Word of wisdom in Non-Abrahamic Faiths

[Samael_Khan]

A convo I have had with @stvdv has inspired me to create this thread.

Lets hear words of wisdom that has changed your outlook on life in a positive way. Hopefully this can provide us with gems that can enlighten us.

I am excluding those of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths because those are the faiths I am surrounded by on a daily basis and don't reflect my own beliefs.

I will start with words from my Sifu:

When asked how my day is going, i should rather say:

"Better than yesterday, not as good as tomorrow"

Because whatever effort we put in today means that we will have improved by tomorrow, so we will be better.

He also says:

" Pain is weakness leaving the body".

With regards to exercise and effort in general this refers to whatever pain we suffer during exercise or improving ourselves, is a sign that we are getting stronger. If we don't feel pain then we aren't improving.

When it comes to pain that isn't due to effort, the pain that shows us that something is wrong, is an indicator that we need to change our course or go to a doctor.

Excited to hear your words of wisdom

@VoidCat

 

[stvdv]

I asked my Guru:
"I feel no Love (capitalized)"
He replied:
"Love your Feeling"
I thought:
"I feel sjit"

realization: I need to "Love my sjit"

 

[Samael_Khan]

I asked my Guru:
"I feel no Love (capitalized)"
He replied:
"Love your Feeling"
I thought:
"I feel sjit"

realization: I need to "Love my sjit"

Your sjit comes from you. So love yourself and what you produce.

Thats an interesting experience. I think that if we rely on love from external sources then we are in for disappointment. We have to learn to love ourselves first. The light of love must shine from us and onto others. When others receive that light they will love the source in return. Just like we love the sun.

 

[Samael_Khan]

From a Tool song called "Parabol/Parabola"

"This body, this body holding me
Be my reminder here that I am not alone in
This body, this body holding me
Feeling eternal, all this pain is an illusion"

Reminds me of my Sifu's quote.

 

[Debater Slayer]

This part of the Bhaddekaratta Sutta (reformatted from the link for readability):

"You shouldn't chase after the past or place expectations on the future.

What is past is left behind. The future is as yet unreached.

Whatever quality is present you clearly see right there, right there."

MN 133 MahāKaccāna Bhaddekaratta Sutta | Mahā Kaccāna & the Auspicious Day

Theravada Buddhist Sutta from the Pāli Canon

www.dhammatalks.org

 

[Samael_Khan]

This part of the Bhaddekaratta Sutta (reformatted from the link for readability):

MN 133 MahāKaccāna Bhaddekaratta Sutta | Mahā Kaccāna & the Auspicious Day

Theravada Buddhist Sutta from the Pāli Canon

www.dhammatalks.org

This paragraph is quite thought provoking in its full context. Focus on what can be done today rather than tomorrow because we don't know what will happen, even death may happen.

Maybe it is the case that too much focus on the past and future causes endless procrastination. Which is an issue that I have. It causes me not to enjoy doing what i need to do. One thing i like about working my body during martial arts is that it forces me to focus on the present and endd up I enjoying it.

 

[VoidCat]

Be fluid. Adapt

 

[Jedster]

@Samael_Khan

I think there is a jewel inside of every one of us.

This poem by Kabir expresses that.

Hiding in this cage
of visible matter

is the invisible
life bird*

pay attention
to her

she is singing
your song

*A "life bird" is a species that a birder has seen and identified in the wild for the very first time in their life.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

These are humanist principles, but they're seen elsewhere:

• Learn all you can (through experience, training, and formal education).
• Moderate desire.
• Be good for goodness sake, which mostly means be kind and just without expectation of reward.
• Have integrity, which mostly means be honest and dependable.

More can be said, such as be courageous, save, moderate intoxicants, embrace reason, kindness includes to animals, protect nature, etc., but I wanted to keep the list simple, and many of these are extensions of the four bullet points above.

 

[Samael_Khan]

Be fluid. Adapt

Reminds me of whaat Bruce Lee said:

"Be like water my friend".

Is there any specific aspect of your spirituality that emphasises this?

 

[Samael_Khan]

@Samael_Khan

I think there is a jewel inside of every one of us.

This poem by Kabir expresses that.

Hiding in this cage
of visible matter

is the invisible
life bird*

pay attention
to her

she is singing
your song

*A "life bird" is a species that a birder has seen and identified in the wild for the very first time in their life.

This is a beautiful poem. It really resonates with me. Thank you.

 

[VoidCat]

Reminds me of whaat Bruce Lee said:

"Be like water my friend".

Is there any specific aspect of your spirituality that emphasises this?

One aspect is mental shapeshifting, but I don't suggest that for everyone.

