RELIGION or POLITICS - YOU have Nine Consciousnesses

Greetings at midweek, and how y'all doing??? Remember "YOUR THOUGHTS CREATE YOUR LIFE"  so if your life isn't going as you would like, then you'd better think about changing your thoughts. And now is your chance to research your spiritual thinking. Good to check it out as the best way to turn your life around and keep yourself strong in handling this, meant to be, tough life, we all live.

Now I am going to finish up the 7th Consciousness, from my last blog on the subject, and then on friday on to the umbelievable 8th and 9th Cosciousnesses.


GOING ON FROM LAST...That we have the drive to preserve oneself, which is the ego or Lesser self.

ULTIMATELY,  HOWEVER, THIS DRIVE OR DESIRE CREATES SUFFERING. WE CAN BE DEEPLY CONTROLLED BY THE FUNCTION OF THE SEVENTH CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE NOTION OF SELF IT PRODUCES,  BELIEVING IT TO BE SUBSTANTIAL WHEN, IN REALITY, IT IS NOT. ATTACHMENT TO THIS SELF CAN BREED ARROGANCE AND EGOTISM AS WELL AS SELF-LOATHING AND INSECURITY. YET, IF WE ABANDON THIS SELF WE ARE APT TO FEAR THAT WE ARE NEGATING OUR EXISTENCE.  SO WE CLING TO THE STORIES WE TELL OURSELVES ABOUT WHO WE ARE; AND WE SEEK TO EXPAND THESE STORIES, REINFORCING OUR OPINIONS AND BELIEFS, OUR LIKES AND DISLIKES, ETC., AS IF PROTECTING THE CORE OF OUR IDENTITY.
We thus lose sight of the TRUE SELF, which lies at a deeper level of cosciousness, and remain ignorant of our true potential.  OUR ATTACHMENT TO THE SELF OF THE SEVENTH CONSCIOUSNESS CONFINES US IN A SMALL CAGE WITHIN THE VASTNESS OF LIFE, AND OUR INHERENT WELLSPRING OF HUMANITY REMAINS UNTAPPED.

While it may seem the word SELF is being employed negatively, implying selfish or self-seeking behavior, this usage is what Buddhism regards as the "lesser self."  As discussed in previous chapters, there is also a "greater self",  the true self lying dormant in the depths of life. The whole of Buddhist philosophy centers on the idea of breaking out of the prison of the lesser self to reveal the infinitely expanded true self. The nine consciousnesses concept was developed to achieve this goal.

THUS, WHILE THE BENEFICIAL POTENTIAL OF THE SEVENTH CONSCIOUSNESS IS UNDENIABLE, ITS POTENTIAL FOR CREATING THE "CAGES" OF EGO MUST NOT BE OVERLOOKED.

NOW, THAT TAKES CARE OF THIS ASPECT OF OURSELVES, AND NOW ON TO THE EXCITING 8TH CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE LINK TO  FUTURE LIVES.  OH BOY!!
    CHEERS....   CJ

RELIGION or POLITICS - Why Buddhism????? (Cont'd)

Happy new week, friends, hope yours will be as good as mine.

Now, I will continue on with the Nine Cosciousnesses. It gets more fascinating as we get deeper into the area of the 8th and 9th later. When I get through them all, you will have a very good idea as to why you are here and where you are going, with life itself.

THE FIRST SIX CONSCIOUSNESSES ARE RESPONSES TO THE EVERYDAY EXTERNAL WORLD OF PHENOMENA. THESE FUNCTIONS ARE EASILY RECOGNIZABLE AS THEY OPERATE ON THE "OUTER SURFACE" OF THE MIND. -- THAT IS, IN OUR CONSCIOUS REALM.  ASIDE FROM EXCEPTIONS SUCH SUCH AS DREAMING, IN WHICH THE SIXTH CONSCIOUSNESS OPERATES ON ITS OWN, THE FIRST SIX CONSCIOUSNESSES PERPETUALLY RESPOND TO CONSTANT INPUT FROM OUR SURROUNDINGS. BECAUSE THEY FUNCTION CONTINUOUSLY FROM ONE MOMENT TO THE NEXT, IT IS EASY TO ASSUME THAT WE POSSESS AN UNCHANGING SELF AND THAT PERHAPS THIS SELF OVERSEES AND CONTROLS THE SIX CONSCIOUSNESSES.

The function that leads us to believe in the existence of a permanent self is called the seventh consciousness. This seventh level represents the internal world, spiritual world and is the source of identity of self, operating in the name of self-preservation and expansion. It seems to correspond to the Western idea of the ego.

