Benefits of being Bad?

[ghop]

Re: Benefits of being Bad?

sorry you didn't see it before you posted.

Me too. I seem to be addicted to making an ass out of myself. :roll:

And I really would like a fu@%ing drink :!:

bows

[disastermouse]

Re: Benefits of being Bad?

Impermanence is the proponent for constant vigilance. Thoughts are the origin of action, the seeds as it were.To maintain insight, one need's to tend to ones thoughts (seeds). Buddha did not awaken and then say. "Cool, got it, all right! Hell with this forest living, I'm going back to the palace." He continued constant maintenance of his insight.

Ah yes! But this can be tricky business, in my experience. Too hard, and you're just maintaining an idea that invariably falls out of step with actual reality (do you remember the story about the blind man who was given a lamp even though he was blind. When his light went out and he ran into other travelers on the road, he hadn't realized his light was out.). Too far the other way and it's just rationalizing laziness.

I guess we're just arguing about where that middle ground is. Likely, it's a little different for anyone. Ultimately the decision is ours. If we're dishonest with ourselves, we may rationalize erring in either direction.

I could probably come more in your direction, Chugai.

Chet

[AlanLa]

Re: Benefits of being Bad?

Impermanence is the proponent for constant vigilance. Thoughts are the origin of action, the seeds as it were.To maintain insight, one need's to tend to ones thoughts (seeds). Buddha did not awaken and then say. "Cool, got it, all right! Hell with this forest living, I'm going back to the palace." He continued constant maintenance of his insight.

Nicely said, Chugai

[Shogen]

Re: Benefits of being Bad?

Al (Jigen), Chet, Stephanie, Chugai, Dosho, Anista, Jundo, ghop
Well done!
Gassho

[Stephanie]

Re: Benefits of being Bad?

IMO, all 'addictive' behaviors... however they fit into the traditional definition of addiction or not, have at least some physiological component. We repeat behaviors because they are gratifying, and anything that is subjectively gratifying has a neurological correlate. Sex and porn pretty obviously impact the brain's reward centers, and playing video games does as well, if in a more subtle way (the basic underlying 'hook' of any video game is pursuing rewards for successful task completion, it's a very basic thing in terms of biological drives).

I think that's not all there is to it... I don't think strict biology / scientific materialism is a satisfying or complete explanation of subjective human experience. As humans, we are capable of creativity, in which we engage in behaviors that transcend basic biological drives. But I think biology is always a part of it... even with BPD... the low stress tolerance definitely seems to me to be a biological thing that no amount of insight would completely resolve. Just as the neurochemical process of addiction can be activated no matter how much insight a person has into some of the underlying social and psychological factors that contribute to their addictive behavior (e.g. dysfunctional relationships, co-occurring psychological disorders, socioeconomic factors, peer/community norms, etc.).

In my experience I've found that I as well as my clients can rack up insights upon insights and still engage in the same behaviors. Insight can help, it can radically transform, but often it's not enough. If we're living in life circumstances that are difficult or unpleasant, we might understand the root causes of our unhappiness, but the pain, stress, isolation, or whatever we're dealing with is still there to contend with, and so we still react to it. Zazen practice might increase our ability to detach from whatever reaction is arising, but it doesn't make that reaction go away... you might, for example, notice that you're grumpy because it's hot, and therefore not take your grumpy thoughts about other people as seriously, but you're still going to sweat and have a headache and feel less focused and pleasant than usual.