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books:buddhish [2023-12-24 23:27] – [WIP Below This Point] awfkibooks:buddhish [2023-12-30 00:36] (current) – [Chapter 10: The Middle Way] awfki
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 ====== Buddhish ====== ====== Buddhish ======
-Yay!  I put my notes on [[https:www.librarything.com/catalog/Awfki?&deepsearch=buddhish|LibraryThing]] and now I get to reformat them for DokuWiki! 
- 
 **Subtitle: A Guide to the 20 Most Important Buddhist Ideas for the Curious and Skeptical** **Subtitle: A Guide to the 20 Most Important Buddhist Ideas for the Curious and Skeptical**
  
-First, let's add a clarification to say that this book talks about the ideas of Buddhist religion. I do not consider Buddhism the religion to be [[ideas:Buddhism]], which is a philosophy. That said, they do have a lot of overlap so even though the book is about the religion we can still learn things from it. +First, let's add a clarification to say that this book talks about the ideas of Buddhist religion. I do not consider religious Buddhism to be [[ideas:Buddhism]], which is a philosophy. That said, they do have a lot of overlap so even though the book is about the religion we can still learn things from it.
- +
  
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 >8. Right concentration: Through deeper practice of focused meditation, we learn to produce certain states of intense concentration, which facilitate our realization of Awakening. >8. Right concentration: Through deeper practice of focused meditation, we learn to produce certain states of intense concentration, which facilitate our realization of Awakening.
  
-Best break down I've read. These actually make sense as opposed to most renderings of The Eightfold Way.+Best break down I've read, these actually make sense where most renderings of The Eightfold Path that just leave me confused.
  
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 > What makes Buddhism different from the science of the brain or the psychology of adult development is that it promises not to merely improve your life but to lead you to the very pinnacle of human achievement. > What makes Buddhism different from the science of the brain or the psychology of adult development is that it promises not to merely improve your life but to lead you to the very pinnacle of human achievement.
  
-I disagree strongly with "pinnacle of human achievement", but then I have a very down-to-earth view of awakening. +I believe that Buddhist //religion// may promise the "pinnacle of human achievement" but that Buddhism does no such thing. I think what Buddhism promises is relief from suffering. 
- +
-I think what Buddhism promises is relief from suffering. If you think that's the "pinnacle of human achievement" then you have a low bar for human achievement. Hmmm, it's a low bar, but also a hard one to achieve.+
  
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 >Instead, we can start thinking of it as a vast collection of ideas and tools for human development that are useful to examine and consider one by one. We can then use our own discrimination to decide what, if anything, in this toolbox might work for us. >Instead, we can start thinking of it as a vast collection of ideas and tools for human development that are useful to examine and consider one by one. We can then use our own discrimination to decide what, if anything, in this toolbox might work for us.
  
-There you go! It's a really excellent set of tools gifted us by an an ancient dead guy!+This is better. Buddhism is a really excellent set of tools, gifted us by an an ancient dead guy, that we can use to improve our lives. Buddhism is a toolbox.
  
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 ====  Chapter 6: Non-Self ==== ====  Chapter 6: Non-Self ====
 +>see “reality as it is”
  
-> +I think that seeing "reality as it is" means, without stories. Just see the actual circumstances of the situation and don't add anything extra. Don't guess why a person did something, or what this means or any other made up bullshit. Don't think "this is the worst thing ever" or "they're a horrible person" or "they're an amazing and wonderful saint". Just see things as they are and don't fill in the blanks with bullshit. If you want to know why someone did something then ask them. But be aware that they might not actually know because most people don't know why they do most of what they do.  If you ask them they'll make up some stupid shit because they mistakenly think that not knowing is scary. In reality it's business as usual.
-I think that seeing "reality as it is" means, without stories. Just see the actual circumstances of the situation and don't add anything extra. Don't guess why the other person did something, or what this means or any other made up bullshit. Don't think "this is the worst thing ever" or "they're a horrible person" or "they're an amazing and wonderful saint". Just see things as they are and don't fill in the blanks with bullshit. If you want to know why someone did something then ask them. But be aware that they might not actually know because most people don't know why they do most of what they do. See later comments about monkey training.+
  
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->We find ourselves wrapped up in it all: striving after certain things we want, wishing certain things were different, being dissatisfied with our current situation, or telling ourselves stories and then reacting to them as if they were true.+>We find ourselves wrapped up in it all: striving after certain things we want, wishing certain things were different, being dissatisfied with our current situation, or <wrap hi>telling ourselves stories and then reacting to them as if they were true</wrap>.
  
 Highlisted for the last bit. Making up stories and then believing them is a human specialty and probably our most common mistake. Highlisted for the last bit. Making up stories and then believing them is a human specialty and probably our most common mistake.
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 >Someone whose karma (i.e., their previous actions, intentions, and experiences) has predisposed them in one particular direction >Someone whose karma (i.e., their previous actions, intentions, and experiences) has predisposed them in one particular direction
  
-I wish the kobo had a better keyboard so it was possible to make real notes. Again, I don't know why I highlighted this. +I think I highlighted this for the definition of karma as simply your general disposition as influenced by priors.
- +
-Maybe for the definition of karma as just your general disposition as influenced by prior action.+
  
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 >Buddhism says that if you get better and better at concentrating on your constantly changing mental experience, you’ll find at the bottom of it all not a permanent self, but only a constant stream of impermanent, ever-changing phenomena. >Buddhism says that if you get better and better at concentrating on your constantly changing mental experience, you’ll find at the bottom of it all not a permanent self, but only a constant stream of impermanent, ever-changing phenomena.
  
