What are we doing on TV?

[pigeonjake]

i havnt got time to sit about waiting,,,

i get on and do,,

jake

[weegee]

If I sit around all day....no one will mow the lawn.

[louse1953]

i am waiting for someone to close this topic...

Ah true to form James.

I refer you to the 5th amendment on the basis that if you cannot add anything to this thread you may well be better off keeping quiet and letting others get on with it or let it finish itself with lack of interest or no replies.

I just needed to say that in answer to your rather terse and dismissive post but of course I welcome any insight that you have on why free discussion should be so severely censored or where you just having a little dig James to maybe jog my memory ?

On the other hand, does James protesteth too much I ask myself ?

Maybe like me and maybe many others on here who are spending their twilight years in a culture so remote and different from their own, do ask of themselves from time to time what are we really doing with our lives and what is coming next?

My post albeit written in a mildly merry state was as a result of the life experiences that I have had and at my age am still looking for some answers to questions, the origins of I have mostly forgotten.

In other words I know the answer but have forgotten the question.

Hoping that there would be a plethora of old timers/hands, amateur psychologists, religious people on here who have managed to live with the fact that they are in the waiting room for the next life and whom have come to terms with the rather short odds of seeing out the next decade, I thought it practical to write a thread asking for some help in dealing with old age, its many problems and the mindset that comes with too much time on ones hands.

I often think of a dear old Uncle who was absolutely Knackered in body and spent the last five years of his life in a bed unable to get about but in contrast to his frail body, his mind and mental abilities where fantastic.

Maybe boredom has some basis for this thread but never the less whilst still playing a little golf and still burning the Ks up on the bike, passing time on Thai Visa I still have time for my preoccupation with what is coming next or not and like the Laotian Monk maybe should just be resigned to fate and wait patiently and peacefully for this chapter to end and the next one to begin or not....and therein lies the question.

I rekon James has the most relevant post of all.

[Shaunduhpostman]

The past is gone, the future never arrives, the present can never be pinpointed… and so in the miraculous essence of what arises, we discover the vast sky and at last we are free!

[Payboy]

I'm just lurking here waiting to pounce on anyone who has an opinion different to mine.

[marko kok prong]

Well the last 2 posts certainly have tried to turn this topic around. While well-thought-out and I applaud the use of important sounding words like 'cathartic' and 'impermanence', the real question that needs answering is this...

Should one drink single malts and post on TV? TB or not TB, this is the question, consumption be done about it?

I am trying to stop myself posting on here when i have been drinking,as i always seem to get in trouble.

[AYJAYDEE]

Is this similar to ambien writing, where later you ask "I posted what?" (I've done that with ambien and Amazon shopping).

The overall topic of the OP, if there is one, would have to be what the monk said. "...waiting to die." There's actually nothing monkish, brilliant, advanced in spiritual reasoing, or even remotely penetrating about this statement. Perhaps contemplating death in its varied forms is a cathartic, and the "risen" again sense we have is constructive- helps us deeply grasp impermanence; but this is not "waiting to die." I'd suggest your monk friend is not advanced for his years but rather childish. Anyone who is healthy that announced they are only waiting to die does not reveal a sage pearl, they reveal an apathy and preoccupation with a matter that clearly runs contrary to their faith's goal or intending what matters. I don't think any thoughtful monk or laymen would think it even suggested wisdom.

perhaps he meant he was waiting to die to self as selflessness is the ultimate goal. when one realizes that selflessness then dukkha is at an end as is samsara.

[balo]

To make it more exiting than the monk .

I am waiting to have sex before I die . In Thailand you never know what comes first .

[wooloomooloo]

“My friend I am simply waiting to die”

Amazing what just a few minutes of talking to you can do to a man, Harvey.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Seastallion]

Is this similar to ambien writing, where later you ask "I posted what?" (I've done that with ambien and Amazon shopping).

The overall topic of the OP, if there is one, would have to be what the monk said. "...waiting to die." There's actually nothing monkish, brilliant, advanced in spiritual reasoing, or even remotely penetrating about this statement. Perhaps contemplating death in its varied forms is a cathartic, and the "risen" again sense we have is constructive- helps us deeply grasp impermanence; but this is not "waiting to die." I'd suggest your monk friend is not advanced for his years but rather childish. Anyone who is healthy that announced they are only waiting to die does not reveal a sage pearl, they reveal an apathy and preoccupation with a matter that clearly runs contrary to their faith's goal or intending what matters. I don't think any thoughtful monk or laymen would think it even suggested wisdom.