In reality, the self is in constant flux, changing moment to moment, as do our bodies and all other phenomena.  Because instinctively we are "attached" to the self or ego, we sense it as somehow constant.  We remember events in our lives and construct a narrative about who we are.  Without that capacity, it would be difficult to function in the world.  Attachment to this fleeting self becomes problematic, however, when we mistake it for a changeless entity and therefore stop seeking what is truly changeless and profound.

The seventh consciousness is also characterized by the ability to distinguish oneself from others, to establish a boundary between self and other.  And it is the source of the drive to preserve oneself.  Again, it would be difficult for us to function in the real world if we did not have the capacity.

OK, this is it for monday. I will finish this 7th conscousness next and then on to the incredible 8th consciousness. You''ll see. And thanks so much for visiting.     Cheers     CJ 

RELIGION or POLITICS - This is INTERESTING ......

Summary of Life




GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats..

2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your

Hair.

1. 3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.

4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.

5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food..

6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair..

7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.

8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.

10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandma's lap.







GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED: 1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.

2) Wrinkles don't hurt.

3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts

4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground...

5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.

6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy..

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD



1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional...

2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.

4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.

5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions...

6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician

7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.



THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:



1) You believe in Santa Claus.

2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.

3) You are Santa Claus..

4) You look like Santa Claus.



SUCCESS:



At age 4 success is . . . . Not piddling in your pants.

At age 12 success is . . . Having friends.

At age 17 success is . . Having a driver's license.

At age 35 success is . . . ..having money.

At age 50 success is . . . Having money..

At age 70 success is . .. . Having a drivers license. At age 75 success is . ... . Having friends.

At age 80 success is . . .. Not piddling in your pants.



Pass this on to someone who could use a laugh.





Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way;

BUT NEVER forget the blessings that come each day.



Have a wonderful day with many *smiles*



Take the time to live!!!

Life is too short.

Whoo-hoo!

RELIGION or POLITICS - Why Buddhism????? (Cont'd)

(Again much of the contents herein are taken from the book "Unlocking the Mysteries of Birth and Death, byDaisaku Ikeda, President of Soka Gakkai International.)




Hi y'all, gee, here it is friday again, and my how the days fly by when you are having fun, and I,  for one, am having fun with life, how about you???? But Nichiren Buddhism does that for you. You really ought to try it, since you don't even have to be a believer for it to prove itself to you. Soooo, if I am right, don't you think your life is worth living at it's best, hmmm? You betcha'. .......But, now we go on:

AS A RESULT OF SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES, OUR EYES AND EARS HAVE BECOME VASTLY MORE POWERFUL;  WE CAN SEE INTO OURERSPACE AND HEAR SOUNDS FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA, BUT DOES SUCH POWER EQUAL HAPPINESS? WHILE SCIENCE TENDS TO DIRECT ITS INVESTIGATIONS EVER OUTWARD, IT WILL ONLY PRODUCE MISFORTUNE IF THERE IS NO CORRESPONDING GROWTH AND MATURATION IN THE INNER REALM OF LIFE.

WHAT'S MORE, SCIENCE HAS YET TO INVENT AN INSTRUMENT THAT GIVES US INSIGHT INTO SOMEONE'S HEART. BUDDHISM ENABLES US TO PERCEIVE OUR OWN HEARTS AND THE HEARTS OF OTHERS, TO THOROUGHLY UNDERSTAND HOW THE HEART OPERATES.  WE MIGHT SAY BUDDHISM IS THE SCIENCE OF THE SPIRIT, THE MEDICINE OF THE HEART.  ULTIMATELY, PURIFYING THE HEART  --  OUR PERCEPTIONS AND INTENTIONS -- IS THE FOUNDATION FOR URIFYING OUR SENSE ORGANS AND OUR CONSCIOUSNESS.

To Helen Keller, who triumphed over her inability to speak, hear or see, Mark Twain said, "Helen, the world is full of unseeing eyes, vacant, staring, soulless eyes". Twain also remarked that the two most interesting characters of the nineteenth century were Napoleon and Helen Keller, noting that while Napoleon had planned to conquer the world by means of force and failed, Helen Keller, while bearing the weight of a threefold disability, succeeded through her abundant spiritual strength.

You see, friends, what all this really means is, that your REAL strength,  is your (if you use it) abundant spiritual strength, not what religion you belong to. Now, as I leave this blog for the weekend, I wish to remind you that what all this discussion on the Nine Cosciousnesses is leading up to are the 8th and 9th Consciousnesses. And oh boy, are you in for a surprise if you think you will ever see and learn the likes of these discussions anywhere else in the world of religions. Um, these will "open your eyes, "so to speak".

