Weird Thought of the Day

Sakhaiva wrote:Like many people, I spend a good deal of time and effort researching family history, preserving momentos to pass down to another generation and so forth. I have an antiquarian book collection and really enjoy touching something that has actually been in the hands of my kin, and I know that one day these items will be passed to new generations who will pass it to the generations that follow. Such things add to my life's purpose and also offer the hope of keeping me 'alive.'

But at some point, be it mass extinction, extreme war or simply the Sun's own demise, everything will vanish and there will not even be the slightest hint that I ever existed.

And that is Linda's weird thought of the day.

Cheers!

Weird to everyone except a Buddhist. Esp. a traditional one who carries on the Buddhist tradition of living in (or across from a cemetery), in order to be reminded of this thought every single day. Thanks for the reminder!

MaineCaptain wrote:You know it is funny, I see everything as spirit, everything, so to me, no one will be forgotten, we will just be somewhere else. with those we love.

And hopefully the only forgotten thing, is the pain and strife of this material existence.

Spirit plays a part, or as Buddhists would say; the immortal Buddha Nature plays a part... The thing is though, I've always been "spirit" or have always been "Buddha Nature", I've always been in existence, somewhere and in some form. But I don't have any memory of my previous incarnations. And honestly, so far, there's been nothing spectacular to remember about this particular incarnation - I've had a good time and tried to bring happiness to others, but I haven't won a Nobel Peace Prize or discovered a cure for cancer, so I won't really mind if it's forgotten. I just hope for a fortunate rebirth, hope for happiness and progress in the future.

MaineCaptain wrote:We may not remember our past lives, but that does not mean someone doesn't, or that someone else's life is not so much richer for having had you touched their lives.

MaineCaptain wrote:You know I could bonk you on the head for that one.

You do not need to win a prize or cure a disease to be worth remembering.

You are a good friend, your brighten ones day by just being you. You are special no matter what you think.

We may not remember our past lives, but that does not mean someone doesn't, or that someone else's life is not so much richer for having had you touched their lives.

Beribee wrote:

MaineCaptain wrote:We may not remember our past lives, but that does not mean someone doesn't, or that someone else's life is not so much richer for having had you touched their lives.

That's a really cool thought, MC!

It is a really cool thought. It is what the Buddha said is eternal. Not the memory of our incarnation, but the effects of the compassionate deeds of our incarnation will ripple throughout eternity. The effects of our compassionate deeds are eternal.

Chiyo wrote: The effects of our compassionate deeds are eternal.

Beribee wrote:

Chiyo wrote: The effects of our compassionate deeds are eternal.

You should put that as your signature, Chiyo!

I'm going camping this weekend, and I'm hoping to be able to play my flute out in the woods....I've been looking forward to it since November! Oh, and I made a really cool flute bag for it to keep it protected. I love that website you gave me.....I printed several songs and have been practicing them!

I'm really glad you've been enjoying the websites I'd sent your way. They really are a treasure and I've spent lots of time there myself. Yep, me too, I've printed off a lot of songs and put them into a binder (with sheet protectors).

I'd thought about making a flutebag, but decided against it. I mean, if I'm going somewhere then I'm not just going to take my flute, I'm also going to take my bindered sheet-music too. (Sorry, I'm just not into improv.) So, it makes more sense for me to carry something like a briefcase or duffle-bag and to have a good, sturdy box to put my flute into so it's protected while it's in the briefcase or duffle-bag... I haven't made that box yet, but am fairly certain that I will have one by my birthday in the next couple of months.

sacrificialgoddess wrote:I think I'm still too sick for this board. Nothing on this thread is making a bit of sense to me.

TigersEyeDowsing wrote:

sacrificialgoddess wrote:I think I'm still too sick for this board. Nothing on this thread is making a bit of sense to me.

Damn that swine flu.

Chiyo wrote:It's not a matter of whether I feel "worthy" of being remembered, all 6 billion people who are on the planet right now are "worth" being remembered, but it's a fact that 100 years, 200 years, 300 years from now - only a fraction of us will, in fact, be remembered. And that thought, frankly, just does not bother me. I'm at peace with it. I don't need a granite tombstone or a bust of my face on my grave. I don't need to be remembered.

Sakhaiva wrote:

Chiyo wrote:It's not a matter of whether I feel "worthy" of being remembered, all 6 billion people who are on the planet right now are "worth" being remembered, but it's a fact that 100 years, 200 years, 300 years from now - only a fraction of us will, in fact, be remembered. And that thought, frankly, just does not bother me. I'm at peace with it. I don't need a granite tombstone or a bust of my face on my grave. I don't need to be remembered.

Really well stated Chiyo.

It's still a weird thought to me.

For years I just assumed I'd be remembered... I assumed that there was something unique to my life; a point. Then to have to eyes open; to detatch from things like 'success'/'failure'... status.... labels... we'll, it's alltogether natural and yet very weird to me.

But maybe this is why I like hiking. Trees don't go around trying to prove their worth. They just are. One day they won't be -- and though their lives eventually create new lives... sapplings don't necessarily give credit to their nurse-logs.

I spent the vast majority of my childhood up in trees... During summer weekends, when my father would comb the campground looking for me, he would tell my mother; "Look up in the trees..." He knew me so well. Shoot, I would even fall asleep up in the "arms" of a maple tree that stood in our back yard.

Sakhaiva wrote: