GENIUS FORUMS

One cannot discern from the weight and/or shape of another human being whether that human being is attached (craving or rejecting) to food beyond moderation. As some have noted, while some so-called fat people are attached to food, others are fat for other reasons. And the same may be said of so-cal...

Kevin;

Leaving aside whether I have understood or not understood the teaching as expressed in the quote, do you agree or disagree with my view: the form of another human being does not determine whether that human being is or is not enlightened.

clyde

Kevin; Yes, fair enough. I posted the quote in response to a series of posts in another thread about whether a fat person could be enlightened. It seems unbelievable to me that an enlightened person would hold the view that the form of another human being (fat or any other distinguishing characteris...

Chapter 20. "Subhuti, what do you think, should one look for Buddha in his perfect physical body?" "No, Perfectly Enlightened One, one should not look for Buddha in his perfect physical body. Why? The Buddha has said that the perfect physical body is not the perfect physical body. Th...

Leyla; I do not know your view or usage of "self", so "just plain self" lacks nothing, but adds nothing to my understanding of your view or usage of "self". I have not been a regular visitor here and you probably have made your view known to others. Thank you anyway. cl...

Leyla;

Sorry, I thought you had some notion when you used the phrase "just plain self" and I was wondering what it was.

clyde

maestro wrote:To be precise constant here means almost constant.

maestro;

To be precise, it comes and goes. As I understand your usage of "constant awareness", it is consciousness; there when you are awake and not there when you are asleep.

clyde

How is self "a different beast than the ego"? It seems to me that both self and ego believe in their own (illusory) eternality; the ego believes it is a "permanent center" and the self believes it is "constant awareness". Clyde according to my definition ego is the fal...

How is self "a different beast than the ego"? It seems to me that both self and ego believe in their own (illusory) eternality; the ego believes it is a "permanent center" and the self believes it is "constant awareness". Only if you define them that way and, when you ...

Given that a) everything is perceived through our senses, hence everything (including, say, the principle of non-contradiction) is empirical The appearances of things are generated by the mind. These appearances are non-empirical. Things such as the number 1, too, and all logic, including the princ...

The ego or a permanent center does not exist at all. It is an implicit belief which hinders the mind, therefore it has to go. I think you are refering to the other thread, where I was discussing an interesting possibility raised by Gurdjieff. The permanent self being created there is quite a differ...

Jason;

What is the value of arguing whether "the average person believes that their self exists independently of the non-self"? And what is the value of knowing what the so-called average person believes?

clyde

Are you positing that we are (equal) ego? Or do you mean that along with other attributes (body and mind, etc.), ego is an attribute of us? It's not an attribute you can turn on or off. I also disagree with the idea of abandoning or getting 'rid' of ego as some others would suggest but it depends r...

One can only minimize it by helping people become immune to harm. [emphasis added] Dan; I do not entirely agree. While an enlightened human being may not experience some forms of psychological or mental suffering, even an enlightened human being feels pain which is a form of harm; so one can still ...

Dan; I assume you know the answer, but I will answer: Yes, some people some times intentionally or thoughtlessly act (or not act) to cause other human beings unneccessary pain and suffering. clyde p.s: Please, let us not debate whether a human being can be 'perfectly harmless'; one can't, but one ca...

David;

Thank you for your concern, but I’m in no bind.

clyde

David; It's not "running away" to cease conduct that causes others suffering; its the manifestation of wisdom and compassion. If my posting actually causes more harm than benefit, I should cease posting. If you can suggest specific changes to the content and/or style of my posts so that my...

Clyde, your every post to this forum is creating suffering. Are you harmed by my posts? If so, please, do not read my posts. Ah, I see. The fault lies not in your creating harmful behaviour in the first place, but with others for getting in the way of it. An interesting take on the principle of doi...

maestro; Vague? You wrote that you understood suffering and had achieved the end of suffering. To live harmlessly means not to cause others to suffer. OK? Clyde, your every post to this forum is creating suffering. - David; Are you harmed by my posts? If so, please, do not read my posts. clyde

maestro;

Vague? You wrote that you understood suffering and had achieved the end of suffering. To live harmlessly means not to cause others to suffer. OK?

clyde

At what point in the evolutionary scale do you believe consciousness arises and hence, according to your view, ego arises? Mammals? Amphibians? Birds? Fish? Sponges? etc? Where lies the importance of your question? Do you really want me to think about sponges and if some of them might be a genius o...

maestro; I acknowledged that a "logical and observant faculty" may be of utilitarian benefit. I'll go further and agree with you that it IS of value. My objection is to the reification and attachment, and to the belief that it is in any way permanent or a self. And I answered the question ...

Diebert; Yes, animals have form and sensations (they react to their environment), some animals have perceptions (they have nervous systems), and some animals have consciousness. At what point in the evolutionary scale do you believe consciousness arises and hence, according to your view, ego arises?...

If it is created (as you wrote), than its existence is dependent on causes and conditions, and if those causes and conditions cease, then the "permanent self" will cease to exist. If its existence is not dependent on causes and conditions, then it must have always existed, so you did not ...

Diebert;

Do those animals which you accept as displaying emotions have egos?

And if ego is not a psychological or mental construct, what is the ego?

clyde