I agree with all you say. However, it struck me that the Monk repents a VERY bad past and looks forward to his death as he considers he deserves death, but also feels he deserves to wait for release from the wrack of guilt as punishment.

[Seastallion]

Well the last 2 posts certainly have tried to turn this topic around. While well-thought-out and I applaud the use of important sounding words like 'cathartic' and 'impermanence', the real question that needs answering is this...

Should one drink single malts and post on TV? TB or not TB, this is the question, consumption be done about it?

TB, consumption......nice one.

I think there should be a private forum on TV exclusively for single malt drinkers and other various connoisseurs and gastronomes, and that the norm is to post only when you have imbibed.

Unfortunately it rules me out because I rarely can afford a nice single malt and usually stick to my cheap bourbon.

[arjunadawn]

Is this similar to ambien writing, where later you ask "I posted what?" (I've done that with ambien and Amazon shopping).

The overall topic of the OP, if there is one, would have to be what the monk said. "...waiting to die." There's actually nothing monkish, brilliant, advanced in spiritual reasoing, or even remotely penetrating about this statement. Perhaps contemplating death in its varied forms is a cathartic, and the "risen" again sense we have is constructive- helps us deeply grasp impermanence; but this is not "waiting to die." I'd suggest your monk friend is not advanced for his years but rather childish. Anyone who is healthy that announced they are only waiting to die does not reveal a sage pearl, they reveal an apathy and preoccupation with a matter that clearly runs contrary to their faith's goal or intending what matters. I don't think any thoughtful monk or laymen would think it even suggested wisdom.

I agree with all you say. However, it struck me that the Monk repents a VERY bad past and looks forward to his death as he considers he deserves death, but also feels he deserves to wait for release from the wrack of guilt as punishment.

Maybe. It's just I have also had a past that is horrific and I can attest waiting to die is no way to either do penance or atone. Another poster here invited me to another point of view- maybe that was you- getting old- and sure, I may have missed the monks intent. I just believe that what we have done wrong in life can be atoned for immediately by affirmation and intention. Whether karma works it's wheel in this life or the next we cannot know, and if our aim was to manipulate that karmic wheel, it would be a mercenary motive, evidencing we've hardly turned any corner in our behavior. I think, instead, the monk should be waiting to live every moment.

[troysantos]

For what it's worth, I thank you for starting this thread. Nothing better than genuine interest in something to motivate / invigorate / inspire us. Keeps flames going. Until, for whatever reason, there's no more interest. I applaud you, sorry don't know your name, for the thread and I encourage you to keep an open mind to this question. What in hell are you here for anyway? I ask myself this question often. It appears spontaneously, and it sparks wonder in me, as well as stimulating me to keep wondering. I do believe there are people who don't have any interest in this question anymore, because they've got it at a deep level, not some answer coming from reasoning and logic, or because they believe what they've heard or read. As for your monk friend, who knows, he may really have realized why he gets up every day, maybe not ... many monks have studied a lot, and have learned answers like that from their studies.

Heard or read any cool Zen books lately? Or anything in any non-dual tradition? Very very cool stuff, in my opinion. I do believe that 'tis a good idea to not believe in any of it

Your very post can be taken as an inquiry. For some people, inquiry is a core part of spiritual practice.

One thing that seems to pop up in me often is acceptance. I'll often ask myself if I accept what's occuring in any moment. Usually the thing I'm accepting or rejecting is a sensation. All our senses create a sensation that I either like or dislike. To accept, to me, means to be neutral towards the sensations. Seems this acceptance is not something I can will, or intend, nor force!

So, I'm curious ... what are you waiting for? Why get up each morning? My dad is 84 years old and not doing so well anymore. I often wonder what's left for him. Ideally, we have something that really inspires us to get up each morning, really interested in what's happening.

One final comment. In response to: "I think, instead, the monk should be waiting to live every moment." ... I suppose upon reflection you'd reword this statement to something like "living every moment" ... no?

[dotpoom]

The way to achieve peace and contentment is to make peace with the present moment.

[AYJAYDEE]

For what it's worth, I thank you for starting this thread. Nothing better than genuine interest in something to motivate / invigorate / inspire us. Keeps flames going. Until, for whatever reason, there's no more interest. I applaud you, sorry don't know your name, for the thread and I encourage you to keep an open mind to this question. What in hell are you here for anyway? I ask myself this question often. It appears spontaneously, and it sparks wonder in me, as well as stimulating me to keep wondering. I do believe there are people who don't have any interest in this question anymore, because they've got it at a deep level, not some answer coming from reasoning and logic, or because they believe what they've heard or read. As for your monk friend, who knows, he may really have realized why he gets up every day, maybe not ... many monks have studied a lot, and have learned answers like that from their studies.

