| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 761.1 | Ain't it the truth! | USAT05::KASPER | Life is like a beanstalk, isn't it... | Sun Jun 12 1988 22:03 | 15 |
| Absolutely! In western culture we've been trained to be too 'goal'
oriented. It doesn't work, at least not for me. If I don't enjoy and
put my efforts into the process rather than the end, it becomes a
frustration. I paint and draw. I enjoy this more than anything else
I do. I learned a long time ago that the enjoyment comes from the
process, not the finished piece. For those of you who have told yourselves
you can't draw, you're right - for two reasons: 1.) You told yourself
you couldn't (self-fullfilling prophesy) and 2.) You worried about the
end result. What you really missed was the wonderful process.
Unfortunately, we do this in life all the time. Thanks for entering the
note. It's a good reminder.
Terry
|
| 761.2 | stopped me in my tracks! | USAT02::CARLSON | | Mon Jun 13 1988 09:59 | 11 |
| re. 1 <hi Terry!>
I agree! Time to 'stop and smell the roses'!
I'm guilty of living for the weekends, so the rest of the week goes
by in a haze. When I slow down and look around, it's more enjoyable.
Long-term goals? Frightening.
theresa.
|
| 761.3 | Just one more mountain field I'll till | CSSE32::DICKINSON | Entropy - Just say no | Mon Jun 13 1988 14:29 | 23 |
|
Live in the minute...
Be here now...
Many times I find myself in a situation where I'm thinking about the future,
an easything to get into when working in this business. Sometimes this so-called
thinking is really anxiety, I'm sure you all know what I mean. I try to
control my anxieties and fears by attempting to remember such as the two quotes
above.
But it isn't always easy to chase away the demons with a simple slogan.
Living in the NOW is where it's at ( there 'it' is again ), but not
always so easy to implement.
peter
|
| 761.4 | | GENRAL::DANIEL | We are the otters of the Universe | Mon Jun 13 1988 14:42 | 19 |
| Carla, thanks a lot for sharing that. I'd like to remember that each and every
day. (Another posting on the 'fridge, perhaps?)
On a recent interview, I was asked, "Where do you want to be 5 years from now?"
Of course, a manager was posing the question. And if you answer wrong, the
buzzer goes off and you miss out on the vacation to Tahiti... ;-) ...or the
job. What he wanted to know was, if the job in question was what I wanted for
life. (Close prison doors here).
What I want for 5 years from now, is the same thing I want for today. I want
good health. I want to be in a position where I am being as creative as I can
be. I want to know spiritual nourishment. I want to love and be loved. I
want to stay Centered; to feel my connection to the Universe. I want to help
people feel better. I want happiness for myself and others.
Carla, I like sharing this journey with you.
Love and Light
Meredith
|
| 761.5 | I lived it through | BSS::BLAZEK | Dancing with My Self | Mon Jun 13 1988 21:30 | 13 |
| Thanks, Meredith. =8*)
The line I've kept in my head for years (and try to remember at
necessary moments) is: "Regret and fear are twin thieves which
rob of us today." Today is all we have. Tomorrow's existence
isn't assured and yesterday is nothing more than an escaped
memory shrouded in mist. You can only be what you are at this
precise moment, and to relinquish that is cheating yourself.
Enjoy the Now...
Carla
|
| 761.6 | Plugging Rush | BTO::BEST_G | | Tue Jun 14 1988 09:16 | 14 |
|
From the point of entry
To the final drive
The point of departure
Is not to arrive
from "Prime Mover"
Lyrics by Neil Peart of Rush
Guy
|
| 761.7 | Like a Bird on the Wire... | SCDGAT::REGNELL | Smile!--Payback is a MOTHER! | Tue Jun 14 1988 12:23 | 64 |
|
If I might be so bold....I've always looked at it a bit
differently.
There is a dichotomy in most people's lives; the harlequin
effect so to speak, where Persona "A" strives toward spiritual
fulfillment and Persona "B" strives toward survival. When
I get to "A" I no longer need "B", so I cease to exist.
Likewise, while I search for "A", I must maintain "B" or
I am destined to keep coming back to get it right (so to
speak...)
