All those things exist in the same way as they did when you were seventeen, (which seemed like very much so) the only difference is the degree to which one is egotistical/drawn in by desire, as is pointed out in that tao te ching verse.Pam Seeback wrote: absolute reality and conventional reality (names) are not separate realities which means the name 'family', ''son, 'grandson' do exist when they are being spoken by the absolute self.
It is not so much that one need give up the household life. It's that, in my view, meditation, contemplation, and the development of good habits, such as concentration, are all "difficult", great tasks, and ought to be considered priority, even as urgent.Pam Seeback wrote: Give up the household life if you believe you must do so in order to realize absolute/eternal self, I did not do so.
The reason is because of the view that life is eternal, and continuing from there, because of the possibility of the view that causality alone dictates whether one is fortunate enough to be exposed to wisdom or follow the way. Perhaps it is rare and may not occur again for an incomprehensible amount of time. As well as the possibility that ones karma will dictate ones future existence. In a sense it is by pure luck 'one seemingly finds oneself' engaging in the pursuit of enlightenment.
"Be mindful of the passing of time, and engage yourself in zazen, as though you are saving your head from fire."
-Dogen
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it."
-Jesus
If this is the case for you, that's great. Perhaps it is even all that is necessary.Pam Seeback wrote:The absolute self feeds the child unconditionally, with full attention, no wandering mind thinking of other things it might rather be doing
It's my understanding that one is allured by the things of the world and associated desire/lust/temptation. Being drawn into that is to risk being caught up in the rush of that worldly river, which naturally works to drown out contemplation/insight via over stimulation, perpetuated by the fears of the ego. The world being the domain of 'the devil'/mara the deceiver. That this is somewhat like a trap, the cycle of samsara, and can keep one ensnared life after life.Pam Seeback wrote:Where things get muddled and mucked up is when observation happens in ignorance
"not to be discovered is any first beginning of beings, who, obstructed by ignorance, and
ensnared by craving, are hurrying and hastening through this round of rebirths."
-Buddha
“The wise man knows that it is better to sit on the banks of a remote mountain stream than to be emperor of the whole world.”
― Zhuangzi
"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Unfortunately, "the path into light seems dark", it leaves one entirely alone, floating in the void. To a worldly being upon first encounters, it would appear as hell.
"This knowledge of Truth
turns an eloquent, wise and active man
mute, empty and inert.
Lovers of the world therefore shun it."
-Ashtavakra