Jhanon's Philosophical Writings

[Jhanon]

If it's not entirely, completely unifying, then it's not true. If a picture puzzle piece fits on all but one side; you're still looking at a puzzle, not the whole picture.

[Jhanon]

I think it is worth noting that my original hypothesis about avoiding spiritual terms and just posting my philosophical insights has been successful in attracting people who are ready.

There have been 5 or 6 previous, with Cal being the most recent. Most Americans, in my experience, who are ready for enlightenment, are not interested in religion. They turn off as soon as it is said. Those who are interested in religion have already attached to views.

[Jhanon]

If one is treated unjustly, and feels the sparks for an inferno of rage and fury; one must train oneself to immediately remember "life is causal." The wisest one can do to make sure the persecutors get what's coming to them, without causing oneself any detriment, is the exact opposite of what one wants to do.

One can't even think "What goes around comes around" or "karma will get you." Only humble surrender will enable transcendence, thus allowing a far greater force (Nature) to exact it's merciless laws. There can be no escape.

[Michel]

I think it is worth noting that my original hypothesis about avoiding spiritual terms and just posting my philosophical insights has been successful in attracting people who are ready.

There have been 5 or 6 previous, with Cal being the most recent. Most Americans, in my experience, who are ready for enlightenment, are not interested in religion. They turn off as soon as it is said. Those who are interested in religion have already attached to views.

I agree with your approach. I think it's a case of speaking in everyday language that is clear and understandable; that is gentile, patient and kind; that is free of frivolity; that reflects the true dhamma. In other words RIGHT SPEECH.

[Michel]

One can't even think "What goes around comes around" or "karma will get you."Only humble surrender will enable transcendence, thus allowing a far greater force (Nature) to exact it's merciless laws. There can be no escape.

Is this an insight you gained in the 4th jhana? I get insights like this when I'm manic, though not this one that you've described.

[Jhanon]

To answer your question directly, it didn't come from formal meditation or jhana. It came from contemplation.

All ego aside, I've been correcting many friends who speak of karma and "what goes around comes around" for a couple years now. They don't realize they're making negative causes, and they most certainly don't realize they are experiencing the effects of negative causes THEY put into place. One has to circle around ones reasoning many times before they can see the cunning nature of identity/ego.

At the time I wrote this, I felt a strong bubble of anger for being "treated unjustly". In other words, it hadn't become anger, but it really wanted to. At times like these, my mind inclines toward wisdom, but it also wants to express it's frustration. In the process of writing it, it calmed me down, and no anger was expressed. Nor was it suppressed.

It's like your Mom telling you not to eat the soup yet, cuz it's too hot. Who is she to tell you what to do? Anger arises, but wisdom pacifies it "if I eat the soup now, I will get burned." Gratitude sets in shortly after.

In the first case (the writing), I was able to transcend most desires for direct expression of anger. Shortly after writing it, I realized that I was experiencing SPECIFIC negative causes I had put into place a year ago. It was my fault that I was in a situation to cause anger, but I was certainly not being treated unjustly--I CAUSED IT! I realized this at the moment when the individual apologized the next day.

[Jhanon]

In other words, plain ol' critical thinking actually brought me this understanding. Or, it was so long ago that I can't remember.

[Jhanon]

(unfinished. I'm too tired. I need to save it before I finish it tomorrow.)

Rub your hands together until you feel warmth. There is nothing humanity considers beautiful that isn't energy born of adversity, such as friction. Like Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which was composed when he was utterly deaf. Or simply the luminous stars in the darkness of space, which is contrast, which is adversity, which is beauty.

From the once peaceful wisps of white clouds rolling over a calm ocean of sky leaps the condensed energy of lightning, headed for liberation from the tormented heavens it once dwelt as agitated prisoner. Just as before, all energy is manifest of adversity, and all energy is also, by nature, transcendent.

The contrasting qualities of life, like pain and pleasure, work and leisure, are mundane preoccupations of the fool deluded into existence. Transcendence is beauty, inspiration, forgiveness, timelessness, energy, and life--lying in patient wait for humans who remember they are energy, too. I used to get frustrated often, and I slowly realized it was opportunity for transcendence, born of energy, born of agitation, born of adversity, born of contrast.

[Jhanon]

(second version. still unfinished)

Rub your hands together until you feel warmth. There is nothing humanity treasures which isn't energy born of adversity, such as warmth-producing friction on a cold day.

From the tormented heavens leaps the condensed energy of lightning, headed for liberation from what first seemed peaceful wisps of white clouds rolling over a calm ocean of sky. All energy is manifest of adversity like friction, and all energy is also, by nature, transcendent.