According to most behavioral giants (Maslo probably most
notably) and most "occult" methods of introspection (Tarot,
I Ching...) the human soul seeks to balance these two aspects
of the same nature. Notable exceptions to this striving
for balance produce martyres (toward the spiritual end) and
madmen (toward the materialistic). There have been, and
still are a handfull of holy men, but most human sould tend
to "take care of business" first...as Maslo puts it: survival
comes first. We *will* choose to eat rather than starve
regardless of innocent animals as food or fertilizer; we
*will* choose to protect our children regardless of the dogma
of passivity; we *will* choose to house and clothe our families
regardless of constraints this puts upon us to generate income
and worth. Most of us will also attempt to temper our methods
of achieving these things as best we may to mirror our "secret"
spritual beings.
To my point: (Ah yes, gentle reader, there was one in here
someplace...mind like a lumberyard you know...something wanted
never under hand...)
Having *goals* or knowing what you want in a materialistic
bent in no way prevents or prohibits one from being capable
of enjoying the *immediacy* of existance. Having *beliefs*
of a highly personal and spirtual nature in no way prevents
or prohibits one from dealing succeffully with today's world
and ways. The danger lies only in letting either a goal
or a belief override one's sense of "balance". (Unless madness
or martyredom is really what you have in mind..._) Raison
D'Etre is always dangerous.
Stations? I hope we all have them! I am better for having
*wanted* to be 21; I am better for having *wanted* to start
my own business; I am better for having *wanted* my baby
enough to fight for him. *Wanted* and sometimes won; *wanted*
and sometimes lost. At each station I get off, meet some
fellow travellers, buy a few momentos, maybe even stay over
night...but I always check the train schedule for the next
departure, and eventually board one. Getting off the train
forces me to be a part of the scenary...one of the waving
figures...didn't you ever wonder how they got there? Or
who tilled the waving fields of grain. They are no different
from you and me...only having a two-nighter before they pick
up the train again.
If I never get off, I am never "real". When I get off and
stay off, I die.
Just a slightly skewed view of the (.0), a really lovely
piece by the way.
Mel
|
| 761.8 | But there's not enough wind today !!! | FNYHUB::PELLATT | Sheet in, lay back, and *fly* ! | Wed Jun 15 1988 05:01 | 35 |
| Re .0 Thanks, inspiring !
...but, then again, who needs stations when our road ( rail-road ? ) goes on
*forever* ??? (;^)
Re .7
Ah ! You answered my question... (8^)
Some thoughts...
Goals should never dominate your life but surely you must have them ; for
without goals, what is the point ? you have no focus, no desire to improve,
no will to learn, or even to experience...
To concentrate too much on *today* devalues the experiences and commitments
of yesterday, and does little to broaden your horizons for tomorrow.
Even God ( Buddha-nature / Goddess / word_of_your_choice ) has goals ( he's
been practicing his lightning strikes around Gen�ve - hasn't hit the same
place twice yet though... (8^) ).
When we reach Enlightenment ( Communion / word_of_your_choice ), when we
*know* without questioning, then we can truly live in the Eternal Now...
"Do the *RIGHT* thing *NOW*, and the future will look after itself."
So, be better than yesterday, prepare the ground for more improvements
tomorrow, and live, love and enjoy *today*,
Dave.
|
| 761.9 | | GENRAL::DANIEL | We are the otters of the Universe | Wed Jun 15 1988 11:53 | 16 |
| > To concentrate too much on *today* devalues the experiences and commitments
> of yesterday, and does little to broaden your horizons for tomorrow.
> "Do the *RIGHT* thing *NOW*, and the future will look after itself."
???
> When we reach Enlightenment ( Communion / word_of_your_choice ), when we
> *know* without questioning, then we can truly live in the Eternal Now...
Enlightenment is here and now. We simply need to know that we know.
> So, be better than yesterday, prepare the ground for more improvements
> tomorrow, and live, love and enjoy *today*,
Sounds good to me...
|
| 761.10 | Living for today ( wind's changed ! ) | DIVA::PELLATT | Sheet in, lay back, and *fly* ! | Wed Jun 15 1988 13:29 | 31 |
| Re .9 ( ??? )
Ahem, I'm being quoted out of context, you a journalist ? (8^)
My apologies. My thoughts were not as flowing as I intended.