-I'm not sure about "concentrating". I think you just need to get better and better at being aware of your mental experience. Most of our problem is that we go through life as sleep walkers. We're doing things and telling stories about why we're doing things but we're not really present for any of it.+I'm not sure about "concentrating". I think you just need to get better and better at being aware of your mental experience. Most of our problem is that we go through life as sleep walkers. We're doing things and telling stories about why we're doing things but we're not really present for any of it. The monkey (elephant) is doing things and we're making up stories to justify the things.
  
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->Can you sense this freedom from my description above? Maybe give it a try next time you get cut off in traffic or in some other situation in which you feel intensely negative. Don’t try to control your reactions; just observe what’s happening “as it is.” Do the negative feelings flow through more easily? Do you feel lighter than you normally would? Don’t take my word for it, but notice for yourself. Only you can say whether or not this perspective helps you.+>Can you sense this freedom from my description above? Maybe give it a try next time you get cut off in traffic or in some other situation in which you feel intensely negative. Don’t try to control your reactions; just observe what’s happening “as it is.” Do the negative feelings flow through more easily? Do you feel lighter than you normally would? <wrap hi>Don’t take my word for it, but notice for yourself. Only you can say whether or not this perspective helps you</wrap>.
  
 This is a thing I appreciate about Buddhism, this attitude of "try it and see". You don't have to accept anything on anyones say-so. This is a thing I appreciate about Buddhism, this attitude of "try it and see". You don't have to accept anything on anyones say-so.
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 >We know that Awakening is equivalent to attaining human perfection, and that it comes at the end of a long path of practice and many lifetimes of good karma. We also know that the core characteristic of Awakening is the liberation from suffering that comes from giving up all identification with the self. >We know that Awakening is equivalent to attaining human perfection, and that it comes at the end of a long path of practice and many lifetimes of good karma. We also know that the core characteristic of Awakening is the liberation from suffering that comes from giving up all identification with the self.
  
-I don't believe that awakening has anything to do with perfection, human or otherwise. That's setting the bar way too high. That's the fairy tale version that a religion sells, not the realistic version that people can actually use to make their life better. Awakening is when you're not asleep. If you're paying attention to this moment as it happens then you're awake, you're awakened. If you're not then you're a sleep walker and your monkey brain is driving while you go along for the ride and pretend you're in control. (Robin Hanson's Elephant and Rider)+I don't believe that awakening has anything to do with perfection, human or otherwise. That's the fairy tale that a religion sells, not a realistic teaching that person can actually use to make their life better. Awakening is when you're not asleep. If you're paying attention to this moment as it happens then you're awake, you're awakened. If you're not then you're a sleep walker and your monkey brain is driving while you go along for the ride and pretend you're in control. (Robin Hanson's [[ideas:the_elephant_and_the_rider|Elephant and Rider]])
  
  
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 ====  Chapter 10: The Middle Way ==== ====  Chapter 10: The Middle Way ====
-Two contradictory things are true simultaneously.+> Two contradictory things are true simultaneously.
  
 Non-duality. Not this OR that but this AND that and also not-this AND not-that. Non-duality. Not this OR that but this AND that and also not-this AND not-that.
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 >At the same time, though, let’s be honest: race is obviously very real >At the same time, though, let’s be honest: race is obviously very real
  
-No, race is not real just because people believe in it. But the impact of their false beliefs have real effects on peoples lives. +No, race is not real just because people believe in it. But the actions they take because of their false beliefs have real effects on people's lives. 
  
-This might seem like splitting hairs but it an important distinction. Race, along with most other humans concepts, is essentially bullshit, but because people believe the bullshit they act in certain ways and it's the <b>actions</b> that are the problem.+This might seem like splitting hairs but it an important distinction. Race, along with most other humans concepts, is essentially bullshit, but because people believe the bullshit they act in certain ways and it's the //**actions**// that are the problem.
  
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 I'm interested to learn whether this is what Buddhists mean by middle way, but I'm still going to keep mine because it matches theirs and is more broadly useful. I'm interested to learn whether this is what Buddhists mean by middle way, but I'm still going to keep mine because it matches theirs and is more broadly useful.
 +
 +And today ((2023-12-29)) I found that [[https://tricycle.org/beginners/buddhism/middle-way/|Tricycle.org]] backs up my version of the middle way. It means following a path of moderation and avoiding extremes.
 +
 +Hmmm, I suppose that can be applied to the quote above to get what he's saying.
  
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-“Inferior Vehicle”+>“Inferior Vehicle”
  
 judging judging
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 That was the Kobo comment. I was highlighting because if they say "inferior" then they're judging and it's likely attached to a story and therefore unskillful. I think a big part of Buddhism is learning to set aside our judgements (our stories) and just see things the way they are. I see this as tied strongly to acceptance.  That was the Kobo comment. I was highlighting because if they say "inferior" then they're judging and it's likely attached to a story and therefore unskillful. I think a big part of Buddhism is learning to set aside our judgements (our stories) and just see things the way they are. I see this as tied strongly to acceptance.