So have a great weekend, y'all,     Cheers      CJ

RELIGION or POLITICS - Why Buddhism????? (Cont'd)

(Again much of the contents herein are taken from the book "Unlocking the Mysteries of Birth and Death, byDaisaku Ikeda, President of Soka Gakkai International.)


Hi friends, I trust your week is going well, and that you are determined to make your vote count in order to begin the process of reversing the present direction this country is be lead to. And whether you like him or not, you'd best listen each night to Glenn Beck so you can learn the real inside of what is happening, how and why. Things about which you will never know from the Media.

So now, on to some more important things. I continue on with The Nine Consciousnesses. Yesterday we learned about Consciousnesses, information leading up to explaining how they all relate to our lives, from beginning to end, and beyond, now beginning with the First Six Consciousnesses - Sensory Perception and Integration. Continuing..........

ALSO, EACH SENSE ORGAN POSSESSES A CONSCIOUSNESS OF ITS OWN.  PHYSIOLOGICALLY SPEAKING, THE SENSE ORGANS DO NOT PASS ON TO THE BRAIN EVERYTHING THAT THEY PERCEIVE. RATHER, THEY SELECT AND TRANSMIT ONLY THE "IMPORTANT" THINGS.   SO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CONSCIOUSNES OF THE EYES, FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE REFERRING TO THE EYES' OWN POWER TO DISCERN OR SELECT.  SAY WE ARE DESPARATELY LOOKING FOR OUR KEYS.  AS USUAL IN SUCH SITUATIONS, THEY ARE RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE LIVING ROOM, BUT STILL WE DO NOT SEE THEM.  WE MAY SEARCH FRAN-TICALLY, YET THE KEYS REMAIN LOST BECAUSE OUR EYES HAVE "SELECTED" WHAT INFORMATION WILL BE SENT TO OUR BRAIN -- WE HAVE PRE-SUPPOSED THAT THE KEYS COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LIVING ROOM.  (AFTER ALL, WE WOULD HAVE SEEN THEM IF THEY WERE THERE!)
 BECAUSE OF OUR FIXED BELIEF, THE INFORMATION PICKED UP BY OUR EYES -- THAT THE KEYS ARE IN THE LIVING ROOM -- IS NOT RELAYED TO OUR BRAIN.

Buddhist practice is said to "purify" the senses nd the other levels of consciousness so that we can perceive all phenomena clearly and accurately. Again, the sense organs arfe the interface between the small iniverse of our lives and the cosmos.  To purify our sense organs, then, means to completely harmonize our lives with the universe, "tuning in" to its rhythm. One who has purified the sense of sight will find even the most mundane scene to be a miracle sparkling with life. And one who has purified the sense of hearing can hear Mozart in the cacophony of a baby's cries.


My friends, I won't go into the 'purification' of the first six consciousnesses at this time, because it goes into deeper and more serious aspects of being a practicing Buddhist. But, the Purifying, is automatic from the practice, and once there, your life becomes so greatly managable and worrisome-free. I am available for dialogue with anyone interested in learning about this.

See y'all friday and stay cool. More great stuff ahead.    Cheers      CJ

RELIGION or POLITICS - Why Buddhism????? (Cont'd)

(Again much of the contents herein are taken from the book "Unlocking the Mysteries of Birth and Death, byDaisaku Ikeda, President of Soka Gakkai International.)


Greetings, friends, and welcome to a new week. If you follow my important blogs, you will know that I am now explaining to, possibly new potential Buddhists, as well as some who already are. And the subject is the incredible Nine Consciousnesses, and the last sentence was that the Ninth consciousnes is equal to Buddhism. All of this will fall into place, as we proceed.
 
EACH LIVING BEING ASSIMILATES INFORMATION FROM ITS SURROUNDINGS AND ADUSTST ITSELF ACCORDINGLY. BEINGS DEPEND FOR THEIR SURVIVAL ON THE ABILITY TO PERCEIVE AND RESPOND TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT. EVEN PLANTS CAN SENSE THE CHANGE IN SEASONS AND ADJUST TO THE DIFFERENCES IN WINTER AND SUMMER WEATHER. IN WINTER, FOR INSTANCE, DECIDUOUS TREES SHED THEIR LARGE LEAVES SO AS NOT TO LOSE TOO MUCH MOISTURE THROUGH THEM.
 