Heard or read any cool Zen books lately? Or anything in any non-dual tradition? Very very cool stuff, in my opinion. I do believe that 'tis a good idea to not believe in any of it

Your very post can be taken as an inquiry. For some people, inquiry is a core part of spiritual practice.

One thing that seems to pop up in me often is acceptance. I'll often ask myself if I accept what's occuring in any moment. Usually the thing I'm accepting or rejecting is a sensation. All our senses create a sensation that I either like or dislike. To accept, to me, means to be neutral towards the sensations. Seems this acceptance is not something I can will, or intend, nor force!

So, I'm curious ... what are you waiting for? Why get up each morning? My dad is 84 years old and not doing so well anymore. I often wonder what's left for him. Ideally, we have something that really inspires us to get up each morning, really interested in what's happening.

One final comment. In response to: "I think, instead, the monk should be waiting to live every moment." ... I suppose upon reflection you'd reword this statement to something like "living every moment" ... no?

you get up each morning in order to learn more

[n210mp]

For what it's worth, I thank you for starting this thread. Nothing better than genuine interest in something to motivate / invigorate / inspire us. Keeps flames going. Until, for whatever reason, there's no more interest. I applaud you, sorry don't know your name, for the thread and I encourage you to keep an open mind to this question. What in hell are you here for anyway? I ask myself this question often. It appears spontaneously, and it sparks wonder in me, as well as stimulating me to keep wondering. I do believe there are people who don't have any interest in this question anymore, because they've got it at a deep level, not some answer coming from reasoning and logic, or because they believe what they've heard or read. As for your monk friend, who knows, he may really have realized why he gets up every day, maybe not ... many monks have studied a lot, and have learned answers like that from their studies.

Heard or read any cool Zen books lately? Or anything in any non-dual tradition? Very very cool stuff, in my opinion. I do believe that 'tis a good idea to not believe in any of it

Your very post can be taken as an inquiry. For some people, inquiry is a core part of spiritual practice.

One thing that seems to pop up in me often is acceptance. I'll often ask myself if I accept what's occuring in any moment. Usually the thing I'm accepting or rejecting is a sensation. All our senses create a sensation that I either like or dislike. To accept, to me, means to be neutral towards the sensations. Seems this acceptance is not something I can will, or intend, nor force!

So, I'm curious ... what are you waiting for? Why get up each morning? My dad is 84 years old and not doing so well anymore. I often wonder what's left for him. Ideally, we have something that really inspires us to get up each morning, really interested in what's happening.

One final comment. In response to: "I think, instead, the monk should be waiting to live every moment." ... I suppose upon reflection you'd reword this statement to something like "living every moment" ... no?

Thanks for an interesting and informative reply, just the response I was looking for.

There seems to be some confusion, about my OP which in all honesty I expected.

There would be those who would knock it and be dismissive.

There would be those who would assume that I have suicidal tendencies or maybe a morbid interest in death

There would be those who interpreted it as the mindset of a bored old fogey perhaps feeling sorry for himself with too much time on his hands, who should be grateful for being healthy and able to live the dream and so on and so forth.

I felt that there was some truth in all of the very mixed responses, even Trevor’s and BKKJames and I am grateful for all of them because they show another point of view, another mindset , different than mine but still with relative credibility.

But your post hit the nail firmly on the head and you knew what I was getting at or asking about and possibly like me have gone up many cul de sacs in your lifetime in a search for the meaning of life and the credibility of the diverse religions and cults that abound so abundantly

Maybe the onset of a deteriating physical state makes some older men more sensitive to what is coming for them in their winter years but in truth I have always been a “searcher” and now that I am in the end year of my “three score years and ten” I am, like the Monk waiting for signs or symptoms that I am on my way out of this mortal coil. maybe with a different mindset than the Monk but never the less looking forward with some real enthusiasm to either total nothing or indeed the next chapter.

Just to formalise or even mitigate my words which some on here may feel are the ideas of a crack pot, let me say I have had a fantastic life, lovely wife, great kids, all my dreams attained.

But as the saying goes there has to be a little rainfall in our lives, in my case a helluva storm when I have lost close family loved ones (Kids) and know the emotions of being bereft and the loneliness of grief, yes there have been bad times but all in all a great life and now with all of my ambitions and dreams fulfilled and in common with my friend the Laotian Monk I am waiting for the next chapter to begin or not as the case maybe.

