#PHILOSOPHY

[kithpendragon]

I want to fully endorse the fact that nobody but you can see any part of your internal world and that thoughts do not have any inherent moral value. And then (as it turns out) I'll write a quick overview on the difference between thinking and doing, and on choosing and cultivating thought patterns. May it benefit all that it may.

TLDR: You are not the random thoughts and nobody can see those. You are a whole person with the ability to choose what you do.

Your mind produces widely varied and creative thoughts, and also contains a filter that chooses which thoughts should inform the way you show up in the real world. That's what evolution has selected for us over the last billion or whatever years.

Not every thought is useful or true, and you don't have to endorse them all! You certainly don't have to *act* on all the thoughts, and choosing which thoughts you *should* act on is the work of morality.

I'll say it again but in a different shape:

There are NO "immoral thoughts", only ACTIONS that may produce perceived benefit and/or harm. You get to choose which thoughts eventually become actions.

We may become uncomfortable when some thoughts come up. That's GOOD! That feeling indicates our working ability to quickly detect potential harm to ourselves and others. That feeling is helping to keep you and those around you safe.

When a thought comes up and we find it uncomfortable we can examine it more closely. Then, if appropriate, we can choose to say to ourselves, "Well, that's obviously not something I should do!" Then release the thought back to wherever it came from, and be pleased that the filters are working as they should. The thought is allow to exist; you don't have to do anything else with it.

If you find yourself worrying at a particular thought like a loose tooth, ask yourself "Is this [behavior] useful?". A lot of times that can break the cycle.

Bonus: If you want some thoughts to come up more often, you can practice that! It helps to name the thought - assign it a short phrase or a simple sense impression that you can use to invoke it.[^1] Then simply name that thought as often as you can, and pay close attention to what it means to you. With time, you'll train the brain to think that thought more easily, and it can be there for you to choose from whenever you need it.

Of course, as with anything, if the presence/recurrence of certain thoughts is interfering with your ability to live your life well, it's time to talk to somebody about it.

Remember: you are not the random thoughts and nobody can see those. You are a whole person with the ability to choose what you do.

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[^1] It occurs to me that the bit about naming thoughts with phrases or sense impressions could bear some examples.

A smooth stone in your pocket might remind you that breathing deeply helps calm the body down and can "smooth the way", such as it is.

Phrases like "Be happy", "Be strong", "Be safe" can remind us of feelings we want for ourselves and others, especially if you repeat them with a particular person firmly in mind.

The little toy on the desk can remind you not to take everything so seriously all the time.

The feeling of a necklace, bracelet, ring, &c. can remind you of a friend you love.

Get creative - the possibilities are endless!

here's a little reminder that no one can read your mind or see your "weird" or "bad" thoughts and daydreams! mind readers are not real, and your inner world is entirely private. your thoughts and daydreams are not embarrassing or bad, and they do not define your morality!

everyone who keeps saying shit like "sounds like something a mind reader would say" or "mind readers are real actually" i will eat you to death and enjoy every minute of it. not the time or place

[dionysian-mystery]

"I have led a toothless life", he thought. "A toothless life. I have never bitten into anything. I was waiting. I was reserving myself for later on—and I have just noticed that my teeth have gone."

Jean-Paul Sartre

[academic-vampire]

𝔠𝔩𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔯

[liberatingreality]

As a child I felt myself to be alone, and I am still, because I know things and must hint at things which others apparently know nothing of, and for the most part do not want to know.

Carl Gustav Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections

[dat-physics-gal]

Empiricism, my beloved. Though, rationalism is neat too. Though on their own, they're both a bit weak. Kinda need a blend of them.

I find it kind of stupid how 'half full' vs 'half empty' is framed as an optimist/pessimist thing. If it starts full and gets halfway drained, it's half empty. If it starts empty and gets halfway filled, it's half full. If you don't know the starting state it's both simultaneously.

[seraphim-eternal]

The word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory.

John 1:14

[thepaintedchateau]

...I enjoy being a member of the Hopeless Romantic Society...

