an email conversation
Todd D
I was wondering...
2 messages
Bryan Carlson
02 March 2007 23:53
To: todd@nhaparts.com
Hey Todd, it's that cousin who only maintains a semblance of commitment to
the idea of family. Anyhow, I was wondering if at any point in your life
you studied Buddhism. Since I'm not the most knowledgeable guy when it
comes to Sanskrit, I have to rely on the competence of whomever is
translating some of this stuff into english. One idea that is hard for me
to understand is emptiness and suchness. From what I can tell, they
complement each other, and emptiness is not used in the way it would be in
english. I guess it means something like limitless, or completeness. That
its all one big cosmic pool of matter, and every object we perceive is an
instance of suchness, which is supposedly universally impermanent. I mean,
I could go on and on about this stuff, but I have a feeling that with time
it will make more sense. If you're reading this in the manner I assume you
are, then no, I am not experimenting with mind altering substances. This is
not the rapture, or even an attempt to distract you while we repossess your
car. In all seriousness, any help would be appreciated. Or if you want to
slowly back away from your computer, hey, that works too. And yes, I know
you have some sort of gmail address, but for the life of me I can't remember
my own license plate number. So uh, yeah.
----------
Why don't Buddhists vacuum their corners? Because they don't have any
attachments. Ba-duh!
_________________________________________________________________
Don’t miss your chance to WIN 10 hours of private jet travel from Microsoft®
Office Live http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/mcrssaub0540002499mrt/direct/01/
Todd D 03 March 2007 00:12
To: Bryan Carlson
hi bryan
I have indeed studied Buddhism, and the closest I will associate myself
with any religion is to say that I am mostly Buddhist, or at least more
Buddhist than Christian.
The term translated as emptiness by some scholars is sunyata or shunyata,
and is defined thusly:
zunyata
zUnyatA
3[ zUny'a-tA ] f. emptiness , loneliness , desolateness cf. R.
cf. VarBṛ. &c. ( cf. [ a-zUnyatA ] )
---> absence of mind , distraction cf. Suśr. cf. Sarvad
---> vacancy ( of gaze ) cf. Dhūrtas
---> ( ifc. ) absence or want of cf. Cāṇ. cf. Kum
---> nothingness , non-existence , non-reality , illusory nature ( of
all worldly phenomena ) cf. Śiś. cf. Sarvad. [ -samApti ] f. N. of wk.
Taking this possibilities in mind, one sees that there are a plethora
of interpretations
depending on if you decide to accept emptiness or whether you go for something
like illusory nature, or even non-existence. Sunyata is etymologically
linked to
Sunya or Shunya, meaning zero. Zero is something, but not something you can
quantify. Similarly, Sunyata is something, but not something that can be
easily grasped. See Quantum Physics. The act of perceiving affects or modifies
that which is being perceived. See atomism. All things are constantly changing,
in flux, and even as I think "things are changing", my own brain cells
are moving,
in a process of being created, modified, destroyed, therefore
everything is illusory,
and even an entire person is merely a conglomeration of cells deciding that
"hey, I will be bryan, or jeff, or todd". Good for them, but even
these brain cells which decided to be me are not the same brain cells
that live in the near future, stuck with
the decision to be me. Similarly, the idea of reincarnation without
self is seen.
Even though you, bryan, build up certain debts, responsibilities, and
accomplishments, future bryan must live with them even though future
bryan and now bryan are not the same person. Extrapolate that, and
after death someone is born, puts on your shoes, and picks up
(karmically) where you left off. Wow! What a thought.
Remember bryan from 10 years ago? He doesn't exist, does he? He's not
really you now, is he? Exactly. Ah, we've finally gotten somewhere!
It is equally useful to see the idea of not-self or emptiness as
upaya, or skillful means. If the central tenet of Buddhism is
non-attachment, non-grasping, etc, then the best way to stop you from
grasping is to train you that you are not you.
"I want food"
What do you want?
"Food"
Who wants it?
"Me?"
Wrong, you don't exist.
"Oh. Then why am I hungry?"
You're not.
"Oh yeah. I forgot."
See??? Oh snap!
Ironically, the Buddha discouraged such debate on the nature of why
things are a certain way because they are fruitless. It is easy to get
wrapped up in complex philosophy, but in truth the best way to pursue
it is just enough to understand what is expected from there, then to
discourage further debate, or "intellectual masturbation" as I like to
call it.
On a more focused note, if you ever want to meditate, get meditation
instruction, or play my new nintendo wii, give me a call or email me.
402-***-****
Todd.
[Quoted text hidden]
> Don't miss your chance to WIN 10 hours of private jet travel from Microsoft(r)
> Office Live http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/mcrssaub0540002499mrt/direct/01/
>
>
--
sarvam mangalam,
Todd
I was wondering...