You raise some valid questions and thoughts and yes I agree that it is "Acceptance" that will logically dominate instead of entering all those damned mental cul de sacs but never the less as a Human I am not robotic and can't evade the challenge of free thought and inquiry, maybe that is what old men do best eh?

[AYJAYDEE]

For what it's worth, I thank you for starting this thread. Nothing better than genuine interest in something to motivate / invigorate / inspire us. Keeps flames going. Until, for whatever reason, there's no more interest. I applaud you, sorry don't know your name, for the thread and I encourage you to keep an open mind to this question. What in hell are you here for anyway? I ask myself this question often. It appears spontaneously, and it sparks wonder in me, as well as stimulating me to keep wondering. I do believe there are people who don't have any interest in this question anymore, because they've got it at a deep level, not some answer coming from reasoning and logic, or because they believe what they've heard or read. As for your monk friend, who knows, he may really have realized why he gets up every day, maybe not ... many monks have studied a lot, and have learned answers like that from their studies.

Heard or read any cool Zen books lately? Or anything in any non-dual tradition? Very very cool stuff, in my opinion. I do believe that 'tis a good idea to not believe in any of it

Your very post can be taken as an inquiry. For some people, inquiry is a core part of spiritual practice.

One thing that seems to pop up in me often is acceptance. I'll often ask myself if I accept what's occuring in any moment. Usually the thing I'm accepting or rejecting is a sensation. All our senses create a sensation that I either like or dislike. To accept, to me, means to be neutral towards the sensations. Seems this acceptance is not something I can will, or intend, nor force!

So, I'm curious ... what are you waiting for? Why get up each morning? My dad is 84 years old and not doing so well anymore. I often wonder what's left for him. Ideally, we have something that really inspires us to get up each morning, really interested in what's happening.

One final comment. In response to: "I think, instead, the monk should be waiting to live every moment." ... I suppose upon reflection you'd reword this statement to something like "living every moment" ... no?

Thanks for an interesting and informative reply, just the response I was looking for.

There seems to be some confusion, about my OP which in all honesty I expected.

There would be those who would knock it and be dismissive.

There would be those who would assume that I have suicidal tendencies or maybe a morbid interest in death

There would be those who interpreted it as the mindset of a bored old fogey perhaps feeling sorry for himself with too much time on his hands, who should be grateful for being healthy and able to live the dream and so on and so forth.

I felt that there was some truth in all of the very mixed responses, even Trevor’s and BKKJames and I am grateful for all of them because they show another point of view, another mindset , different than mine but still with relative credibility.

But your post hit the nail firmly on the head and you knew what I was getting at or asking about and possibly like me have gone up many cul de sacs in your lifetime in a search for the meaning of life and the credibility of the diverse religions and cults that abound so abundantly

Maybe the onset of a deteriating physical state makes some older men more sensitive to what is coming for them in their winter years but in truth I have always been a “searcher” and now that I am in the end year of my “three score years and ten” I am, like the Monk waiting for signs or symptoms that I am on my way out of this mortal coil. maybe with a different mindset than the Monk but never the less looking forward with some real enthusiasm to either total nothing or indeed the next chapter.

Just to formalise or even mitigate my words which some on here may feel are the ideas of a crack pot, let me say I have had a fantastic life, lovely wife, great kids, all my dreams attained.

But as the saying goes there has to be a little rainfall in our lives, in my case a helluva storm when I have lost close family loved ones (Kids) and know the emotions of being bereft and the loneliness of grief, yes there have been bad times but all in all a great life and now with all of my ambitions and dreams fulfilled and in common with my friend the Laotian Monk I am waiting for the next chapter to begin or not as the case maybe.

how you spend the time you have left will affect the next chapter. get busy

[n210mp]

Well what with the early morning bike rides, the garden, the bit of cheap golf that I indulge myself I dont have much spare time left to keep busy.

But I guess you understood that and meant from a purely philosophical point of view, hence my sojourn on Thai Visa where I try to get the answers.

PS Didn't get time to edit my previous post before you had answered it

[ableguy]

The OP has a nice turn of phrase. In vino veritas, and I wonder if he overly exerted himself today or got slightly dehydrated as it is only his 3rd whiskey.

Myself, insomnia from a toothache has brought me downstairs to open the laptop. Common sense says take one Panadol plus one Neurofen, and go back to bed. I do the first, but wash them down with a bourbon and milk, and do not do the second.

