KHTK AXIOM FOUR: EXISTENCE IS WHAT IS WITHOUT ANY FURTHER QUALIFICATION.
The proper way to understand existence would then be to stop speculating about it because speculations create filters that qualify existence.
We should start recognizing and eliminating the filters created by speculations, assumptions and justifications that have already been injected. The understanding of existence would increase as filters are reduced.
Thus, we have the formula recommended by Buddha:
Observe things as they are, not as they seem to be.
You don’t know what is actually there as long as there are inconsistencies present.
Reference: Inconsistency & Looking
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Complete Reference: KHTK Axioms: A Work in Progress
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Comments
One of the best. However, this language “Observe things as they really are, not just as they seem to be” seems circular. “Really are” implies a degree of certainty that is relative, conditioned and impermanent.
Buddha’s admonishment is good to be mindful of. Maybe putting the word “Strive” at the beginning of that sentence such as “Strive to observe things as they really are, . . . ” makes the admonishment more consistent to me and allows it to float from frame of reference to other frames of references. Am I being too picayunish?
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I took the word “really” out. How does that seem now?
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You’ve heard the quote from Yoda teaching Luke Skywalker, “Do or do not, there is no try.” Scientologists particularly like this quote and sometimes think they thought it up.
I find this teaching inconsistent with the scale of results from people in life that I see. I think Yoda’s teaching is oversimplified and false because it incorporates the notion of absolutism. Hence, when I see absolutist statements, they sort of give me a shiver.
This is where I am going with my objection to the Buddha statement. I don’t know Buddhism so don’t know if this is the raw statement or somehow out of context but that is why I put the word “strive” in front of the sentence. Strive is synonymous with try and that’s what I really do. I really try and do the best I can with what I’ve got from where I start.
I’ve written a bit lengthy to explain my position. I’m okay with the word “really.” I make the verb “observe” into an infinitive and use it as an adverb to modify the new verb replacement “strive.” This is consistent thinking for me at this point and turns the Buddhist quote into good advice.
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I think that one has to take a stand somewhere, and that may sound absolutist, but it is not really so if one is open minded.
Absolutism comes when one is being closed minded.
I shall keep the word “really” out of that English translation of what Buddha might have said, after reading about REALITY in Wikipedia. That word REAL has become quite a trap.
I have also taken the word REALITY out of all KHTK AXIOMS.
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“Observe things as they are, not as they seem to be.”
How is one to know if one is observing things as they are or just observing things as they seem to be? Seems to be a problem right there…
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There are exercises recommended by Buddha that help one develop mindfulness on a gradient. With a little bit of guidance it is very possible.
KHTK Looking
If you are interested, I can provide some guidance.
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Brian, it is, and this is why we are wringing out the language to get rid of these inconsistencies. Do you have a wording of a concept that you prefer?
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