altruism ( has anyone done this? )

[light-serpent]

altruism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism ( meaning link )
Has been on my mind for some time. More in the contexts of when buddha did.
I have been planing a 3 day thing on the 21st dec ( yes winter/sumer sols)
No food and maybe no drink, still thinking of that one. Into the forest I go. sit by a tree and ponder.
Letting go of everything. No caring if i die or live. no caring about the snakes.

I'm interested if anyone has experanced this. and what there thoughts are.
Knowledge is most welcomed
peace :wink:

 

[ararat]

how is it altruistic to go into the forest for three days and not eat anything? sounds more like asceticism

 

[Affirmatory]

I don't see the connection between helping other people and sitting under a tree for 3 days, but it sounds interesting and I'd love to hear how it goes if you do it.

But yeah, altruism is good. At some point selfishness just ceases to satisfy.

Oh and I really would take water if I were you, I mean come on it could be like 40 degrees.

 

[Caduceus Mercurius]

More in the contexts of when buddha did.

Buddha is a mythological character, and even if he existed, he lived thousands of years ago, in a vastly different culture and on a vastly different planet. You can't and shouldn't imitate him. When he sat down under the Bodhi tree he had already been practicing meditation and yoga for a long time. When you're going to sit down under a tree, you're going to need a chair, otherwise your knees and back will start hurting.

If you want to be altruistic, become a volunteer for a charitable organization, or help spread the word against the war on drugs. If you do decide to carry out your plan, try this: don't tell anyone what you're going to do.

 

[Forkbender]

If you see buddha on the road, kill him.

 

[Caduceus Mercurius]

If you see buddha on the road, kill him.

What's the meaning of that phrase? Or is it a koan?

 

[st.bot.32]

It's a koan. The meaning as I understand it is that enlightenment is a path, not a goal that can be clearly defined and obtained.

 

[ararat]

I remember spice once explaining it.. not as clearly as I wished though
by killing buddha it's meant to kill your image of buddha. whatever your idea of buddha/enlightment is, it's wrong and only a hindrance.

 

[Caduceus Mercurius]

Thanks. I also found this explanation:
[quote:1p69nisz]It’s a quote from ninth-century Zen Master, Lin Chi, a warning to rely only upon the self and not to trust external forces as “authority figures

 

[magickmumu]

Krishnamurti was recruited by the theosophist society at a young age, to become a guru.

 

[magickmumu]

Killing the Buddha. Not attaching yourself to Buddhism.

 

[light-serpent]

I guess I would be taking water. I don't have as many years experience as buddha himself in what he did, but I have heard that through fasting and meditation one can have deep realisations. I know I can live without food for 4 days at most as I've done this before when my grandmother passed away.

Sounds crazy, I know.
If I do and just still might do it will let you know how it goes.
I'm willing to try things outside the box. So therefor I could be considered to most people as crazy , but most of the greatest people in history were considered the same :idea: .
Thank you for comments ,they have helped me with some more thoughts on doing this...

 

[Caduceus Mercurius]

I have heard that through fasting and meditation one can have deep realisations.

I've fasted a lot in my life (up to 10 days), and I can tell you it doesn't alter perception that significantly. Likewise, meditation is a catch phrase for a million different methods, some of which are effective and others are not.

If you're into deep realizations through non-drug methods, try holotropic breathwork. It will put you in an altered state of mind within half an hour, without harm to the physical body.

I know I can live without food for 4 days at most as I've done this before when my grandmother passed away.

If a person prepares himself well, he can fast up to 40 days. Proper preparation means reading about fasting first. Not just an article or webpage, but one or more books. For extended periods of fasting, medical supervision is highly recommended. According to Ayurveda fasting is not recommended for everyone. From an orthomolecular point of view, fasting can exaccerbate pre-existing shortages of nutrients, which will in turn mess up important processes in your body, and your brain...

 

[light-serpent]

Sweet will look into that. Thanks for the info , already learning new things to help in directions to go.
peace

 

[Twilight]

If you're into deep realizations through non-drug methods, try holotropic breathwork.

This sounds really damn interesting to me, and maybe there's a thread about this already somewhere. but I've searched around on google a bit and found out that this name (holotropic breathwork) is trademarked? I think that's strange.
But the technique, for as far as I've been able to read about it, seems very interesting.
Is there some way, without having to pay a lot, to find out how it works?

 

[restin]

If you see buddha on the road, kill him.

One of the best quotes.

One of the meanings of this quote can be "paraphrased" with this koan, I think.

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. “It is overfull. No more will go in!

 

[Caduceus Mercurius]

Yes, the TM sign is here too: http://holotropicbreathwork.ning.com/
And here: http://www.aljardim.com.br/english/index.htm

The Holotropic BreathworkTM is a Trade Mark from Grof Transpersonal Training (GTT).

Only professionals qualified as certified facilitators by GTT can work with Holotropic BreathworkTM.

Ask for the Holotropic BreathworkTM Certificate of Training when you participate in a Holotropic BreathworkTM Workshop.

 

[faithless]

More in the contexts of when buddha did.

Buddha is a mythological character, and even if he existed, he lived thousands of years ago, in a vastly different culture and on a vastly different planet. You can't and shouldn't imitate him.[/quote:32soss6q]

Mythological character > Just let people beleive what they want. I think Buddha did live on earth, yet I don't try to tell anyone "Buddha is a real character". ?

Can't and shouldn't .. > Again, IMHO you should let people follow their way without telling them what and what not to do.


I'm only replying because I think your words were a little bit agressive. No offense meant.


altruism is one of the best thing in the world. It's the future. It's like spreading good energy. It actually IS spreading good energy.

 

[IJesusChrist]

fasting is great for the body, a cheeseburger in the intestines is just putting miles on your odometer

 

[Caduceus Mercurius]

Mythological character > Just let people beleive what they want. I think Buddha did live on earth, yet I don't try to tell anyone "Buddha is a real character". ?

There may have been a person living on earth, but the Buddha story itself (the way he was born, the way he attained enlightenment and what he did after he reached enlightenment) is a typical Indian myth, an allegory. You can find dozens of similar stories in the Puranas and Itihasas.

Can't and shouldn't .. > Again, IMHO you should let people follow their way without telling them what and what not to do.

"Shouldn't" as in: "of course you can try, but you'll be wasting your time."