LIKEWISE, HUMAN BEINGS HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, WE CAN DISCERN WHAT IS AND ISN'T EDIBLE. jUST LOOKING AT FRUIT IN A BOWL, WE CAN USUALLY TELL IF IT IS MADE OF WAX. BUT EVEN IF OUR SENSES OF SMELL AND TOUCH WERE DECEIVED, WE COULD TRY TASTING A PIECE AND QUICKLY FIND OUT IF IT IS IMITATION. DISCERNMENT OR PERCEPTION IS NECESSARY FOR LIVING BEINGS TO SURVIVE.
 
Now, out of the nine consciousnesses we look at the first six: Sensory Perception and Intergration.
 
The first five of the nine consciousnesses correspond to the conventional notion of the five senses: Sight, Hearing, Smell, Taste and Touch. They are activated whenever our five sensory organs -- eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin -- interact with our environment. The five sense organs are like windows, or perhaps pathways, by which the external world is connected to the internal, and they function in a relatively passive manner.
 
The sixth consciousness integrates the perceptions of the five senses into coherent mental images and makes judgements about the external world. If any of the five sensory organs are not functioning well, the mind likewise can be limited in its ability to accurately perceive the outer world. Conversely, even if a "window" is clouded, one's mind still can make sound judements if the other senses function well. The sixth consciousness can also function independent of the five senses as in dreams or uses of the imagination.
 
More often than not, the function of the five senses is distorted. Negative influences arising from the sixth, seventh and eightth consciousnesses, as we shall see, distort the mind's perception of the outer world. Our perceptions are influenced by our attitudes, by the effects of our karma and by the inner workings of consciousness. To a healthy person filled with vitality, even simple food will taste delicious, while for one plunged in grief, even the most sumptuous feast will taste bland. Phenomena such as these are mysterious yet commonplace.
 
O.K., friends, I don't want to overwhelm you on a monday, so will tie it off here and continue on Wednesday, good old hump day.     Cheers      CJ

RELIGION or POLITICS - Why Buddhism????? (Cont'd)

(Again much of the contents herein are taken from the book "Unlocking the Mysteries of Birth and Death, byDaisaku Ikeda, President of Soka Gakkai International.)

Greetings good friends, and potential Buddhists. I'm going to start "The Nine Consciousnesses" today and it will take probably all next week before I complete the entire subject matter. So here we go....

BUDDHISM EXPLAINS THAT ERRONEOUS PERCEPTION, CONCEPTION, OR CONSCIOUSNESS IS THE CAUSE OF SUFFERING. THE FIRST STEP, FOR EXAMPLE, ALONG THE EIGHTFOLD PATH IS RIGHT VIEW -- TO PERCEIVE THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE. THEREFORE, BUDDHISM REVEALS THAT TRUE ENLIGHTENMENT -- REPLACING DELUSIONS THAT DISTORT REALITY WITH THE WISDOM TO PERCEIVE THE TRUE REALITY  -- IS THE WAY TO EMANCIPATE OURSELVES FROM SUFFERING. THESE IDEAS ARE THE BASIS OF THE NINE CONSIOUSNESSES CONCEPT.

Many attempts have been made in the West to explore the different levels of human conscious-ness, most notably through psychoanalysis and depth psychology. Neurology and neuro-physiology, too, have sought objectively to examine such functions as sensation, emotion, understanding and memory in connection with the workings of the brain. Buddhism, by contrast, examines the depths of our lives more intuitively. Yet a Buddhist concept such as the nine cosnciousnesses yields much insight into the same areas of the human condition addressed by major hypotheses of moern science and medicine.

In Buddhism, consciousness is the translation of the Sanskrit VIJANA, which means ability of discernment, comprehension or perception. Shakyamuni (first Buddha) included the function among the five components -- form, perception, conception, volition and consciousness. Consciousness is usually understood as conscious awareness, the ability to think or a common waking state. In this reading, however, the word CONSCIOUSNESS is used to mean something different. In Buddhism, consciousness implies a capacity or energy that operates whether or not we are consciously aware of it.

Consciousness operates on several levels. The nine consciousnesses concept, developed largely in the T'ien-t'ai and Flower Garland schools of sixth-century China, analyzes the various strata of conseiousness and therby clarifies the operations of life itself. This concept isdifferent from the idea of the Ten Worlds (previously mentioned and will again). In T'ien-t'ai's teaching, however, these two Buddhist theories overlap in that the ninth consciousness can be under-stood as synonymous with the 10th world---Buddhahood. Nichiren did not expound the nine consciousnesses concept, but he adopted its bottom line that the ninth consciousness is equal to Buddhahood.

As we go along here, friends, how important it is to reach the state of Buddhahood, and how realively easy it is to attain. But all in good order and time, See y'all monday and thanks so very much fot taking an interest. It will so well worth your time, you'll see.    Cheers       CJ