Author Topic: Caring, Clinging and Christmas... from the Grinch...  (Read 712 times)

Jed McKenna

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Caring, Clinging and Christmas... from the Grinch...
« on: December 26, 2020, 01:38:09 am »
Dear Guys and Gals, Students and Lurkers, Posters and anyone who comes this way:

From the age of five or six, about the time I learned that there was no Santa, I have been immersed in the standard lies of society…. and I knew it. I couldn’t express it well, and that was probably a good thing, so I mostly kept my mouth shut. I never got answers to any of my questions so I gave up asking but the questions didn’t go away. Eventually I realized that those folks ‘out there’ were more lost than I was, as evidence by their apparent lack of questions. I figured that when questions stop, learning stops… and most adults seemed to qualify.

Given a couple of decades, I realized that there was only one place that any answers could be found, in me. By examining that ‘me’, I came to the conclusion that there was one fundamental lie, only one. From there on out, everything that followed was, ispo facto, also a lie. How could it be any other way?

This foundational lie is not overt, it is covert, a lie of omission. As such, it is quite insidious and a real challenge to face head on. My conclusion was that this human appearance was a dream with a beginning and an end, and was therefore only real to the degree that I (we) think it is. Everything that has a beginning must have an ending and thus my naming it the ‘Lie of Permanence’.

How can one enjoy life after realizing that it is based on such a lie? Turn that around… how can one enjoy life while thinking it is permanent… real and substantial while everything arising and falling continually reminds them of it's impermanence. Would you enjoy a life that was totally permanent? Would you really want to live forever in your human form?

If you are upset or fearful of the thought of impermanence, that response is impermanent as well. You will not be feeling the same in a little while. You will have forgotten your concern and turned back to thoughts about the cold coffee you were just served, or the warm beer, or ‘fill in the blank’.

While your concerns, loves and hates, etc. all appear substantial and important in the moment, the key is that it is only ‘in the moment’. They soon disappear or morph into your next concern. Where is the permanence? Mommy, Daddy and Santa will all disappear eventually. My answer was ‘I can’t find any’. But, I didn’t stop with that one negative assertion, I went deeper, much deeper.

Most of you have a pretty good idea of what I am pointing at, so what is the point of my pointing? How about this: why not match and mirror the rather obvious nature of this dream while you appear absorbed in it? Could it make things go a little easier? Perhaps lighten up your experiences? I’m sure you can guess my answer, but it’s your answer that matters. Do you think that if you were to use the nature of this dream as a kind of ‘tour guide’ you might have a freer, more wondrous experience? Perhaps even welcome or seek change.

Here is a thought, how about letting go of Christmas? Some of you have really enjoyed past Christmases while others have found them to be rather tedious, insincere and even fractious to the family. In either case, there is an impermanent to that experiences, as there is to all experiences. Letting go of Christmas, or anything else, doesn't mean hating it, ignoring it or rejecting it. Letting to of anything is not about that. You know what it's about... well, you probably know by now.

Could it be that all events are meaningless, impermanent and unimportant? Remember, your conclusions and answers are what matter, even though I am not-so-subtly pointing you in a particular direction, I also push you towards your own observations and conclusions.

Back to my title of this rant: Caring, Clinging and Christmas. In my experience, there is a powerful distinction lying therein. Let me know your thoughts on it and if I get too ‘Grinchy’, you can just chalk it up to old age.

Much love and best wishes to you and your family. Stay healthy and safe.

Love ya, Jed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu2RqvKVwxQ&feature=youtu.be

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zd15

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Re: Caring, Clinging and Christmas... from the Grinch...
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2020, 05:12:02 am »
Thank you,Jed. Happy new year!

KATHRYN

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Re: Caring, Clinging and Christmas... from the Grinch...
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2020, 10:35:39 am »
“Love, sex, food, friendship, art, play, beauty and the simple pleasure of a cup of tea are all well and good, but never forget that God/the universe is determined to kill you by whatever means necessary” (Chuck Lorre Productions, #337).

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!!!
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KATHRYN

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Re: Caring, Clinging and Christmas... from the Grinch...
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2020, 10:37:50 pm »
Caring=giving real consideration to What is real? and What, if anything, is Really important?

Clinging=ignorance of reality, grasping at straws, fear, holding on for that dear life that you know has an expiration date, holding on to anything that smacks of permanence, like the “after-life,” in any of its various presentations.

Christmas=a fairy tale. Yet, as my character is a Christian, one who does not, however, believe in, nor celebrate, per se, Christmas, I do like the idea of Emmanuel, “God with us.” Very intriguing idea, the Logos becoming flesh and dwelling amongst us. I also bought a small festive rosemary bush and decorated it with fairy lights. The Pagans had great ideas on how to make the darker and colder winter days more cheery and magical.

I would refer you to the poem: The World Is Too Much with Us by William Wordsworth that captures my sentiment on caring, clinging, and Christmas most perfectly.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45564/the-world-is-too-much-with-us

Parsley

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Re: Caring, Clinging and Christmas... from the Grinch...
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2020, 11:15:56 am »
I like the words and the thought of letting go of christmas. Yes, why not? Do I feel an attachment if I get in touch with this possibility? Thay may be an invitation to go deep into it, to feel the ache, to release a clinging that may obstruct this life. What is so special about christmas? In a song I heard: "Let there be christmas every day".

abranpaso

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Re: Caring, Clinging and Christmas... from the Grinch...
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2020, 08:18:04 pm »
Letting go of christmas?
it sound to me like let it be,  let it do what it wants, like with the rain, strong rain with thunder
and lightning, enjoy the show, not envolved with it, only seeing what is hapening, not
expecting nothing, if there is thunder, good, if not, is also good.

Match and mirror conciousness: only there watching, without any expectation.
In this Christmas witness the strange traditions of these people I call my family.
Only seeing, and maybe doing that, I can see its real beauty.
« Last Edit: December 30, 2020, 10:12:27 am by abranpaso »

Parsley

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Re: Caring, Clinging and Christmas... from the Grinch...
« Reply #6 on: December 31, 2020, 05:57:34 am »
Fascinating, how these words are some kind of answer to a post that this I wrote somewhere else.
Thank you, Jed! Thank you, true nature.

This morning the "tour guide" leads me to this:
What if to show interest in meaning, permanence and importance is missing the point? What if this just leads to a burdened life and the only good thing about this is to let it go and enjoy to live without this burden which would not be possible without the experience of such a nightmare?
(A quote from the trilogy: "What is good about leaving prison? Not to be in prison anymore!")

anthropisces

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Re: Caring, Clinging and Christmas... from the Grinch...
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2021, 12:57:31 pm »
This dream character, this I, this one that is going under the handle of Anthropisces here- it sees through the false messages of of the society.

According to the dominant culture this I has to fight to survive. I tried that in several areas of life and it holds nothing of interest to me. I'm recognizing this as a perfect way for me to do myself in; suicide by not fighting what comes my way.  I'm not saying that I won't walk the path that's plain before me, I might even run down that path. But pulling out my machete and fighting through the brush? no more for this one.

So far its been a decidedly tranquil non-effort compared to swimming against the current. What's more-I still seem to have sandwiches coming my way, I've been sheltered, warm, and have received a different type of warmth from both dogs and humans. There's still fat around this waistline, still heaps of material wealth all around me. There's no small egoic plan for how things "ought to turn out", no such defense against miracles is up these days.

This awareness has gone through the portal, and watched ego try to approach, like a plume of leaves caught in an autumn wind and then falling to the ground when that gust suddenly dies.

Jed McKenna said he'd both dropped his ego but yet still had one-after all he needed something to wear on this stage.

I've come to half-expect a rebuttal here, there, everywhere to something this ego says. That's the way of this place. It can sweep me up and burn me at the stake as it often does. Elevate me, burn me, its all the same stage.

Anyway, just checkin in

Jed McKenna

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Re: Caring, Clinging and Christmas... from the Grinch...
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2021, 10:50:10 pm »
Hi Anthro:

Delighted you put the machette aside, now time to enjoy the ride.

Much love and thank you for sharing a slice of what's left of 'you'.

Jed.