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Author Topic:   Cutting-Through-Spiritual-Materialism
SunChild
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Posts: 2405
From: Australia
Registered: Apr 2009

posted February 17, 2011 06:36 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SunChild     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Sounds interesting, so drawn to this book
http://www.amazon.com/Cutting-Through-Spiritual-Materialism-Shambhala/dp/1590306392/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297942205&sr=8-1

Just ordered it.

Will post review!

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“It’s an interesting thing. Seeing Kuan Yin relating to a flower so intently. She's not just looking at it; she's interacting with it…I’m seeing how the act of relating to a flower appears to be so simple. Yet, it takes a tremendous amount of courage to make such a “simple” act important. Now, the lotus is floating away.”

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charmainec
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Posts: 2790
From: Venus next to Randall
Registered: Apr 2009

posted February 18, 2011 04:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for charmainec     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

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SunChild
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Posts: 2405
From: Australia
Registered: Apr 2009

posted February 23, 2011 04:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SunChild     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Amazing, one night I was thinking about materialism in a spiritual sense, I wondered if I was making sense! But, it made sense to me.
I told a few people with only raised eyebrows as a return response.
I understood spiritual materialism and if you knew me in real life I am rather clever at exposing it.
My husband has noticed that now.
I can't remember if it was his or my idea to google search my two favorite words of the month, and funnily enough, I found a book! I found a few actually, but this one resonated the most.

I just found on wiki something I had done myself in laying out my thoughts on the matter, the author obviously wrote it out with more clarity here but it does crystallise were my understanding came after being VERY honest with myself.

quote:
In Trungpa's presentation, spiritual materialism can fall into three categories — what he calls the three "Lords of Materialism" (Tibetan: lalo literally "barbarian") — in which a form of materialism is mistaken to bring long term happiness but instead only brings short term entertainment, followed by longer term suffering:


~Physical materialism is the belief that possessions can bring release from suffering. In Trungpa's view, they may bring temporary happiness but then more suffering in the endless pursuit of creating one's environment to be just right. Or on another level it may cause a misuderstanding like, "I am rich because I have this or that" or "I am a teacher (or whatever) because I have a diploma (or whatever)."

~Psychological materialism is the belief that a particular philosophy, belief system, or point of view will bring release from suffering. So seeking refuge by strongly identifying with a particular religion,[5] philosophy, political party or viewpoint, for example, would be psychological materialism. From this the conventional usage of spiritual materialism arises, by identifying oneself as Buddhist or some other label, or by collecting initiations and spiritual accomplishments, one further constructs a solidified view of ego.[2]

~Spiritual materialism is the belief that a certain temporary state of mind is a refuge from suffering. An example would be using meditation practices to create a peaceful state of mind, or using drugs or alcohol to remain in a numbed out or a blissful state. According to Trungpa, these states are temporary and merely heighten the suffering when they cease. So attempting to maintain a particular emotional state of mind as a refuge from suffering, or constantly pursuing particular emotional states of mind like being in love, will actually lead to more long term suffering.


What I marked in bold was my focal point in this understanding.
I went into great depth and knew who the certain people in my life we behaving this way.
It reflected back on myself and as a result I grew out/beyond this mindset.
I often see this in newbies to the spiritual path especially when it ties in with Dr. Joshua Stone or his branches.

This has made me much more thrilled to get this book in the mail and read it!

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“It’s an interesting thing. Seeing Kuan Yin relating to a flower so intently. She's not just looking at it; she's interacting with it…I’m seeing how the act of relating to a flower appears to be so simple. Yet, it takes a tremendous amount of courage to make such a “simple” act important. Now, the lotus is floating away.”

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SunChild
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Posts: 2405
From: Australia
Registered: Apr 2009

posted March 24, 2011 09:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SunChild     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Omg this book is MUCH MORE than I ever anticipated!

Life changing beyond anything... I feel it peeling away so many layers that I never thought were there...

As soul enriching as Gooberz.

The chapter on Gurus = amazing! Ties in with everything Linda said x 100000000
It has helped me understand what happened and why there is now deep conflict with my own personal guru.

and the G-U-R-U truly decoded.

I read 1 chapter every few days so each chapter has time to sink in.

I am only a third of the way through.

Can't wait to start posting excerpts!

EVERY LL person would LOOOOOVE this book, I'm so sure of it.

The title is not enough to describe the magic and sense in this boook/

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“It’s an interesting thing. Seeing Kuan Yin relating to a flower so intently. She's not just looking at it; she's interacting with it…I’m seeing how the act of relating to a flower appears to be so simple. Yet, it takes a tremendous amount of courage to make such a “simple” act important. Now, the lotus is floating away.”

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Randall
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Posts: 10246
From: The Goober Galaxy
Registered: Apr 2009

posted July 28, 2011 01:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
*bump*

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"To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing." Aristotle

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