Andrew Furst's Blog, page 108

Last Chance For Nirvana? – Dialectic Two Step

Dialectic Two-Step  is an ongoing series of my thoughts on questions that come my way.

Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two. - Octavio

Last Chance For Nirvana?

Question: If there is no soul continuity in Buddhism, how is Nirvana achieved? Do individuals only get one shot at it?

Response: I’ll answer with a question. If there is no continuity, what achieves Nirvana?

I replied a little cryptically. A fundamental tenet of Buddhism is that the “self” has no continuity. But, there is certainly familiarity between the changing you right now and the you of last year. Your friends and family recognize you, even if they haven’t seen you since last year. We certainly have justification for believing in some type of continuity.  But, there are limits.

That continuity of familiarity is rather abruptly halted at death. If you’ve attended a wake, you know what I mean.  In death there is something missing. It’s difficult to put your finger on exactly what it is. But we are all  inclined to grant that something has left the body. Whether its a soul, or just the animating quality of life, is where many differ in opinion.

But there is a dramatic change at death an this is as far as we can go without relying on speculation. For that reason I tend to avoid the topic of reincarnation. It lends nothing to the core tenets of the Buddhas teachings. If we cannot observe a soul leaving the body, we cannot count it as an effect of death, from a scientific point of view. I believe this is the root of the differences of opinion.  When we can’t tie an effect to causes and conditions, then our hypothesized effect is strictly bound to the realm of imagination.

Karma, which I believe is at the core of your questions, has a number of nuanced meanings. I prefer the simpler more observable interpretations. One definition is action. Cause and effect.

As living beings we have an effect on the future. When we die, who knows. But while we’re living and breathing we’re affected by the futures we help create.

Mixing the concepts of Karma and reincarnation is playing conceptual fire. Introducing atonement in a future life to me sounds like a stretch.

If we are to accept the teachings of anyone, they must provide some congruence to our experience or provide better explanations for our experience. The Buddha avoided metaphysical topics. For this reason, I am inclined to relegate the post life atonement conceptualizations of karma and reincarnation to the world of non-Buddhist ideas.

Living in the futures that are created is where that continuity of familiarity bears the consequences of actions. Any speculation beyond this is unhelpful. In fact those kinds of ideas probably generate suffering.

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One Minute Meditations



Tiny Drops (Photography series)



Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)



Dialectic Two-Step



Modern Koans (interesting questions)



Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)



Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)



Say What?



Quotes



Verse Us (Poems I Write)

The post Last Chance For Nirvana? – Dialectic Two Step appeared on Andrew Furst.

Update On My Book Fundraiser

And We Still Answer
Poetry by Andrew Furst

We’re about about 40% into the  Fundraiser

But we’ve only raised about 13% of the funds needed.  Please consider a contribution.  Help me keep Dharma activities free through the sale of this and my first book.

Contribute Now

ANCESTRAL HOME

Eons from life’s birth

the sea still calls us by name.

And we still answer

This and many other poems have been gathered over the course of an incredibly productive year of writing. I’m looking for your help to get this book of poetry published.

Click the image to go to the fundraiser 

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The Campaign

My campaign’s goal is to raise money to design, edit, and publish my book And We Still Answer.

Here’s the breakout on the costs:

Click the image to go to the fundraiser 

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The post Update On My Book Fundraiser appeared on Andrew Furst.

Leaman Brook – A One Minute Meditation

 One  Minute Meditations is an ongoing series of short videos, poems, and commentary intended as a meditation.  Offered as an opportunity to step back from your cyber routine and settle into a more natural rhythm, if only for a minute.

Leaman Brook

Looking forward, while not looking forward to winter. A long cold season stored in memory will manifest in our anticipation of the new and coming one.  This view of Leaman Brook, taken last winter, shows the snow covered banks of the outlet of Tobey Falls in Monson, ME.

What does the sight of snow invoke in you? We can’t simply let go of these emotions that are stirred, they need our attention.  But gentleness in the release of our attachment is required. It’s warnings should not go unheeded.   Remember the grasshopper and the ants.