To me, truly being able to do the *right* thing *now* requires
Enlightenment ( in the Buddhist sense ) or its equivalent. By this I
mean that point where you are in *constant* communion with your
essential spirit, when you *never* encounter hesitation or indecision,
are *never* distracted by thoughts of "why did this happen ?", and are
driven *totally* by the guidance of your Soul above the cravings of your
physical existence.
It is very easy ( I've done it frequently ! ) to convince yourself you
instantly know what's right, and to make snap decisions, without *truly*
being able.
So, until I reach that point ( whether in this lifetime or, rather more
likely, a future one ) I have to use my experience to grow and, to a
lesser degree, plan to get there.
>> We simply need to know that we know.
Aaaaah, to me that's the *start* of the journey...
See you at the station...
Dave.
|
| 761.11 | May the force (5 +) be with you. | FDCV06::NICOLAZZO | Free the beaches! | Wed Jun 15 1988 13:51 | 10 |
| re: .10
dave,
How about sending some of that wind this way? Dead air in
New England for a few weeks now! :^)
Robert. (another wind addict)
P.S. - love that personal name!
|
| 761.12 | R&R | CLUE::PAINTER | | Wed Jun 15 1988 14:14 | 14 |
|
This just came to mind:
"An unreflected life isn't worth living."
Perhaps we should pull on the emergency brake every once in a while
to look back and see where (how far) we've come, then look forward
to see if we're on the right track.
In "Mister God, This Is Anna", Anna says that the most important
day of the 7 days of creation is when God rested and made sense
of the muddle of the last 6 days.
Cindy
|
| 761.13 | | GENRAL::DANIEL | We are the otters of the Universe | Wed Jun 15 1988 14:37 | 69 |
| re; 10
> Ahem, I'm being quoted out of context, you a journalist ? (8^)
As a matter of fact...I did used to be in the media. I mistakenly thought that
it was artistic. I must admit, when I read that question, I had to smile.
No need to apologize; you must be able to type quickly to have it all come out
so fast like that.
> To me, truly being able to do the *right* thing *now* requires
> Enlightenment ( in the Buddhist sense ) or its equivalent. By this I
> mean that point where you are in *constant* communion with your
> essential spirit, when you *never* encounter hesitation or indecision,
> are *never* distracted by thoughts of "why did this happen ?"
This sounds to me like the Eternal Now. If you are limited to the time/space
reality, such constant communion and "*never* encounter(ing) hesitation or
indecision" is a state that is constantly threatened, since you are in a
situation where change is prevalent. What is never? Never is forever. Never
is the eternal Now. Forever is the eternal Now.
> driven *totally* by the guidance of your Soul above the cravings of your
> physical existence.
But in the space/time reality, physical existence is a reality. We must be in
this situation of space/time for a reason. Even those on this plane who don't
think they have goals, do have goals...think about it! Even a goal so small as
Being Able to Sustain This Body by Eating Meals, is a goal. We all do have
goals; there is no way around it. I don't need a 5-year plan to make myself
better. My goal is to be the best I can be in the Eternal Now. Sure, I have
things I want to do. These are goals. But I am not so hung on them, that I
tell myself that I can't be the best that I can be until I achieve them. That
would be like the Eternal Wait. Waiting for enlightenment...waiting to be
happy...waiting...And I'm not saying that there is no work during the wait;
what I am saying is, We Are. This moment is the fusion of time. This moment
is the past, the present, and the future, meeting at one point. We are all of
our potential; we are All that we are, right now.
> It is very easy ( I've done it frequently ! ) to convince yourself you
> instantly know what's right, and to make snap decisions, without *truly*
> being able.
In space/time, we get to make mistakes and learn from them (hopefully!) and we
also have institutions of learning, and life in general, from which to learn.
But we already know, really. We just need to be reminded that we already know.
> So, until I reach that point ( whether in this lifetime or, rather more
> likely, a future one ) I have to use my experience to grow and, to a
> lesser degree, plan to get there.
The Waiting.
> >> We simply need to know that we know.
>
> Aaaaah, to me that's the *start* of the journey...