I crave sleep but resist the urge to take more drugs. Perhaps another bourbon? But it's 5 am! Out of principle I can't. Besides, Wifey is up now and I should make her breakfast (she is currently the bread-winner).

Lets see what happens after she leaves for work.

try visit a dentist bro, instant relief then drink your bourbon for pleasure not need.

[marko kok prong]

Is this similar to ambien writing, where later you ask "I posted what?" (I've done that with ambien and Amazon shopping).

The overall topic of the OP, if there is one, would have to be what the monk said. "...waiting to die." There's actually nothing monkish, brilliant, advanced in spiritual reasoing, or even remotely penetrating about this statement. Perhaps contemplating death in its varied forms is a cathartic, and the "risen" again sense we have is constructive- helps us deeply grasp impermanence; but this is not "waiting to die." I'd suggest your monk friend is not advanced for his years but rather childish. Anyone who is healthy that announced they are only waiting to die does not reveal a sage pearl, they reveal an apathy and preoccupation with a matter that clearly runs contrary to their faith's goal or intending what matters. I don't think any thoughtful monk or laymen would think it even suggested wisdom.

I agree with all you say. However, it struck me that the Monk repents a VERY bad past and looks forward to his death as he considers he deserves death, but also feels he deserves to wait for release from the wrack of guilt as punishment.

Maybe. It's just I have also had a past that is horrific and I can attest waiting to die is no way to either do penance or atone. Another poster here invited me to another point of view- maybe that was you- getting old- and sure, I may have missed the monks intent. I just believe that what we have done wrong in life can be atoned for immediately by affirmation and intention. Whether karma works it's wheel in this life or the next we cannot know, and if our aim was to manipulate that karmic wheel, it would be a mercenary motive, evidencing we've hardly turned any corner in our behavior. I think, instead, the monk should be waiting to live every moment.

Horrific past,was that when you stood on one of your crystals?

[arjunadawn]

Is this similar to ambien writing, where later you ask "I posted what?" (I've done that with ambien and Amazon shopping).

The overall topic of the OP, if there is one, would have to be what the monk said. "...waiting to die." There's actually nothing monkish, brilliant, advanced in spiritual reasoing, or even remotely penetrating about this statement. Perhaps contemplating death in its varied forms is a cathartic, and the "risen" again sense we have is constructive- helps us deeply grasp impermanence; but this is not "waiting to die." I'd suggest your monk friend is not advanced for his years but rather childish. Anyone who is healthy that announced they are only waiting to die does not reveal a sage pearl, they reveal an apathy and preoccupation with a matter that clearly runs contrary to their faith's goal or intending what matters. I don't think any thoughtful monk or laymen would think it even suggested wisdom.

I agree with all you say. However, it struck me that the Monk repents a VERY bad past and looks forward to his death as he considers he deserves death, but also feels he deserves to wait for release from the wrack of guilt as punishment.

Maybe. It's just I have also had a past that is horrific and I can attest waiting to die is no way to either do penance or atone. Another poster here invited me to another point of view- maybe that was you- getting old- and sure, I may have missed the monks intent. I just believe that what we have done wrong in life can be atoned for immediately by affirmation and intention. Whether karma works it's wheel in this life or the next we cannot know, and if our aim was to manipulate that karmic wheel, it would be a mercenary motive, evidencing we've hardly turned any corner in our behavior. I think, instead, the monk should be waiting to live every moment.

Horrific past,was that when you stood on one of your crystals?

I've noted this before regarding TV: every so often someone so simple minded (that they cloak their ignorance in humor or sarcasm) joins a conversation with no more ambition than... well, than to spew drivel. It's clearly the cliche where it's better to be thought stupid then to open your [mouth] and prove it's true. Yet, jackassery provides context- improves the ability to enjoy the posters here who actually have an original thought.

Really? You read through the many posts on a dated thread regarding themes of cosmology, karma, and Buddhist tenets only to post some childish ad hominen attack on a poster? I think you should remain at the small table for the holidays. You should never enter an intellectual battlefield with the tools you've previously relied on; clearly they fail you!

[benalibina]

[n210mp]

"Really? You read through the many posts on a dated thread regarding themes of cosmology, karma, and Buddhist tenets only to post some childish ad hominen attack on a poster? I think you should remain at the small table for the holidays. You should never enter an intellectual battlefield with the tools you've previously relied on; clearly they fail you! "

What a great slap on the nuckles/Putdown and so succinctly encapsulated in a single paragraph.

must be the best bit of un-malicious sarcasm that t have witnessed for a while.

Hats off to you venerable arjunadawn