These videos are produced for those of us who spend an inordinately large amount of time in the cyber-world.  They are not a substitute for unplugging from your devices and taking a stroll near trees, water, or a patch of unkempt grass.  Getting out into the world - touching, smelling, hearing, and seeing nature is the best way to reconnect with our prime purpose.  

What is our prime purpose? We are feeling and sensing machines.  We are the universe looking back on itself. We are witness to the wonders and dangers of living in this corner of the cosmos.  We are the seekers looking for connection a little further beyond yesterday's borders and boundaries.

But sitting and staring at the screen robs us of the sustenance that we rely upon for wonder and sanity.  These videos are an opportunity to bring the sensations of nature to you, while you're in the cyber-world. Its an opportunity to relax your gaze, resettle your posture,  and regain some depth in your breath.  Listen and watch the video and allow your self to open up and recharge.

Most of these are best viewed in full screen

Get Each Week's One Minute Meditation in your email box

First Name:

Last Name:

Email address:

In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:


One Minute Meditations



Tiny Drops (Photography series)



Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)



Dialectic Two-Step



Modern Koans (interesting questions)



Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)



Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)



Say What?



Quotes



Verse Us (Poems I Write)

If You Watched The One Minute Meditation, How Do You Feel? Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. 

Get Each Week's One Minute Meditation in your email box

First Name:

Last Name:

Email address:

In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:


One Minute Meditations



Tiny Drops (Photography series)



Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)



Dialectic Two-Step



Modern Koans (interesting questions)



Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)



Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)



Say What?



Quotes



Verse Us (Poems I Write)

The post Leaman Brook – A One Minute Meditation appeared on Andrew Furst.

From This Valley – Sunday Morning Coming Down

Sunday Morning Coming Down is an ongoing music  video series.  The songs fit my definition of music for a lazy couch bound Sunday morning.

The Civil Wars – From This Valley

This is part of my eldest sons set a Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico (He’s a music program counselor)

 Get Each Week's Sunday Morning Coming Down in your email box

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In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:


One Minute Meditations



Tiny Drops (Photography series)



Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)



Dialectic Two-Step



Modern Koans (interesting questions)



Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)



Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)



Say What?



Quotes



Verse Us (Poems I Write)

 
From This Valley

by The Civil Wars

Oh the desert dreams of a river

That will run down to the sea

Like my heart longs for an ocean

To wash down over me

Oh won’t you take me from this valley

To that mountain high above

Oh I will pray, pray, pray till I see your smiling face

I will pray, pray, pray to the one that I love

Oh the outcast dreams of acceptance

Just to find pure love’s embrace

Like an orphan longs for its mother

May you hold me in your grace

Oh won’t you take me from this valley

To that mountain high above

Oh I will pray, pray, pray till I see your smiling face

I will pray, pray, pray to the one that I love

Ooh, whoa oh, whoa oh oh

Ooh, whoa oh, whoa oh oh

Oh the caged bird dreams of a strong wind

That will flow beneath her wings

Like a voice longs for a melody

Oh Jesus, carry me

 

The post From This Valley – Sunday Morning Coming Down appeared on Andrew Furst.

On Purpose? – Say What?

Say What?  is an ongoing series of laconic exchanges on Buddhism in the format of a comic strip.

This shirt is dry clean only. Which means... it's dirty. - Mitch Hedberg 

On Purpose?

 

A Few Words On Purpose

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In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:


One Minute Meditations



Tiny Drops (Photography series)



Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)



Dialectic Two-Step



Modern Koans (interesting questions)



Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)



Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)



Say What?



Quotes



Verse Us (Poems I Write)

The post On Purpose? – Say What? appeared on Andrew Furst.

Black & White IV – Tiny Drops (Photography)

Tiny Drops is an ongoing iPhoneographic series. The images represent moments of noticing on my part.  For you, they are an offer to pause, observe, and take that noticing into your life.  All photos are mine unless noted otherwise.

These works by Andrew Furst are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Black & White IV
barnacles bwdobro bwgnarled apple bw

Municipal Artifacts

Get Each Week's Tiny Drops in your email box

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In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:


One Minute Meditations



Tiny Drops (Photography series)



Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)



Dialectic Two-Step



Modern Koans (interesting questions)



Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)



Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)



Say What?



