Dressing up for Theatre

went to watch the theatre some time back, and i felt the mood to dress up for it
my "up" was only simply a nicer blouse and proper footwear, but i could feel the difference in my outward appearance.
just those little changes made me feel more confident and joyful

as i was walking into the theatre, i cant help asking myself, is the impact really so great?
now i understand why people tend to dress up. but how can they let something so trivial, like a pair of ear-rings determine their confidence and happiness???
i felt the impact, but that doesnt mean that i agree with the rationale (if any) behind it....
let's agree to disagree on it. as long as it works for you, who's to complain

Are you House proud?

how many of you have prevented visitors from coming to your house simply because you think it is dirty or untidy?
i would assume that it is a normal occurrence, but almost every other house has its untidy times, so is it really a big deal?

OR are you "wrongly" identifying yourself with your house? meaning you attribute your identity to the state of your house, ie you are proud and happy that you have a sparkling and shining home, which in turn tells others about your capabilities and identity. meaning you would be seen as less if your house is not up to expectations

u might dismiss what i m trying to share here, but do reflect and ask if ur identity is tied to the state of your house. do u fear inviting people over because your house is untidy, small, run down, etc?

just because you live in a cramp studio apartment doesnt make you any less. similarly, does it mean you are great if you reside in a bungalow? i doubt so. Your house should not be a way for you to view yourself/your identity. truly, real friends wont think any less of you simply because your home is a little messy (i am sure theirs are too)

Gardener of my mind

Just to share an affirmation from Louise Hay

I am the gardener of my mind. I keep the weeds out.

how appropriate. each of us have control over our own minds, and we could work hard at maintaining it, keeping it clean and clear of weeds (negative thoughts), but how many of us actually go to that extent, to train the mind to think only positive thoughts?

Awake.Conscious.Aware

Modern science still has different definitions and perspectives of the word Consciousness....
Is consciousness something that you can measure empirically? Or is it a religion related term? How do we strike a balance between science and religion with regards to consciousness?

Are there different levels/types of consciousness? How conscious are you of the happenings around you? Or are you conscious of your conscious mind? Is mind and the brain the same thing? Is being awake and conscious the same?

Questions questions and more questions. But the key question might be, which state are you in???


Are you...

Awake but not conscious OR

Conscious but not aware OR

Aware but only intermittently

Than you might ask, Aware of what?
My answer: Aware of being aware

Attachment to Hotel California

This entry has nothing to do with the lyrics of Hotel California. Just wanted to bring attention to the concept of Hotels.

How do you view your hotel stay? Most of the time it is a transitional stay. Stay for a few days, before moving on, to the next hotel, or back home.
When you stay in hotels, you know it is a temporary stop. It is a temporary stay. Hence you do not form an attachment to the room, and do not go all out to make the room "yours".

If you believe in reincarnation, you have gone thru numerous lifetimes, and will still have to go through numerous lifetimes (until you "move on" to a better "place", ie heaven or pureland).

Each lifetime can be seen in parallel as a single hotel stay. It is a transition, a brief stop (which will still provide you with experiences and lessons). But it is still a transition. If your end destination is Pureland, why do you form attachments to your hotel room? Why do you put yourself through suffering? Suffering due to the attachment to material things, attachment to relationships, attachment to suffering itself.

People dont get attached to their hotel rooms precisely because they know it is a temporary stay. Similarly, there isn't the need to be attached to the things in the "hotel room" during your stay in these lifetime.

Enjoy the hotel stay but do not leave a part of yourself behind when you leave, or worst, chain yourself to your hotel room. "Life" is more than a single stop.

Thinking is Suffering

Just do it!
____________________________

If I had left my post simply as the above, what would you think/interpret of it?
Are more explanations necessary?

Most of the time, our suffering comes from our thoughts, not the actual action itself.
You think of the difficulties, you think of the tiredness, you think of the people, you think of the results, you think of the methods, you think, you think, you think.
No wonder you complain and suffer. You think too much.
IF you had simply tackled the problem, and acted on it, there would have been less suffering.
Wouldnt that be a much faster and easier way to address issues....

you need to see beyond physical world love

What is your sacred contract? What did you 'sign-up' to do when you agree to be reborn into this lifetime? Why did you choose who/what/where/when of that that you chose?

There could be a lot of answers, and there could only be one.
I was sitting, meditating this morning when the answer burst out into my consciousness.

I was here to teach someone about love and attachment.
Love is not equal to attachment. Love in this physical world means nothing. Nothing in the bigger picture of things. It barely covers/compensates for the cycle of suffering that we have to endure.

There is the saying that "if you love him/her, you should let him/her go"
Is that love? What is your definition of love?

For those who love, I would like you to rethink...what is it exactly that you are loving?
the person, the representation of that person, your misguided perceptions/persepective of that person, your need to love someone/anyone, societal expectations that you find your soulmate?

a venerable once shared that self love should come first, and will always come first. for even when you say that your husband/wife/children is more important than you, and that you love them more than you love yourself. it simply translates into the fact that the object of your focus is still you. I love them more than myself....

coming from my basic buddhism knowledge, love is just another affliction, another attachment, that ties you to this plane, to this world, to this life of suffering...
while love for another is great, it should not be taken/done with extreme. (Remember the Middle way). Love, no matter for family, loved ones, friends, spouse, etc, should not be the do all and be all.

You do not exist because you have love for others, or Love for your spouse.
You simply exist.