3. Childishness
4. Growing shadow
5. Weakness and fragility
6. Loss of presence and vitality
7. Addiction
8. Reduced capacity for wisdom

Therefore, embrace pain and contemplate it: What is it, fundamentally? What is the distinction "ouch!" in your experience? What function is it serving?

Can you notice how you might be conceptually superimposing "stuff" onto the sensation? What is the relationship between what you do and the degree of pain that you go through? Does willingness to look into your suffering reduce its impact somehow?

A few suggested practices for you to start looking into your experiences of discomfort and of pain:

• Cold showers
• Semen retention
• Fasting
• Intense meditation
• Exercise
• Stretching
• Doing nothing, alone in a room, for several hours or days
• Eliminating an addiction

Edited September 23 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

"Awareness of your frantic state gives you power over it. You see, you cannot control a state that you are identified with, that is, a state you do not observe in yourself. But there is a calm self within you that can actually stand aside and observe another self, the frantic one. This is self-awareness. This is what gives you command.

Do you see the tremendous power here? Listen carefully: When you become aware of a frantic state you can then see the difference between a frantic state and a calm one. You see that there is an alternative to pressure.

That alternative is calmness. When you are unaware of your pressure-state, you mistakenly think that it is the only state that exists. But now you are aware of the other way — calmness."

--Vernon Howard

[UnbornTao]

One thing is what you "say" (think, believe, intellectualize, speak about), and another is what you actually experience and live as. Notice the discrepancies between these two.

Edited Wednesday at 08:01 PM by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Deep insight requires that you let go of your current knowledge.

[UnbornTao]

Holding no possibility that your experience should be any different from what it is now provides a deep sense of presence and vitality. It allows for complete engagement because it is embraced rather than resisted.

Conversely, believing that your experience should be some other way creates friction and tends to increase the likelihood of suffering, as, by definition, such wanted experience isn't happening now—hence, your relationship with the present moment is one of lack.

Edited September 15 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

If we don't directly experience the true nature of anything (emotion, perception, self, "other"), then what does it take to become conscious of it?

It just so happens that you have to create insight within your own experience and there's no way around that —that's the spirit of this "zen" work.

If you don't experience it, it doesn't exist for you, except perhaps as a concept.

Anything other than a direct personal encounter won't change our condition of ignorance in these matters, regardless of belief, conviction, and even knowledge.

This is the principle of genuine and direct "experience". 

Edited September 16 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

ADHD brain-mode at night.

Edited September 18 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

What does it take to grasp a communication?

[UnbornTao]

Impressionist paintings by GPT:

 

 

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[Rishabh R]

@UnbornTao I could suggest that you could read the book Tao Te Ching which I have on Amazon Kindle as your name contains Tao . Great dude.

[UnbornTao]

6 hours ago, Rishabh R said:

@UnbornTao I could suggest that you could read the book Tao Te Ching which I have on Amazon Kindle as your name contains Tao . Great dude.

I've read it and it definitely is one of those books that need to be reread and contemplated multiple times.

Edited September 19 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Renaissance-style painting:

 

An impressionist version: 

[UnbornTao]

5 hours ago, UnbornTao said:

Renaissance-style painting:

 

An impressionist version: 

Different characteristics between those two styles by GPT:

Renaissance-Style Painting:

1. Chiaroscuro Technique: This technique involves the use of strong contrasts between light and dark to give the illusion of volume in modeling three-dimensional objects and figures.

2. Detailed and Realistic: Renaissance art is known for its attention to detail and realistic representation of subjects. The Mars rover in this style is depicted with intricate designs and textures.

3. Warm Color Palette: The use of deep reds, golden hues, and rich browns creates a warm, inviting atmosphere.

4. Heroic and Formal Composition: The subject, in this case, the Mars rover, is positioned in a noble and heroic manner, similar to portraits of explorers or knights.

5. Perspective and Depth: Renaissance paintings often have a strong sense of depth and perspective, making the scene look three-dimensional.

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Impressionist-Style Painting:

1. Vibrant Brush Strokes: Impressionist paintings use short, quick brush strokes to capture the essence and movement of the scene rather than focusing on fine details.

2. Light and Airy Atmosphere: The overall mood is lighter and more ephemeral, with an emphasis on how light affects the colors and forms.

3. Blend of Warm and Cool Tones: The Martian landscape is depicted with a mix of warm and cool tones, creating a softer and more varied color palette.

4. Sense of Movement: The rover is portrayed with a sense of motion, making the scene feel dynamic and alive.

5. Dreamlike Quality: Impressionist paintings often have a serene and dreamlike quality, emphasizing the impression of the scene rather than a precise depiction.

These differences reflect the distinct artistic philosophies and techniques of the two movements, with the Renaissance focusing on detailed realism and formal composition, while Impressionism captures fleeting moments and the play of light and color.

[UnbornTao]

An ogre in his swamp (impressionist):

 

Edited September 22 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

 

 

[UnbornTao]

Quote

If we will see things truly, they are strangers to goodness, truth and everything that tolerates any distinction, be it in a thought or in a name, in a notion or just a shadow of distinction. They are intimates of the One that is bare of any kind of multiplicity and distinction

―Meister Eckhart

Quote

God is at home; it is we who have gone out for a walk

―Meister Eckhart

Edited October 14 by UnbornTao

[UnbornTao]

Thanks, DALLE