....If we really are Oneness itself, why does our experience continually tell us otherwise? How could it be possible for that One to mistakenly identify itself as the individuals of it's own creation?
One excellent analogy is that of your nightly dreams. From within the dream, you believe you are the dream character and all the objects and events are objectively real. Unless you lucid dream, you have no idea that the real you is snoring away in bed outside the dreamscape.
As above, so below. A very similar thing is happeing in your waking state. The One Consciousness has identified itself with you, the dream character, and has come to believe that the objects and events in the world are objectively real.
To Awaken from the dream of life is to Realize yourself as the source and substance of all that You experience, including the body You seem to inhabit. The key to understanding how this identification happens is to realize that Consciousness itself, does not think.
Wadayathink?
2007-07-27 16:28:32 · 14 answers · asked by philmeta11 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Nick L:
Sorry, the Buddhist joke was just to liven things up. I'm not a Buddhist.
2007-07-27 17:09:09 · update #1
Scary! So, the movie is playing to an empty house? Hmmm. Vedy in-ta-des-ting. =)
The 'gentle giant' is asleep creating a dreamworld...being all alone isn't much fun.
2007-07-28 14:38:02 · answer #1 · answered by Eve 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Buddhism 101-
This said dreams can be kind of fun, I remember one with these two sisters...
They can be kind of scary every now and then and "whoa" our eyes open and we see things as they are, roll over and go back to sleep.
Enlightenment is a translation which could be better said as "awake". If one is awake they can see things as they truely are, if one is asleep, one is at the mercy of a mis-understood sub-concious mind, which can be cruel at times.
The problem with life is that it is hard to see things the way they truely are because our concious, awake self is dwarfed by unconcious desires and archaic instincts. To go within one's mind and understand all these unseen forces requires much mental strength, and many great minds have ventured in with mixed results.
Being awake is why Buddhist in the East bang wooden fish. Fish do not sleep and the noise is to dull the ear from the constant outside influences of the world which stop us from concentrating. If you look at Eastern Buddhist statues the eyes are usually barely open, they see not the majority of the world but are looking down into the depths of the soul.
This is the first step, seeing things clearly, the second is then to act with your new found sight in a manner in accordance to what you see.
All this is as far as I have seen is almost entirely beyond the abilities of anyone I have ever met.
Sleeping is so much safer...
2007-07-28 05:20:00 · answer #2 · answered by Bonbu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats kinda like saying I don't really live in Chicago if this 'I' doesn't inhabit every single space that Chicago occupies. How could I live in Chicago if I only live in part of it? And am I any less Chicago for only being an 'aspect' of it instead of its total? What is 'Chicago' anyway?
A gear is 'total' in and of itself, yet a gear is not a clock. A 'clock' is total in and of itself, but it is not a house. A 'house' is total and of itself but it is not a street. Yet what is a street without individual houses, what is a house without each individual piece of furniture and bric-a-brac within it, what is a clock but a coordinated assembly of individual pieces?
Does a slice of tomato cease to be a slice of tomato when put onto a hot dog? Neither does the individual when they awaken to oneness.
2007-07-27 23:43:28 · answer #3 · answered by Khnopff71 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eloquently stated and oh, so right! I'll never forget "waking up". The best thing that ever happened to me.
2007-07-27 23:35:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gods don't forget who they are.
If I dream I'm a butterfly, how do I know I'm not a butterfly dreaming I'm a man?
2007-07-27 23:35:48 · answer #5 · answered by G 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes ,it is veggie dog,the need to nibble green chillies ,and nanthees to sittham and not vedam.
2007-07-27 23:41:06 · answer #6 · answered by thiru 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This seems to apply only to idealistic Buddhism. Could you explain how it would apply to more materialistic sects?
2007-07-27 23:46:22 · answer #7 · answered by Moodrets 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
is this a trick?
Buddha wouldn't eat a hot dog...unless it's a veggie dog
2007-07-27 23:32:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it's time I had my first drink of the day.
2007-07-27 23:32:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does that include Chili (cow meat)!
2007-07-27 23:31:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