[buddhistmusings]

Catholic folk saints have been made this way. Nobody let Frankie see this. St. Guinefort all over again. 😭

[yoga-onion]

Heart Sutra ~ A sutra that describes “The Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom" (2) 

The merits of “Prajna-paramita Hridhya Sutra” [So far]

The Heart Sutra, which is commonly circulated in Japan, was translated into Chinese from the original sanskrit by Xuanzang. 

Xuanzang (6 April 602 – 5 February 664), born Chen Hui or Chen Yi, also known by his Sanskrit name Mokṣadeva, was a 7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator. He is known for the epoch-making contributions to Chinese Buddhism, the travelogue of his journey to India in 629–645, his efforts to bring at least 657 Indian texts to China, and his translations of some of these texts.

Not a few commentaries on the Heart Sutra emphasise its immeasurably great merits. It is quoted in part below:

'The Buddhist monk Xuanzang Dharma Master received this scripture and experienced an outstanding spiritual experience. This is why this scripture has been spread to the general public. Therefore, if you wear clean clothes, sit upright, and recite this scripture 500 times, you will be able to eliminate 95 kinds of evil ways, and if you live by following this scripture, you will be liberated from all suffering and troubles.’ It describes how Xuanzang received the spiritual power of the Heart Sutra.

In other commentaries, there are specific passages describing what the spiritual experiences of Xuanzang were. [To be continued]

般若心経 〜「智慧の完成」の精髄を述べる経典 (2)

『般若波羅蜜多心経 (梵: ﾌﾟﾗｼﾞｭﾅｰﾊﾟｰﾗﾐﾀｰ･ﾌﾘﾀﾞﾔ･ｽｰﾄﾗ) 』の功徳（これまで）

日本で一般的に流布している『般若心経』は、玄奘三蔵が原典のサンスクリット語から漢語に翻訳したものである。

玄奘三蔵法師（602年4月6日-664年2月5日）は、陳慧または陳毅の名で生まれ、サンスクリット名モクシャデーヴァとしても知られ、7世紀の中国の僧侶、学者、旅行者、翻訳者である。彼は、中国仏教への画期的な貢献、629 年から 645 年にかけてのインド旅行の旅行記、少なくとも 657 冊のインドの文献を中国に持ち込む取り組み、およびこれらの文献の一部の翻訳で知られている。

『般若心経』の注釈書の中には、その功徳が計り知れないほど多大であることを強調するものが少なくない。その一部は以下引用：

“玄奘三蔵法師はこの経典を受持されて優れた霊験を経験された。このことによってこの経典は一般に流布した。だから清潔な衣を着て正身端座して、この経典を五百回読通するならば、九十五種の邪道を除去することができ、またこの経典に随従して生活すれば一切の苦厄から解脱することができる。”

他の注釈書にも、玄奘三蔵が受けた『般若心経』の霊験がどのようなものであったかが、具体的に記されている箇所がある。[つづく]

[petitephilo]

[mrromangladiator2503]

The sun and moon are lovers bound by the dance of day and night, their love eternal yet bittersweet. The sun's warmth is a tender promise, chasing shadows and lighting the path, while the moon’s glow reflects that devotion in the quiet stillness of the dark. Though they are destined to exist apart, they reach for each other in every sunrise and sunset, their hearts entwined across the vast expanse of the sky, a reminder that true love transcends time, distance, and the turning of the heavens.

Two of the oldest lovers

[thepersonalwords]

No one is too old to begin again.

Debasish Mridha

[cosmic-vacuum]

the only failure to humankind is giving up on oneself

[glendylucast]

Given the chance to break, would you be on your way out? Who are you? Novo Amor - Seneca

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My Call of Duty WW2 OC, Clifford Wildblood.

He was just a little boy back then, stranded far away from home.

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Found a perfect theme song for him

More here

The Death of Seneca (1773) by Jacques-Louis David

No further context for now lol, but one day when we get to his story, you'll find out.

[eccentricphilosoph]

yes. It also helps for better understanding of the world and shows how to continue to treat or navigate a situation or person. Here's the thing. You or my preconceptions of a person or ideas could be wrong or could be misleading. Therefore, it's incredibly important to ask "why". Answering to "why" is imperative to making peace and understanding

i’m such a “why?” person; i want reasons, and i need to understand