A Mantra and A Story.

[The man in the mountainParticipant 4102]

There was an old man who lived in a hut. Every morning he went to the street for alms. He never complained about his situations or his struggles. He took what was given without question. One day when the old man returning from his routine saw that the hut was taken by somebody else. Somebody else was eating his food and money he had little saved. Old man with compassion went inside the hut. The young beggar asked “who are you?” wrapping his hands around the food he found, old man replied I am you but in a different body. Old man took his robes and gave it to as well. Stranger instead of looking upon this as compassion took him as a meagerly fool. The young stranger snatched the clothes of his hands and stripped the old man from head to toe and took every bit of things he had left. Is that everything you have? he asked. Old man replied humbly “when you have everything you have nothing, and when you truly have nothing left you have everything. The boy was confused. The old man smiled and said, ignorant child you are trapped in an illusion that you cant see, feel or touch and bounded by invisible chains. Unless we realize who we truly are it wont matter what you own. He added even if you become richest of riches we will always be bounded by suffering. The young beggar froze and felt that he understood a little what old man was saying. Old man chanted “Gate Gate ParaGate ParaSamGate Bodhi Svaha.”. “No treasure can compare to it, no money can buy it, no wealth can occupy it, no pleasure can satisfy it, no eyes can find it, no ears can hear it, no tongue can taste it, no hands can feel it, no mind can imagine it. Oh dear child what is this treasure? old man asked. Find this for we are born only to realize this. Young man’s illusory world shattered, face bright and awakened. Old man bowed to him, said know thy self and vanished, going, gone beyond the beyond. 

[RemovedParticipant 4676]

I was talking with a friend, someone going through a hard time as well, attempting to give him some hope for what is to come. I told him: While being judged by everyone, being told who I am, and what kind of person I was, I found myself.

I discovered that I spent all of my life living a lifestyle that people said was mine. I behaved a way that I was taught to. I had a collection of expensive watches that I didn’t wear, a collection of knickknacks that I didn’t want, games that I didn’t enjoy, music and movies that I didn’t even like. When I lost nearly everything (money, possessions, status, respect…), through divorce and some other things that happened, the result, as in this story, was that I discovered that none of that was really me.

I for the first time bought a guitar. I started reading, buying books, and began collecting a library. I started listening to classical music, Bob Dylan, and other music that I liked. I watched movies that I enjoyed. I also took my skill of cooking to a new level. I changed everything. I let go of everything that I was told I was, and I began to live a life based on who I really was.

I am nowhere near enlightenment or anything of the sort, as I am far from getting beyond the pain of my past, or figuring out how to make my life work in this crazy world, but I can see the wisdom in this story.

[The man in the mountainParticipant 4102]

Removed wrote:

I was talking with a friend, someone going through a hard time as well, attempting to give him some hope for what is to come. I told him: While being judged by everyone, being told who I am, and what kind of person I was, I found myself.

I discovered that I spent all of my life living a lifestyle that people said was mine. I behaved a way that I was taught to. I had a collection of expensive watches that I didn’t wear, a collection of knickknacks that I didn’t want, games that I didn’t enjoy, music and movies that I didn’t even like. When I lost nearly everything (money, possessions, status, respect…), through divorce and some other things that happened, the result, as in this story, was that I discovered that none of that was really me.

I for the first time bought a guitar. I started reading, buying books, and began collecting a library. I started listening to classical music, Bob Dylan, and other music that I liked. I watched movies that I enjoyed. I also took my skill of cooking to a new level. I changed everything. I let go of everything that I was told I was, and I began to live a life based on who I really was.

I am nowhere near enlightenment or anything of the sort, as I am far from getting beyond the pain of my past, or figuring out how to make my life work in this crazy world, but I can see the wisdom in this story.

Not just on this website friend, but every man i have come across has that silent pain that screams from their eyes, our society is increasingly toxic, enlightenment is simply the realization that all is one and that the “self” is empty, once you assimilate this truth through meditation and you separate your “self” from your consciousness you will understand your Buddha nature.

This world gave you everything you are, this world also takes everything from you when you die, don’t get caught up by the empty pleasures of this reality that even scientists question if its “real”. Buddhist and Hindus asked themselves this question thousands of years ago and formulated their responses accordingly, Samsara, Maya, whatever you want to call it has no contentment only torment.

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional- Buddha.

[Cú ChulainnParticipant 3910]

Great post. The philosophy forum is my favourite place on MGTOW.com.

[Cú ChulainnParticipant 3910]

There’s a remarkably similar story to this one found in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Apophthegmata Patrum)

Some brigands came one day to the hermitage of an abbas and they said to him: ‘We have come to take everything in your cell’. He said to them: ‘My children, take everything you like’. So they took everything in the cell and left. But they forgot a little tool-bag that was hanging on the wall so he ran after them, calling: ‘My children take what you have forgotten from the cell’. And they were full of admiration for his resignation so they put everything back and did penitence and said to each other: ‘Truly this is a man of God’.

[The man in the mountainParticipant 4102]

Cú Chulainn wrote:

There’s a remarkably similar story to this one found in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Apophthegmata Patrum)

Some brigands came one day to the hermitage of an abbas and they said to him: ‘We have come to take everything in your cell’. He said to them: ‘My children, take everything you like’.

Thank you for sharing that story, it also moved my heart, we are all suffering in this Samsaric existence, why perpetuate the suffering of others?.

All is one..

[Cú ChulainnParticipant 3910]

Indeed it is, peace brother

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