 

[Samael_Khan]

These are humanist principles, but they're seen elsewhere:

• Learn all you can (through experience, training, and formal education).
• Moderate desire.
• Be good for goodness sake, which mostly means be kind and just without expectation of reward.
• Have integrity, which mostly means be honest and dependable.

More can be said, such as be courageous, save, moderate intoxicants, embrace reason, kindness includes to animals, protect nature, etc., but I wanted to keep the list simple, and many of these are extensions of the four bullet points above.

These are great principles! They are good for individuals and for society.

 

[Samael_Khan]

One aspect is mental shapeshifting, but I don't suggest that for everyone.

What is mental shapeshifting? I am only aware of shapeshifting of the physical form.

 

[VoidCat]

What is mental shapeshifting? I am only aware of shapeshifting of the physical form.

Think someone dressing up as an animal and trying to embody the traits of that animal. Sometimes your mind can actually change and be more animalistic in trance. Sometimes you can get phantom limbs of said animal as well. Physically you can't change into another animal but mentally you can became similar in behavior and such of said animal.

 

[Samael_Khan]

Think someone dressing up as an animal and trying to embody the traits of that animal. Sometimes your mind can actually change and be more animalistic in trance. Sometimes you can get phantom limbs of said animal as well. Physically you can't change into another animal but mentally you can became similar in behavior and such of said animal.

Ah I see. I think I have heard of something very similar of Sangomas, traditional healers and such in Africa who go into a trance and attain traits of animals. So in this sense your quote about being fluid applies? How does the quote help you in life with regards to the explanation of dressing up as animal you just gave?

 

[VoidCat]

Ah I see. I think I have heard of something very similar of Sangomas, traditional healers and such in Africa who go into a trance and attain traits of animals. So in this sense your quote about being fluid applies? How does the quote help you in life with regards to the explanation of dressing up as animal you just gave?

That was just one example i could think of off the top of my head. Here's the main thing- mind is adaptable. My spirituality has a lot of stretching the mind to adapt. Mental shapeshifting is just one way to stretch your mind and ability over it. I'll add tho sometimes it has practical effects. I've managed to shift in day to day life not just in trance. Usually unintentionally. Like when working with kids I got this weird sensation of my ears and eyes being more focused and I kept picturing a lioness with wings in my mind. I think Bastet lent me some help. It was such a weird sensation it's not like my eyes got more sharper but I just got more focused while the sensation lasted that it seemed sharper my eye sight did. I know it doesnt sound believable but you don't have to believe me.

 

[Samael_Khan]

That was just one example i could think of off the top of my head. Here's the main thing- mind is adaptable. My spirituality has a lot of stretching the mind to adapt. Mental shapeshifting is just one way to stretch your mind and ability over it. I'll add tho sometimes it has practical effects. I've managed to shift in day to day life not just in trance. Usually unintentionally. Like when working with kids I got this weird sensation of my ears and eyes being more focused and I kept picturing a lioness with wings in my mind. I think Bastet lent me some help. It was such a weird sensation it's not like my eyes got more sharper but I just got more focused while the sensation lasted that it seemed sharper my eye sight did. I know it doesnt sound believable but you don't have to believe me.

This is so interesting and seems very useful in fact. Hope it helps you more and more in life.

So why wouldn't you suggest this for everyone?

 

[VoidCat]

This is so interesting and seems very useful in fact. Hope it helps you more and more in life.

So why wouldn't you suggest this for everyone?

Two reasons. One: To get your mind that fluid in a safe way you usually need a mentor and it can take years. Decades even. Some people can get this fluid mentally in order to shapeshift without a mentor and without that much training but...its from trauma or mental illness. And you likely would need constant therapy to be mentally stable. The latter is my case. Trauma made my mind this adaptable and fluid. The second reason is some folk this type of thing would be unhealthy for. Sometimes it's OK to be rigid.


There's other ways to stretch and change your mind to.learn to adapt and be resilent without risking your mental health.

 

[Samael_Khan]

Two reasons. One: To get your mind that fluid in a safe way you usually need a mentor and it can take years. Decades even. Some people can get this fluid mentally in order to shapeshift without a mentor and without that much training but...its from trauma or mental illness. And you likely would need constant therapy to be mentally stable. The latter is my case. Trauma made my mind this adaptable and fluid. The second reason is some folk this type of thing would be unhealthy for. Sometimes it's OK to be rigid.


There's other ways to stretch and change your mind to.learn to adapt and be resilent without risking your mental health.

I see... thanks for the understanding. I am glad it helps you so much though and you are passing this wisdom on to us. Much appreciated.