Have You Ever Noticed . . .

[clyde]

[in the voice of Andy Rooney]

Have you ever noticed how other drivers slow down and look to see an accident on the other side of a highway? What is it about a crash that captures our attention? Why do we allow our attention to linger?

I wonder if that same process occurs in our lives. Perhaps we create ‘accidents’ (events with unsatisfactory feelings) by our actions and speech to capture the attention of our mind. Then we allow our attention to linger on the ‘accident’ so we don’t see things as they really are.

I wonder, if we created fewer ‘accidents’ and didn’t allow our attention to linger on the ‘accident’, if we might see things as they really are?

Have you ever noticed . . .

[Taeguk]

Hi!

clyde, you wrote:

Have you ever noticed how other drivers slow down and look to see an accident on the other side of a highway? What is it about a crash that captures our attention? Why do we allow our attention to linger?

I've often wondered the same thing myself!

And I've also often wondered: do other animals do the same thing? I'm reminded of a cartoon once of a herd of zebra, all staring at a pack of lions eatting an unlucky straggler, while nearby a zebra cop is saying: "Nothing to see here, folks. Move along." :D

But to return to your question! I'm not exactly sure! Perhaps it's different for every person?

Generally speaking, I'd think these accidents are maybe reminders of mortality, of how fragile and conditional our lives are. Maybe it's relief, for some people. Pleasure in knowing that they've escaped pain. Perhaps a few even derive a sort of sick, sadistic pleasure from it.

I wonder if that same process occurs in our lives. Perhaps we create ‘accidents’ (events with unsatisfactory feelings) by our actions and speech to capture the attention of our mind. Then we allow our attention to linger on the ‘accident’ so we don’t see things as they really are.

Now there's an interesting theory!

To play off this idea, I wonder if perhaps it would be in the best interests of certain "powers that be" to keep people's attention constantly distracted? To purposely teach us at an early age to manufacture problems for ourselves, to keep our minds occupied, and to ensure that the people running the show stay in power?

Or, to reverse your original premise, I wonder if perhaps the mind creates "accidents" to help wake us up, to draw our attention to something our concious mind is not aware of but which, unconciously, we know to be important? :think:

Looks like you've opened up a fascinating topic of discussion here, clyde! :thumbsup:

[Noway2Zero]

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: -I Peter 5:8

it is easy to be distracted.. while it takes great awareness to keep a steadfast watch

[schrodinger]

it is easy to be distracted.. while it takes great awareness to keep a steadfast watch

Very true, but answer this honestly: Is TBV a distraction or the steadfast watch?

[Noway2Zero]

distraction..

although i find much inspiration here..

this place(you guys) help me immensely i only hope to do the same for you, if possible :)

honestly of my day i spend 90% of it watching the other 10% 'distracted' im not so sure that coming here has much of an effect on this..

[scameter]

One looking at an accident doesn't mean one is actually looking at the accident?

[sahyo]

n2z :)



honestly of my day i spend 90% of it watching the other 10% 'distracted'



When the mind follows and understands every thought there is no distraction, and then it is quiet. Only in freedom can the mind be silent. When the mind is silent, not only the upper part, but fully; when it is free from all values, from the pursuit of its own projections, then there is no distraction; and only then reality comes into being.

J Krishnamurti

[sahyo]

Question:

What exactly do you mean by meditation? Is it a process or a state?


Krishnamurti:

[....] But when the projector, the mediator, the self, is completely absent, wholely ended, then there is silence which is not the product of the mind. Meditation is that silence which comes into being when the mediator and his processes are understood.

[....]Therefore, only when the mind is completely silent, completely still, tranquil, not projecting, not thinking - only then does the measureless come into being. ----------------



link (http://www.werobot.com/jk/talks/Talk_madras48_04.htm)

[Noway2Zero]

yes sahyo ;)

we crawl before we walk <_<

[sahyo]

:) n2z

when crawling, crawling
when walking, walking

no when




;)

[Noway2Zero]

thanking ;)

[sahyo]

thanking :)