And where do you go from there? Once you realize that you do know, and that
you are already where you need to be, and that at any point in the space/time
continuum, you are where you need to be...where is there to go?
> See you at the station...
which one? :-)
Ain't philosophizing, fun!!!? (I am truly enjoying, and yes, learning, from
our conversation.)
Meredith
|
| 761.14 | And Zen it happened! | SEINE::RAINVILLE | More fun than juggling cats! | Wed Jun 15 1988 22:24 | 4 |
| "The mind of the unsane is fixed on the end of the journey,
the mind of the sane is on the path with the feet."
MWR
|
| 761.15 | Slowly contemplating the Fast Lane. | FNYHUB::PELLATT | Sheet in, lay back, and *fly* ! | Thu Jun 16 1988 11:19 | 68 |
|
Re .11 ( Robert )
Ha ! Don't have any spare I'm afraid ; Force 0.5 was closer last night
though it is looking better today...keep whistling !
Re .13 ( Meredith )
>> you must be able to type quickly
Nah, I just think slow...
>> ...such constant communion...
>> ...is a state that is constantly threatened,
Just part of the challenge. (8^)
>> We must be in this situation of space/time for a reason.
...to learn from it, resist being driven by it, master it, and then
let it go ?
As you point out there are necessities to our continued existence in
this physical plane, but there are also plenty of distractions which
mean little to our spiritual growth.
>> like the Eternal Wait.
(8^)
Haha ! I didn't mean to imply I'm waiting for anything, I'm moving,
growing all the time, in fact I think I'm probably NOW-ing...
>> > >> We simply need to know that we know.
>> >
>> > Aaaaah, to me that's the *start* of the journey...
>>
>> And where do you go from there?
Ah, yes, I may know that I know. But how do I know that I'll know what I
know when I need to know it ???? ( if you know what I mean - you know
you do really ! ).
>> We are all of our potential
Hmm, can you ever be all of your potential ? Surely that leaves no
room for improvement...
...to follow from the above, in realising that you do *know*, are you
not realising that you have a potential ??? does that not give you
a launching pad to ever higher experiences ? to lead your life with
a Higher guidance ? to live as a sparkling diamond amongst the jewelled
Oneness of the Universe ??? to realise that you are not Meredith
Daniel but, rather, one minute but beautiful facet of Existence ?????
( wow ! they must be putting something in the air conditioning... )
Better stop before I get carried away ( and thrown in a cell ! ),
Dave.
|
| 761.16 | | GENRAL::DANIEL | We are the otters of the Universe | Thu Jun 16 1988 12:27 | 27 |
| > Ah, yes, I may know that I know. But how do I know that I'll know what I
> know when I need to know it ???? ( if you know what I mean - you know
> you do really ! ).
Trust.
> >> We are all of our potential
>
> Hmm, can you ever be all of your potential ? Surely that leaves no
> room for improvement...
>
Potential is either dormant, or exercised. But it's all there.
> ...to follow from the above, in realising that you do *know*, are you
> not realising that you have a potential ??? does that not give you
> a launching pad to ever higher experiences ? to lead your life with
> a Higher guidance ? to live as a sparkling diamond amongst the jewelled
> Oneness of the Universe ??? to realise that you are not Meredith
> Daniel but, rather, one minute but beautiful facet of Existence ?????
I'm still here, so I guess my mission here isn't over, yet.
> Better stop before I get carried away ( and thrown in a cell ! ),
Interesting...do you think society tends to do this to its intelligent? out of
fear, perhaps...(oh yes, I was complimenting you!)
|
| 761.17 | NOW is all there is | BSS::VANFLEET | 6 Impossible Things Before Breakfast | Fri Aug 26 1988 14:44 | 10 |
| Great discussion, guys.
Just an afterthought...
It's in every one of us to be wise
Find your heart and open up both your eyes.
We can all know everything without ever knowing how
It's in every one of us here and now.
Nanci
|
| 761.18 | NOW is all there is and Love is all that matters. | SCOPE::PAINTER | Wonders never cease. | Fri Aug 26 1988 16:02 | 6 |
|
That's great, Nanci!
Already exported for future reference.
Cindy
|