Duality, Unity and Non-attachment the how of 4 Noble Truths?

Allandnone

how did we get in the room in the first place? we were here all along...

Allandnone

Recently I have been concentrating on the 4 Noble truths. It seems to me to reduce suffering, the "how" of the eight fold path is non-attachment, do not make comparisons (duality) and unity, everytnig is together. Do not misunderstand me, I am not in disagreement with the logic, emotional or otherwise, of the eight fold path. It makes sense after experiencing life for the last 62 years. I am saying that the the number one "how" to reduce suffering is non- attachment, understanding duality(watching our comparisons that leads to competition) and unity, everything is connected to each other. It is only our minds that does the separating, attaching and comparing of thoughts, words, actions, things and ideas. Perhaps I am not making my self clear. Of course the implementation of the "how" requires a life time sense of humor! What do you think?:D

Buddy1

I think a sense of humor is the key to life. Too many lack one, more so as they become inundated with 'vehicles of pleasure', distracted by the mass quantities of modern communication (cell phones, tv's computers...) all this deadens rather than enlivens the brain and the need to think...I make my kid think and consider, but most of all i make him see the humor in all things...this will be the spark that lights a better life for him...
maybe this is all off topic of your post, but a sense of humor is so important to me I latched onto that part of it...

Carl

[cite] Allandnone:[/cite]Of course the implementation of the "how" requires a life time sense of humor! What do you think?:D

Feeling my old bah-humbug self today, I'll have to say not exactly. I see humor as simply a symptom of humanity's inner tension and disconnection with the rest of 'it', i.e., I don't see the rest of nature laughing a whole lot - it doesn't need to. Humor helps keep us sane, and gets us through this day to the next. To the extent that it keeps us from jumping off bridges, I'd agree that it is helpful to the "how". Well, come to think of it, if it keeps us from jumping off bridges, then it is reducing suffering. Nevertheless, it is still symptomatic and not a benefit in its own right... if that makes any sense :? .

The most helpful part of Buddha's Truths, for me, is the observation that life is suffering. Deeply seeing that, and accepting that, is what [chref=4]blunts the sharpness[/chref] and softens its glare. Resistance to the inevitable only makes the inevitable intolerable. We use our mind to [chref=8]contend [/chref] with 'it' rather than [chref=23]conform[/chref] to 'it'. The rest of life on earth has been spared this ability to lug expectations along with them from birth to death. Such is the downside of this most [chref=65]clever[/chref] and superior mind. Which is why I think Buddha's Eight-fold path is weighted heavily on the matter of mind. Now, I'm going to try to clear out my own mind with some good old fashion hard physical labor. Next....

Lynn Cornish

Maybe the gift of humor is nature's way of compensating us for our big brains; I'd like to think so. As you say, Carl, if humor helps us not to jump off the bridge, then it could be a part of our survival mechanism. I know I wouldn't have made it this far without being able to laugh at myself! Whatever works...

Buddy1

I use humor to keep people at arms length, I know that. It also serves to keep me from having to deal with my own deeper, realer feelings, my instinctual needs, my thoughts, that would remove me even further from mainstream society (which Idont want to be part of anyway)...
Seems a contradiction, know, like I want to be invited to the party, but don't want to be expected to attend, but then contradiction thy name is buddy...

Joe

I agree with Allandnone about non-attachment, and that thinking so much gets us into trouble. Life has suffering, and it?s important to me to keep looking at my day-to-day life, and how my suffering is a result of pursuing desires. The non-attachment is letting go of desires, and truly recognizing their illusory nature.

I continue working on the Eight-Fold Path, on understanding reality and the nature of suffering. Not on an intellectual level, but on a ?being, experiencing? level. And often I think the letting go happens mainly when I?m so sick of pursuing a particular desire, that I just can?t keep beating my head against the wall. (Unfortunately, there seems to be an unending supply of desires to pop up and take the old one?s place.)