Quotes



Verse Us (Poems I Write)

 
FIVE LIMITLESS THOUGHTS

May all living beings have happiness and its causes

May all be free from unhappiness and its causes

May all dwell in equanimity, free of attraction and aversion

May all quickly find the great happiness that lies beyond all misery

May all enjoy inner and outer peace now and forever

NAMO AMITOFO

The post Black & White IV – Tiny Drops (Photography) appeared on Andrew Furst.

Quote – Morihei Ueshiba on Fear

Morihei Ueshiba on Fear

Fear

The post Quote – Morihei Ueshiba on Fear appeared on Andrew Furst.

It’s Been Fourteen Years (Sept 11) – Tiny Drops

Tiny Drops is an ongoing iPhoneographic series. The images represent moments of noticing on my part.  For you, they are an offer to pause, observe, and take that noticing into your life.  All photos are mine unless noted otherwise.

These works by Andrew Furst are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

It’s Been Fourteen Years (Sept 11)

 

September 11

Get Each Week's Tiny Drops in your email box

First Name:

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In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:


One Minute Meditations



Tiny Drops (Photography series)



Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)



Dialectic Two-Step



Modern Koans (interesting questions)



Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)



Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)



Say What?



Quotes



Verse Us (Poems I Write)

 
FIVE LIMITLESS THOUGHTS

May all living beings have happiness and its causes

May all be free from unhappiness and its causes

May all dwell in equanimity, free of attraction and aversion

May all quickly find the great happiness that lies beyond all misery

May all enjoy inner and outer peace now and forever

NAMO AMITOFO

The post It’s Been Fourteen Years (Sept 11) – Tiny Drops appeared on Andrew Furst.

Quote – Shinran on the Name

Shinran on the Name

 

The Name

 

The post appeared on Andrew Furst.

Swaying Ferns – A Five Minute Meditation

 One  Minute Meditations is an ongoing series of short videos, poems, and commentary intended as a meditation.  Offered as an opportunity to step back from your cyber routine and settle into a more natural rhythm, if only for a minute.

Swaying Ferns

Symmetrical fronds

letting the summer breezes

flow freely through them

In this five minute meditation

Allow your body to synchronize with the rhythm of the swaying ferns

At the end of each 1 minute interval, a singing bowl will ring.

Allow the sound to reverberate up and down your spine and throughout your body.

Let the sound bring your body, breath, and mind together into the present moment.

Best viewed in full screen

These videos are produced for those of us who spend an inordinately large amount of time in the cyber-world.  They are not a substitute for unplugging from your devices and taking a stroll near trees, water, or a patch of unkempt grass.  Getting out into the world - touching, smelling, hearing, and seeing nature is the best way to reconnect with our prime purpose.  

What is our prime purpose? We are feeling and sensing machines.  We are the universe looking back on itself. We are witness to the wonders and dangers of living in this corner of the cosmos.  We are the seekers looking for connection a little further beyond yesterday's borders and boundaries.

But sitting and staring at the screen robs us of the sustenance that we rely upon for wonder and sanity.  These videos are an opportunity to bring the sensations of nature to you, while you're in the cyber-world. Its an opportunity to relax your gaze, resettle your posture,  and regain some depth in your breath.  Listen and watch the video and allow your self to open up and recharge.

Most of these are best viewed in full screen

Get Each Week's One Minute Meditation in your email box

First Name:

Last Name:

Email address:

In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:


One Minute Meditations



Tiny Drops (Photography series)



Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)



Dialectic Two-Step



Modern Koans (interesting questions)



Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)



Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)



Say What?



Quotes



Verse Us (Poems I Write)

If You Watched The One Minute Meditation, How Do You Feel? Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. 

Get Each Week's One Minute Meditation in your email box

First Name:

Last Name:

Email address:

In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:


One Minute Meditations



Tiny Drops (Photography series)



Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)



Dialectic Two-Step



Modern Koans (interesting questions)



Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)



Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)



Say What?



Quotes



Verse Us (Poems I Write)

The post Swaying Ferns – A Five Minute Meditation appeared on Andrew Furst.