quotes
I realize why I was never quite down with Buddhism like I was with Taoism:
"'When you say that the body is my self, do you exercise any such power over that body as to say: "Let my form be thus; let my form be not thus"? If we have no mastery or perfect control over body, how can we call it "myself".'
'Is the body permanent on impermanent?' - 'Impermanent.'
'Is what is impermanent unsatisfactory or satisfactory?' - 'UNSATISFACTORY.' [emphasis mine]
'Is what is impermanent, unsatisfactory and subject to change fit to be regarded thus: "This is mine, this I am, this is my self"?'
'No.'"
- Buddhist meditation
I am uncomfortable with permanence. I would agree that my body is not exactly mine, but I feel that that is because I belong to my body more so than the other way around; power OVER my body doesn't concern me.
"I have always been impressed by the fact that there are a surprising number of individuals who never use their minds if they can avoid it, and an equal number who do use their minds, but in an amazingly stupid way. I was also surprised to find many intelligent and wide-awake people who lived (as far as one could make out) as if they had never learned to use their sense organs: They did not see the things before their eyes, hear the words sounding in their ears, or notice the things they touched or tasted. Some lived without being aware of the state of their own bodies.
There are others who seemed to live in a most curious condition of consciousness, as if the state they had arrived at today were final, with no possibility of change, or as if the world and the psyche were static and would remain so forever." - Carl Jung, Man and His Symbols
this explains everything that has ever driven me crazy about people.
I'm re-reading that book and it's making things easier.
brunch with Jessica in New York tomorrow. I don't think I've had a meal labeled 'brunch' since I was a child. going to the Met. drawing. selling my comics at St. Mark's Comics and maybe Forbidden Planet. possibly hanging out with my dad at his job.
I'm trying to take being back here as positively as I can. I didn't expect this negative reaction (to being back home). it's the first time it's happened to me. I'm sure it's wrapped up in everything.
"'When you say that the body is my self, do you exercise any such power over that body as to say: "Let my form be thus; let my form be not thus"? If we have no mastery or perfect control over body, how can we call it "myself".'
'Is the body permanent on impermanent?' - 'Impermanent.'
'Is what is impermanent unsatisfactory or satisfactory?' - 'UNSATISFACTORY.' [emphasis mine]
'Is what is impermanent, unsatisfactory and subject to change fit to be regarded thus: "This is mine, this I am, this is my self"?'
'No.'"
- Buddhist meditation
I am uncomfortable with permanence. I would agree that my body is not exactly mine, but I feel that that is because I belong to my body more so than the other way around; power OVER my body doesn't concern me.
"I have always been impressed by the fact that there are a surprising number of individuals who never use their minds if they can avoid it, and an equal number who do use their minds, but in an amazingly stupid way. I was also surprised to find many intelligent and wide-awake people who lived (as far as one could make out) as if they had never learned to use their sense organs: They did not see the things before their eyes, hear the words sounding in their ears, or notice the things they touched or tasted. Some lived without being aware of the state of their own bodies.
There are others who seemed to live in a most curious condition of consciousness, as if the state they had arrived at today were final, with no possibility of change, or as if the world and the psyche were static and would remain so forever." - Carl Jung, Man and His Symbols
this explains everything that has ever driven me crazy about people.
I'm re-reading that book and it's making things easier.
brunch with Jessica in New York tomorrow. I don't think I've had a meal labeled 'brunch' since I was a child. going to the Met. drawing. selling my comics at St. Mark's Comics and maybe Forbidden Planet. possibly hanging out with my dad at his job.
I'm trying to take being back here as positively as I can. I didn't expect this negative reaction (to being back home). it's the first time it's happened to me. I'm sure it's wrapped up in everything.