Mayka, Nirvana and samsara are nothing more than mental constructs. Let's take your 2 examples as analogies: To some, New York is an intimidating hell full of danger, corruption and violence. To others, it is a city of adventure, opportunity and fun. Similarly with nature (danger/beauty; savage/peaceful etc.). To go beyond duality and see the world as it is, is to recognise that nirvana and samsara are one and the same.
Mike ________________________________ From: Maria Lopez <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, 1 March, 2011 1:40:59 Subject: Re: [Zen] Change The world of samsara is not only created by oneselves alone is also by mankind. Or is it not?. Take for instance a big city as New York and getting swallow by it. I think that Lana and Rose were also mentioning the problems of applying that selfless in a world of complete samsara. It's not as difficult when one is in contact with nature and not as many other human beings. Humans are the only samsara I know for real. All the rest is just nature. No self, no samsara. --- On Mon, 28/2/11, mike brown <[email protected]> wrote: >From: mike brown <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [Zen] Change >To: [email protected] >Date: Monday, 28 February, 2011, 14:34 > > > >Mayka, > >It is the "real world" - the world of samsara is created by your mind. Bring >your Zen off the mat and into the marketplace. > >Mike > > > > ________________________________ From: Maria Lopez <[email protected]> >To: [email protected] >Sent: Mon, 28 February, 2011 17:17:15 >Subject: Re: [Zen] Change > > >This doesn't work for me in the daily survival world. >It only works when I'm in retreats, amongst practicioners...but not in the >real >world. What do you do to make it work in the real world? > >--- On Mon, 28/2/11, mike brown <[email protected]> wrote: > > >>From: mike brown <[email protected]> >>Subject: Re: [Zen] Change >>To: [email protected] >>Date: Monday, 28 February, 2011, 4:55 >> >> >> >>Mayka, >> >>We create suffering by falsely identifying ourselves with our ego and making >>ourselves a me separate from the world. If you understand this, and recognise >>it >>as outside your "comfort zone", then I'd suggest trying to ground yourself in >>that Awareness where you can witness different emotions as happening - but >>not >>happening to a 'you' . The more you can practice this, the less you'll find >>youreslf outside your Comfort Zone. >> >>Mike >> >> >> >> ________________________________ From: Maria Lopez <[email protected]> >>To: [email protected] >>Sent: Mon, 28 February, 2011 3:13:01 >>Subject: Re: [Zen] Change >> >> >>Hi Mike: >> >>What about when one is not in the comfortable zone? >> >>Mayka >> >>--- On Sun, 27/2/11, mike brown <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >>>From: mike brown <[email protected]> >>>Subject: Re: [Zen] Change >>>To: [email protected] >>>Date: Sunday, 27 February, 2011, 16:20 >>> >>> >>> >>>Hi Mayka, >>> >>>Things still happen, but there's no me for them to happen to - hence no >>>attacments/aversions that lead to discrimination/duality. You can still chop >>>wood and carry water, but with no sense of an I doing something. >>> >>>Mike >>> >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ From: maria818448 <[email protected]> >>>To: [email protected] >>>Sent: Mon, 28 February, 2011 1:01:51 >>>Subject: Re: [Zen] Change >>> >>> >>>Mike: >>> >>>How does one function in the real world of survival as non identification >>>with >>>the ego?. >>> >>> >>>Mayka >>> >>>--- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: >>>> >>>> ED, >>>> >>>> If a person still identifies with his ego, then his actions/emotions will >>>>change >>>> >>>> in accordance with the situations and circumastances around him. >>>> 'Personality' >>> >>>> is nothing but a consensual label to these emotions as seen by people in >>>> the > >>>> subjects social group. To dis-identify from the self is to live in the >>>> changeless Self. >>>> >>>> Mike >>>>  >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ________________________________ >>>> From: ED <seacrofter001@...> >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> Sent: Sun, 27 February, 2011 22:41:38 >>>> Subject: Re: [Zen] Change >>>> >>>>  >>>> >>>> Hi Mike and All, >>>> Excluding physical changes, it is hard to apprehend whether, in general, >>>> humans change or not. The most appropriate answer I can think of is: "Yes >>>> and >>> >>>> no." >>>> For instance, through psychodrama, cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, >>>> exposure to the Dharma, participation in 'human potential' workshops, or >>>> something else, his attitudes and behaviors have been considerably >>>> modified for >>>> >>>> the better (or worse) as seen by those who know him - but his basic >>>> personality >>>> >>>> has remained unchanged. >>>> --ED >>>>  >>>>  >>>> --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@> wrote: >>>> > >>>> > Hi All, >>>> > >>>> > Finally back in Japan after over 2 months in India! Ok, 'change'... Yes, >>>> > we >>>>all >>>> >>>> > >>>> > change every second of every minute of every day. What is important is >>>> > to >>>>find >>>> >>>> >>>> > out what doesn't change. >>>> > >>>> > Mike >>>> >>>>  >>>> V asked: >>>> Sorry I haven't been around in awhile....I've been reading the posts in >>>> the >>>> > group, but I myself haven't posted in many months. I do have a question, >>>> > however. >>>> > Can people change? And by change, I mean can people change in a very >>>> >fundamental >>>> > >>>> > manner? If so, how is it done? >>>> >>> >>> >>> >> >
