Comments on: The Zen Of Attraction http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/ Songwriter, Recording Artist, and Blogging Musician Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:54:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Vonkastell http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-3/#comment-2461 Vonkastell Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:54:17 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2461 The codified philosophy becomes religion and open for interpretation. Once interpreted, it becomes the subject of debate. And nothing is more heated and less productive then religious debate. But I love it, because this is what is important. Distilled Humanity. It's like watching a blog-form-microcosm of religious evolution. The codified philosophy becomes religion and open for interpretation. Once interpreted, it becomes the subject of debate. And nothing is more heated and less productive then religious debate. But I love it, because this is what is important. Distilled Humanity.

It’s like watching a blog-form-microcosm of religious evolution.

]]> By: Jean http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-3/#comment-2458 Jean Wed, 02 Jan 2008 08:48:57 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2458 I use number 1 every time I give a massage. By the end people expectations are met, without giving a promise that the massage will help. I use number 1 every time I give a massage. By the end people expectations are met, without giving a promise that the massage will help.

]]> By: Graham English http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-3/#comment-2453 Graham English Wed, 02 Jan 2008 05:10:16 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2453 I'm referring to the "law of attraction" as it is commonly known. In the original blog post, I don't refer to it as a law. You don't have to respect me unless you want to comment on my blog. It's not public property. It is my personal site. I created rules to help express my vision for this blog. And to protect my time from needing to defend myself from people who show disrespect. So again, we can debate the ideas, not whether or not I am credible, foolish, or egotistical. Please respect my wishes and read the rules. I’m referring to the “law of attraction” as it is commonly known. In the original blog post, I don’t refer to it as a law. You don’t have to respect me unless you want to comment on my blog. It’s not public property. It is my personal site. I created rules to help express my vision for this blog. And to protect my time from needing to defend myself from people who show disrespect.

So again, we can debate the ideas, not whether or not I am credible, foolish, or egotistical. Please respect my wishes and read the rules.

]]> By: Doug Rosbury http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-3/#comment-2452 Doug Rosbury Wed, 02 Jan 2008 04:36:34 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2452 Mr. English: I want to know how you can say " the (LAW) of attraction and then expect me to have respect for you when you then say: "It isnt a law". Please explain that part.In my opinion, when you violate logic like that, you cast doubt upon your own credibility. And please do not set yourself up to restrict my expression. I frankly do not consider you to be my superior. As Buddah has said: "Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it,unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. And to that, I say, AMEN. When the truth is at stake, I say rules imposed by one person or many persons be damned.--- Doug Rosbury Mr. English: I want to know how you can say ” the (LAW)
of attraction and then expect me to have respect for you when you then say: “It isnt a law”. Please explain that part.In my opinion, when you violate logic like that, you cast doubt upon your own credibility. And please do not set yourself up to restrict my expression. I frankly do not consider you to be my superior. As Buddah has said: “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it,unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. And to that, I say, AMEN. When the truth is at stake, I say rules imposed by one person or many persons be damned.— Doug Rosbury

]]> By: Graham English http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-3/#comment-2449 Graham English Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:21:47 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2449 Doug, be careful please and read the rules. We can debate ideas here. A belief is different than a law. You may have your beliefs and I may disagree with them. Prove to me that the law of attraction always works and I'll believe you. Until that day, I won't put attraction into the same category as gravity. And I didn't call the "law of attraction" a law. I said it isn't a law. You probably wish that I didn't "deny the validity of your belief." So I'm bringing evidence to the table that just wishing something to be true does not make it so. So we can debate this if you wish. But please be careful and don't make it personal because I have nothing against you. Doug, be careful please and read the rules. We can debate ideas here. A belief is different than a law. You may have your beliefs and I may disagree with them. Prove to me that the law of attraction always works and I’ll believe you. Until that day, I won’t put attraction into the same category as gravity. And I didn’t call the “law of attraction” a law. I said it isn’t a law.

You probably wish that I didn’t “deny the validity of your belief.” So I’m bringing evidence to the table that just wishing something to be true does not make it so.

So we can debate this if you wish. But please be careful and don’t make it personal because I have nothing against you.

]]> By: Doug Rosbury http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-3/#comment-2448 Doug Rosbury Tue, 01 Jan 2008 23:54:52 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2448 Mr. English: In denying the validity of my belief, regarding "The law of attraction", You violate the principle of diplomacy and blatantly deny me my right to my belief. Not only that, but you turn around and in a foolish statement you say" Thelaw of attraction Is not a law" (!!!) (???) You can't have it both ways. Of course attraction is a law if it always works. It is just like any other spiritual law that always works reliably such as the law of karma. How can you call attraction a law and then turn around and say that it isn,t a law? Karma and attractio work together to bring to you the situations required to aid you in repaying your debt. In fact, I would suggest that karma and attraction are two aspects of the same law. Alaw but not a law??? I beg your pardon. Methinks that Ego played an important part in causing you to come up with that silly bit of logic.--- Doug Rosbury Mr. English: In denying the validity of my belief, regarding “The law of attraction”,
You violate the principle of diplomacy and blatantly deny me my right to my belief.
Not only that, but you turn around and in a foolish statement you say” Thelaw of attraction
Is not a law” (!!!) (???) You can’t have it both ways. Of course attraction is a law if it always works. It is just like any other spiritual law that always works reliably such as the law of karma. How can you call attraction a law and then turn around and say that it isn,t a law? Karma and attractio work together to bring to you the situations required to aid you
in repaying your debt. In fact, I would suggest that karma and attraction are two aspects of the same law. Alaw but not a law??? I beg your pardon. Methinks that Ego played an important part in causing you to come up with that silly bit of logic.— Doug Rosbury

