Ok, read it but I don't think I can pronounce it Never heard of him but I'll have a look. First impression is he would be a good character in a Tom Robbins novel which is good hehe. Off to the real world for a nice lunch. I will be missing, presume fed.
Well, he is sort of a philosopher with his system of human development, the core of his teaching is "Everything happens. All that appears in the life of a man, all that is done through him, all that comes from him; all this happens. Man is a machine. All that he does, all his actions, his words, thoughts, feelings, convictions, opinions, habits are the result of exterior influences … popular movements, wars, revolutions, change of governments, everything happens. Man does not love, does not desire, does not hate -everything happens." "As I have said before, man's chief delusion is his conviction that he can do. All people think that they can do, all people want to do, and the first question all people ask is what they are to do. But actually nobody does anything and nobody can do anything. This is the first thing that must be understood. Everything happens. All that befalls a man, all that is done by him, all that comes from him—all this happens. And it happens in exactly the same way as rain falls as a result of a change in the temperature in the higher regions of the atmosphere or the surrounding clouds, as snow melts under the rays of the sun, as dust rises with the wind. “Man is a machine. All his deeds, actions, words, thoughts, feelings, convictions, opinions, and habits are the results of external influences, external impressions. Out of himself a man cannot produce a single thought, a single action. Everything he says, does, thinks, feels—all this happens. Man cannot discover anything, invent anything. It all happens." It only gets interesting from here. Another passage I remember related to your question from a different 'philosopher' "I have worked hard and I now consider myself a very successful man. I would be a hypocrite if I did not admit that I have a considerable amount of satisfaction and, yes, a certain amount of pride too in my achievement. Would that be wrong?" One evening a foreign visitor addressed Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj with these words. He was in his mid forties — smug, self-confident and a bit aggressive. Conversation then proceeded long the following lines: Maharaj: Before we consider what is 'right' and what is 'wrong', please tell me who is asking this question. Visitor: (A bit startled) Why, 'me', of course. M: And who is that? V: Me. This 'me', who is sitting in front of you. M: And you think that that is you? V: You see me. I see myself. Where is the doubt? M: You mean this object that is before me? What is your earliest recollection of this object that you think you are. Think as far back as you can. V: (After a minute or two) The earliest recollection would perhaps be of being caressed and cuddled by my mother. M: You mean, as a tiny infant. Would you say that the successful man of today is the same helpless infant, or is it someone else? V: It is undoubtedly the same M: Good. Now, if you think further back, would you agree that this infant, which you can recollect, is the same baby that was born to your mother, that was once too helpless even to realize what was happening when its little body was going through its natural physical functions, and could only cry when it was hungry or in pain? V: Yes, I was that baby. M: And before the baby acquired its body and was delivered what were you? V: I don't understand. M: You do understand. Think. What happened in your mother's womb? What was developing into a body with bones, blood, marrow, muscles etc., over a period of nine months? Was it not a male sperm cell that combined with ovum in the female womb thus beginning a new life and, in the process, going through numerous hazards? Who guarded this new life during this period of hazards? Is it not that very infinitesimally tiny sperm cell which is now so proud of his achievements? And who asked particularly for you? Your mother? Your father? Did they particularly want you for a son? Did you have anything to do with being born to these particular parents? V: I am afraid, I really haven't thought along these lines. M: Exactly. Do think along these lines. Then perhaps you will have some idea of your true identity. Thereafter, consider if you could possibly be proud of what you have 'achieved'. V: I think, I begin to understand what you are driving at. M: If you go deeper into the matter, you will realize that the source of the body—the male sperm and the female ovum— is in itself the essence of food consumed by the parents; that the physical form is made of, and fed by, the five elements constituting the food; and also that quite often the body of one creature does become the food for another creature V: But, surely, I, as such, must be something other than this food-body. M: Indeed you are, but not some 'thing'. Find out what it is that gives sentience to a sentient being, that without which you would not even know that you exist, let alone the world outside. And finally, go deeper yet and examine if this beingness, this consciousness itself is not time-bound. V: I shall certainly go into the various questions you have raised, although I must confess that I have never explored these areas before, and I feel almost giddy in my ignorance of the new spheres you have opened up before me. I will come and see you again, sir. M: You are always welcome. http://prahlad.org/gallery/nisargadatta/books/Nisargadatta Maharaj - ebook - Pointers from Nisargadatta - searchable.pdf
I find meditation to promote calmness, positive feeling, digestion, sleep and it can take as little as 2 min or hours (you better be comfortable). You don’t need to blank your mind you just need to let your thoughts flow through you with zero attachments. Even the hard ones to let go. Focusing on breathing, having a mantra and chanting can help produce this overwhelming calming feeling..... om
I don't think that can be done anyway. As I understand it, you can't really clear your mind, you can only fill it with something else. That's what the breath following and focus word/mantra are meant to do, so that the various thoughts and feelings that creep in from time to time are relegated to a lesser role. Regardless, I think we're on the same page.
I agree there, filling the mind with something else is what happens. I trade a scalping style mostly as it is profitable but it allows me to enter a 'flow state' where I displace day-to-day for a while and just see the flow of the market. I don't play video games but I guess trading is the same thing to wrap up my mind. I can achieve an 'empty' state but I'm not sure that is anything more than a semi-wakeful nap The days I struggle with are days where I feel fine but just have no fire. I was pestered by a mosquito last night and woke several times. Days of micro-goals.. I'm going to make some fresh thyme and lemon mayonnaise from scratch and have a really nice tuna sandwich for lunch.
Well it is was an idea. I like the handle "they" You can buy tourist tat mugs and stuff here with "It is Colombia NOT Columbia!". Trading on a meh day.. Order filled on target 1... stay with this or get to the kitchen.. Sandwich time.