phil baumann - Latest Comments in Zen and the Art of the Tweet

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

philbaumann — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:55:39 -0000

here here!

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

jeetchatterjee — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:45:30 -0000

even attempts at brevity continue the whirl around the mulberry tree :-)

stilling the mind is not a trying- it also not a not trying- as i mentioned in the first post, what will arise, will arise in non-volition. abandon causality and what will happen, will happen.

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

philbaumann — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:15:16 -0000

But I"m not trying to stop the process.

Enjoying this conversation.

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

jeetchatterjee — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:19:05 -0000

If you can, try and remember what is it that joins the dots of each moment in your life, each day, each year, each event? Past all thoughts is a simple sense of presence, of the fact that I am here. From there, we proceed into the different thoughts which you so elaborately displayed.
I do not doubt the logic of your article- my point is that attempting to stop this process of flitting from thought to thought is also flitting to another thought- which has arisen, post the uncondition acceptance of your presence. At this moment, it does not even matter if you exist or not, what matters is that you have unconditionally accepted that you do and thus, have become the medium for thought. As a medium, trying to change or tranform yourself into someone you are not is as much just a thought in your brain as your 'Monkey Mind'. Desire for spiritual growth is in no way 'better' than desire to have sex with a prostitute, it merely has a righteous halo. Who has divided reality into the yesterday you, the today you and the tomorrow you? It is you. You have superimposed these dimensions on chaotic thoughts in your brain.
To sum up in an analogy, a sage, coming across a scantily dressed prositute, took her in his arms and helped her crossed the raging river. Many miles and days later, the disciple could take it no more and so he burst out and questioned the sage on holding a symbol of materialism etc. etc. The sage smiled. "Are you still holding her?"
Acceptance of the world’s manifestation and rejection of the world’s manifestation- how are they different?

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

philbaumann — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:39:35 -0000

I guess you don't believe we really exist either? :)

Look, you can take philosophy to any extreme you'd like. But the fact of the
matter is that our attention is going to become increasingly frayed as
technologies proliferate.

By your logic, we should believe in anything.

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

jeetchatterjee — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:42:58 -0000

:-) as long as you believe there is something to be practised or something to be changed or transformed, you will simply go around and around the mulberry bush, in search of a 'better self'. And by all means, enjoy 'mindfullness'- it is as 'important' and as illusory as anything i could ever say or 'convey' to you

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

philbaumann — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:47:20 -0000

Well said - but you still have Monkey Mind. Keep practicing. :)

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

jeetchatterjee — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:57:41 -0000

what do you propose we listen to/pay attention to? more thoughts? that is merely being subjective and creating a hierarchy within the paradigm of thoughts. why do you want to be mindfull? It is a desire, as much as wanting a prostitute on the side of the street, merely with a rightheous halo.
You want to be aware of the present moment- but to attempt to be aware of this thought of a 'present moment', you are still working in the duality of a past self that is not aware of the present moment and a future self that hopefully will be aware of a present moment. What will arise, will only arise in non-volition.
You distinguish between the Twitter Mind and some 'mind' which provides meaning- where are these minds coming from? The 'mind' you propose is the Pseudo-Spiritual mind, which is, in the end, still within the realm of thoughts in your brain. No different- only perceived as different. In awakening, there is nothing to do, nothing to be changed or transformed because there is only the present self.
Moments in your life are like waves in the ocean- when does the wave start and the ocean end? Our mere sense of presence, the 'I am' has defined the boundaries, in both spatial and temporal dimensions. It is the manifestation of what could be, if something could be and thus, manifestation is merely manifestation, thought is merely thought and Twitter is merely Twitter. It is the wave which believes it is the wave- not realizing that at no point is it distinct from the entiriety of consciousness. And thus the question of why I should do this or that becomes irrelevant because there never was anyone asking it.

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

philbaumann — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:12:13 -0000

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

DrV — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:58:17 -0000

I can think of no greater monkey mind authority than Phil

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

philbaumann — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:25:29 -0000

Glad this helped! :)

As much as it's laughable to think that these media can be a time-sink, it's
going to be important that people know how they affect their productivity.

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

Andrew — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:11:24 -0000

I was working on a post (in my mind) about this very thing..how incessant use of social media engages the monkey mind. Your post is the one I was going to write but have no need now as I've tweeted yours. Well done and on right on. Cheers!

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

Mistress Didi* Blackthorn — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:24:23 -0000

Wow, GREAT article! Thanx Phil!

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

philbaumann — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:19:44 -0000

lol - I think Tibet's a wee bit too cold for me, so I'll be around for while.

Re: Zen and the Art of the Tweet

DrV — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:39:21 -0000

If I hear you correctly: Time is the true currency ... and Twitter is chump change. I'm concerned that this is a prelude to your announcement that you're jumping off the treadmill and moving to Tibet. Don't do it.