2 messages
Bryan Carlson
02 March 2007 23:53
To: todd@nhaparts.com
Hey Todd, it's that cousin who only maintains a semblance of commitment to
the idea of family. Anyhow, I was wondering if at any point in your life
you studied Buddhism. Since I'm not the most knowledgeable guy when it
comes to Sanskrit, I have to rely on the competence of whomever is
translating some of this stuff into english. One idea that is hard for me
to understand is emptiness and suchness. From what I can tell, they
complement each other, and emptiness is not used in the way it would be in
english. I guess it means something like limitless, or completeness. That
its all one big cosmic pool of matter, and every object we perceive is an
instance of suchness, which is supposedly universally impermanent. I mean,
I could go on and on about this stuff, but I have a feeling that with time
it will make more sense. If you're reading this in the manner I assume you
are, then no, I am not experimenting with mind altering substances. This is
not the rapture, or even an attempt to distract you while we repossess your
car. In all seriousness, any help would be appreciated. Or if you want to
slowly back away from your computer, hey, that works too. And yes, I know
you have some sort of gmail address, but for the life of me I can't remember
my own license plate number. So uh, yeah.
----------
Why don't Buddhists vacuum their corners? Because they don't have any
attachments. Ba-duh!
_________________________________________________________________
Don’t miss your chance to WIN 10 hours of private jet travel from Microsoft®
Office Live http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/mcrssaub0540002499mrt/direct/01/
Todd D 03 March 2007 00:12
To: Bryan Carlson
hi bryan
I have indeed studied Buddhism, and the closest I will associate myself
with any religion is to say that I am mostly Buddhist, or at least more
Buddhist than Christian.
The term translated as emptiness by some scholars is sunyata or shunyata,
and is defined thusly:
zunyata
zUnyatA
3[ zUny'a-tA ] f. emptiness , loneliness , desolateness cf. R.
cf. VarBṛ. &c. ( cf. [ a-zUnyatA ] )
---> absence of mind , distraction cf. Suśr. cf. Sarvad
---> vacancy ( of gaze ) cf. Dhūrtas
---> ( ifc. ) absence or want of cf. Cāṇ. cf. Kum
---> nothingness , non-existence , non-reality , illusory nature ( of
all worldly phenomena ) cf. Śiś. cf. Sarvad. [ -samApti ] f. N. of wk.
Taking this possibilities in mind, one sees that there are a plethora
of interpretations
depending on if you decide to accept emptiness or whether you go for something
like illusory nature, or even non-existence. Sunyata is etymologically
linked to
Sunya or Shunya, meaning zero. Zero is something, but not something you can
quantify. Similarly, Sunyata is something, but not something that can be
easily grasped. See Quantum Physics. The act of perceiving affects or modifies
that which is being perceived. See atomism. All things are constantly changing,
in flux, and even as I think "things are changing", my own brain cells
are moving,
in a process of being created, modified, destroyed, therefore
everything is illusory,
and even an entire person is merely a conglomeration of cells deciding that
"hey, I will be bryan, or jeff, or todd". Good for them, but even
these brain cells which decided to be me are not the same brain cells
that live in the near future, stuck with
the decision to be me. Similarly, the idea of reincarnation without
self is seen.
Even though you, bryan, build up certain debts, responsibilities, and
accomplishments, future bryan must live with them even though future
bryan and now bryan are not the same person. Extrapolate that, and
after death someone is born, puts on your shoes, and picks up
(karmically) where you left off. Wow! What a thought.
Remember bryan from 10 years ago? He doesn't exist, does he? He's not
really you now, is he? Exactly. Ah, we've finally gotten somewhere!
It is equally useful to see the idea of not-self or emptiness as
upaya, or skillful means. If the central tenet of Buddhism is
non-attachment, non-grasping, etc, then the best way to stop you from
grasping is to train you that you are not you.
"I want food"
What do you want?
"Food"
Who wants it?
"Me?"
Wrong, you don't exist.
"Oh. Then why am I hungry?"
You're not.
"Oh yeah. I forgot."
See??? Oh snap!
Ironically, the Buddha discouraged such debate on the nature of why
things are a certain way because they are fruitless. It is easy to get
wrapped up in complex philosophy, but in truth the best way to pursue
it is just enough to understand what is expected from there, then to
discourage further debate, or "intellectual masturbation" as I like to
call it.
On a more focused note, if you ever want to meditate, get meditation
instruction, or play my new nintendo wii, give me a call or email me.
402-***-****
Todd.
[Quoted text hidden]
> Don't miss your chance to WIN 10 hours of private jet travel from Microsoft(r)
> Office Live http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/mcrssaub0540002499mrt/direct/01/
>
>
--
sarvam mangalam,
Todd