An Aside

One problem with the Big Bang theory is that when scientists try to trace its origin, there is no one place that is led to by calculating the expansion of the universe which we can see in effect. I'm wondering that if the "void" referred to in Genesis was simply a condition in which all that existed was energy at different frequencies. To create the universe, another scenario is that much of the energy slowed down and crystallized into matter that would obey the laws of physics. Our conciousness is still high-frequency energy locked into a body of matter. This seems to satisfy Einstein's theory and string theory. Comments?

Catching Up

Hello,

I have re-read Chapter 6 of the Dalai Lama's How to See Yourself as You Really Are, and found that I missed the crucial part for my purposes: the comment on Truth.  The Truth is considered ineffable, undefinable.  There is a story about a man in a debate who says he knows the answer to the question put forth, but he has no words for conveying that truth.

At this point I became frustrated and wondered if there would be a clearer answer later in the book.  I intend to find out, but in the meantime I'm reading some lighter things for enjoyment, leaving the heavy stuff on the back burner for a bit.

My sister, a reverend (Methodist), sent me an informal book on faith by Anne LaMott called Traveling Mercies, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading because it wasn't heavy - comedic, really - and didn't proseletize.  She also sent me a workbook for a study group focused on forgiveness.  It's a 28-week course.  She knows I have a lot of old issues with that, and wants to help.  I'm honored to accept the help, too.

Lately, for fun I'm reading James Patterson's Cat and Mouse.  For brain food, I'm reading notes of an informal course on the subject of ColdFusion programming.  That is my husband's main profession, although he also learned many other languages for his Business Computing degree and has taught himself still more languages.  He's brilliant.  If he can teach me what he knows,  I'll be able to infuse our bank account considerably and we can finally get where we want to be.  Most jobs would not work for me as I am agoraphobic, but he often works from home, so theoretically, so could I, at least part of the time.  Wish me luck?

First Six Chapters Read...

... of the Dalai Lama's book, How to See Yourself As You Really Are. I'm in an area now where I need the help of quotes, so this is the source of all the quotes in this post.


Reincarnation is a given, but it is referred to as "cyclic existence," a thing to be overcome via insight, and by overcoming ignorance, which is seeing things as being existent in their own right, independently. You cannot believe your eyes or other senses:

Our senses contribute our ignorance. To our
faculties of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and feeling, objects seem to exist in their own right. Presented with this
distorted information, the mind assents to this exaggerated status of things. Buddhists call such a mind "ignorant" for accepting this false
appearance instead of resisting it. The ignorant mind does not question appearances to determine if they are correct; it merely accepts that things
are as they appear.

Sensing everything as independent entities causes us to react with feelings such as lust and anger.

Consider a table. It looks substantial and independent, but it is not.

A table depends for its existence on its parts, so we call the collection of its parts the basics upon which it is set up. When
we search analytically to find this table that appears to our minds as if it exists independently, we must look for it as if it exists independently, we must look for it within this basis - the legs, the top, and so forth. But nothing from within the parts is such a table. Thus, these things that are not a table become a table in dependence on thought; a table does not exist in its own right.

From this viewpoint, a table is something that arises, or exists, dependently. It depends on certain causes; it depends upon its parts, and it depends upon thought. These are the three modes of dependent-arising. Of these, one of the more important factors is the thought that designates an object.

The same applies to the self:


Nowhere in the parts of the body and mind that form the basis for the "I" can we find the "I." Therefore the "I" is established not under its own power but through the force of other conditions - its causes, its parts, and thought.


This is not the same thing as nihilism, though. It is not saying that nothing and nobody exists, as things have a noticeable cause and effect; but the existence is dependent, mostly on the thought of the perceiver. Quantum physics, anyone?

Please leave me some feedback on...

Yesterday, I had a stripped-bare blog except for some pictures in (mostly) the margin. Today, I added several gadgets, and I don't know whether they enhance the blog or simply clutter it up. Does it take longer to load now? Does it distract or add to the experience of reading the blog? Are there specific ones that you like or dislike? This inquiring mind wants to know!

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. - Aristotle

Borrowed from Voices for Horses, another Twitterer. I hope they don't mind, but it seems appropriate for where my head is these days. It's also helpful to keep in mind when conversing with someone with another point of view. They may be right or wrong or somewhere in between, but you learn more when you talk with people who have differing points of view.

My husband and I can have hours of discussion without offending each other even if our opinions differ. This gives us both a great deal of pleasure, and gives us plenty to think about.

What do you think?

Getting started

Here's what I've gathered so far, from the Dalai Lama's book:

The perception that things are as they appear is false, and creates the ignorance that leads to such emotions as lust and anger. Only by overcoming this ignorance can you achieve enough enlightenment to escape the cycle of reincarnation, having to come to earth again and again.

One of the first steps toward conquering ignorance is to view things dispassionately, without judging or assigning meaning or worth based on the outer appearance of things (or people). This can help you see things without being lured into emotions that support ignorance. Ingorance must be overcome.

There are little lists of ideas to meditate upon at the end of each chapter to help the words sink in and make more sense.

Another question for you: do you meditate, and if so, what is your favorite method?

What works best for me is to find a quiet spot a little ways from a trail in the State Park forest. Even better if it's on high ground. I hear little animal noises and they comfort me, making me feel welcome and close to God.

I usually start with calming exercises, such as tightening every muscle in my body for a few seconds and then let go and relax. Then I attune myself to my breathing and make a point of "belly breathing," filling myself to the limit with the fresh, pine-scented air, imagining all my problems and negativity being transferred to the air so that when I fully exhale, the negativity goes out with the used air. Then I breathe in fresh air and repeat the process. Then, I use guided imagery to center myself and create a peaceful environment inside me, which is pretty easy since I'm surrounded by it on the outside.

Every once in a while, I'm rewarded with the sighting of a deer. They are among the most beautiful, graceful animals alive. I feel a connection with them, as I do with horses. (If you'd like more on my forest visits, I have them in a section called Tales from the Forest on the right sidebar of http://jj.jlym.com/. I no longer can go that far, so it hasn't been updated in some time.)

Horses, though, are less likely to avoid meeting me than deer, and I love to visit them, pet them and feed them yummies. The best treat is not sugar, as it rots their teeth, or apples, which can give them gas, but carrots are ideal.