Transcendence is beauty, inspiration, forgiveness, timelessness, energy, and life--lying in patient wait for humans who remember they are energy, too.

I used to get frustrated often, and I slowly realized it was opportunity for transcendence, born of energy, born of agitation, born of adversity, born of contrast, evident of a non-existence. All words are reference to ideas. Non-existence is not, in and of itself, non-existent.

[Jhanon]

(unfinished)

Rub your hands together until you feel warmth. There is nothing humanity treasures which isn't energy born of adversity, such as the warmth produced by friction on a cold day. Friction is adversity between your hands, is it not?

From the tormented heavens leaps the condensed energy of lightning, headed for liberation from what first seemed peaceful wisps of white clouds rolling over a calm ocean of sky. All energy is manifest of adversity like friction, and all energy is also, by nature, transcendent.

I used to get frustrated often, and I slowly realized it was opportunity for transcendence, born of energy, born of agitation, born of adversity, born of contrast, evident of a non-existence. All words are references only, like a sign indicating the speed limit. The sign is not the speed limit. In the same way, "Non-existence" is not absolutely void. It's just proof that a sign can't point directly to transcendent non-existence.

[Jhanon]

Final Copy?

Paradoxical Lightning

All energy is manifested of adversity like the friction which produces energy known as lightning. This transcendence allows it to leave its clouds of ignorance and torment. Humans are energy too, and in the same way human suffering produces transcendence from the mind's clouds of ignorance. But, what is the last transcendence? Existence? But where does transcending existence lead to? Non-existence? (Nibbana)

Words are sign-posts, like of a speed limit. The sign itself is not the speed limit, but merely indicates it. In the same way, "non-existence" is an indication, not in itself "non-existence." Truth is self-manifesting, which is why it encircles itself in eternal looping; and is what we call "paradox." In other words, ultimate truths, when expressed in language, are paradoxical. How could "non-existence" exist for us to know? We can't just look at our dashboard and know. Is then the only way to "non exist" in order to know "non-existence"?

Damnit! I know what I want to say, but language is such a bitch! I'm going to meditate to sleep. Make suggestions as you please. As long as this forum stays up, I intend to write and write until I have enough confidence in conveying these messages clearly to the reader in a book.

[Jhanon]

It's almost amusing how people talk about "God" as self-manifested eternity, but seem to never mention "paradox." If one dives deep enough, both intellectually and consciously, one learns things that sound like paradox when communicated in language to those who've not experienced the insight. And what is a paradox? It's a statement that encircles itself, therefor becoming eternal. Would this not be indicative of ultimate Truth? One can intellectually trace any reasoning as far back to it's "beginning", without falling off the original line of reasoning, and one will arrive at paradox. Thus suggesting "something" is both beginningless, endless, and beyond intellectual comprehension.

[Jhanon]

After my first awakening, 4 years ago I went on a bit of a pilgrimage, back to where this body is from. To see its beginnings, and commune with its family. I came to find that the families are rich in mystics. One of which being a Grandmother. She said God had her write this for me.

Please note, that to the best of my memory, she didn't know anything about meditation, or what i was studying, nor had she ever studied the discourses of the Buddha. Also, that I didn't fully understand the importance of some of the things said here.

"My steps have set a pattern of righteousness that is just and pure.
I have never orphaned you.
I am as close as your breath.
I lift you up as an updraft, pulling you closer
And above the troubles that plague man.
Seek the fruit of the spirit
For it is ripe and fully pleasant
The fruit's of the spirit will lead you into a maturity that comes from me."

It has been told to me that she has premonition, and other intuitive powers. And now, 4 years later, here I am, writing on the Fruit of the Contemplative forum.

[Jhanon]

My final paper entitled "The Problem of Perception" got a 279/300, with an originality of 97 percent. The reason I didn't get a 300? Because the argument is "irrefutable...which seems odd."

Isn't the effort of all Philosophy to arrive at an irrefutable conclusion about life?

For those who haven't intuited it yet, this paper was actually my effort to show that ignorance is poisoning humanity, and is the greatest priority for humans to undertake in resolving. Pretty much what the Buddha said.

[Cal]

I think it has been in the debate of, that philosophy has flourished, how it's minds have flourished. So to say that it was lacking due to being irrefutable, makes sense to me. If it is irrefutable it would smother growth. However, with some intuitive insight, your instructor would be able understand that there is a part of existence that is irrefutable. Therefor making his argument void. And the circle continues. Lol