]]> By: Doug Rosbury http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-3/#comment-2445 Doug Rosbury Tue, 01 Jan 2008 22:37:39 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2445 In terms of ones inner attitude and place in evolution,one attracts those of like persuasion. you wont necessarily know them unless you pay attention, however, the law of attraction is a law and always works. If you happen to wonder why there are people in your life whom you don't like, perhaps you should take a look at yourself. The reverse is also true.---Doug Rosbury you wont always know In terms of ones inner attitude and place in evolution,one attracts those of like persuasion. you wont necessarily know them unless you pay attention, however, the law of attraction is a law and always works.
If you happen to wonder why there are people in your life whom you don’t like, perhaps you should take a look at yourself. The reverse is also true.—Doug Rosbury

you wont always know

]]> By: Graham English http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-3/#comment-2446 Graham English Tue, 01 Jan 2008 22:20:14 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2446 Doug, I wholeheartedly disagree. The law of attraction is not a law. There is no scientific basis for such a law. The law of attraction is a reductionist principle, collapsing everything to the interior of the individual. There's no external or collective factors in the purported law of attraction. It collapses everything to the level of mind. Everything is determined by my thinking. Obviously this isn’t completely true. One could call attraction a way of living I suppose. But a law? It just isn't true. Doug, I wholeheartedly disagree. The law of attraction is not a law. There is no scientific basis for such a law. The law of attraction is a reductionist principle, collapsing everything to the interior of the individual. There’s no external or collective factors in the purported law of attraction. It collapses everything to the level of mind. Everything is determined by my thinking. Obviously this isn’t completely true.

One could call attraction a way of living I suppose. But a law? It just isn’t true.

]]> By: The Jaded Monk http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-3/#comment-2444 The Jaded Monk Tue, 01 Jan 2008 22:00:08 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2444 Interesting post, and a refreshing alternative take on the (now overused) ideas peddled in "The Secret". I am starting to really believe more in the concept that you draw certain people into your life based on what's going on inside you; for a long time I thought it was all just completely random. Interesting post, and a refreshing alternative take on the (now overused) ideas peddled in “The Secret”.

I am starting to really believe more in the concept that you draw certain people into your life based on what’s going on inside you; for a long time I thought it was all just completely random.

]]> By: Babba http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-3/#comment-2430 Babba Tue, 01 Jan 2008 04:02:50 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2430 Create nothing... except blogs. Create nothing… except blogs.

]]> By: Jurgen http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-3/#comment-2415 Jurgen Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:12:02 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2415 Hi Graham, Cheers for sharing your 10 principles of the Zen of attraction! Really some good principles... use whatever works for you and enjoy life! Hi Graham,

Cheers for sharing your 10 principles of the Zen of attraction! Really some good principles… use whatever works for you and enjoy life!

]]> By: Graham English http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-3/#comment-2413 Graham English Mon, 31 Dec 2007 05:39:17 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2413 Peter, great comment. Don't believe me either! ;) Peter, great comment. Don’t believe me either! ;)

]]> By: Graham English http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-3/#comment-2412 Graham English Mon, 31 Dec 2007 05:37:00 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2412 Vonkastell, thanks for clarifying. You see, to me, create nothing doesn't mean don't create anything. And the idea that comes next, of just responding well to what comes to you fits perfectly with the motivation of this post. I was responding. So I wasn't creating for the sake of creating, not that that's bad, but I was responding to the idea of attraction and the conversation around it. So I actually followed that principle. Not that it's supreme law or anything. Also, the ultimate goal of Zen Buddhism isn't to minimize your impact on the world. Nor is to "escape" samsara. Waves are part of the physical world. They are not to be escaped or to be rid of. But they can be <a href="http://wilber.shambhala.com/html/books/kosmos/excerptC/part2-4.cfm" rel="nofollow">transcended and included</a>. And I definitely don't believe that philosophies shouldn't have any writings about them. How else does one learn about Mu or Zen or whatever? We take up the practice through the teachings and learn through direct experience. To understand Mu is to understand that both yes and no are both right and wrong. Again, I'm no Zen master. But Zen is deeply rooted in the practice of wisdom, even when that wisdom says to let go of conceptual thinking. Vonkastell, thanks for clarifying. You see, to me, create nothing doesn’t mean don’t create anything. And the idea that comes next, of just responding well to what comes to you fits perfectly with the motivation of this post. I was responding. So I wasn’t creating for the sake of creating, not that that’s bad, but I was responding to the idea of attraction and the conversation around it. So I actually followed that principle. Not that it’s supreme law or anything.

Also, the ultimate goal of Zen Buddhism isn’t to minimize your impact on the world. Nor is to “escape” samsara.

Waves are part of the physical world. They are not to be escaped or to be rid of. But they can be transcended and included. And I definitely don’t believe that philosophies shouldn’t have any writings about them. How else does one learn about Mu or Zen or whatever? We take up the practice through the teachings and learn through direct experience. To understand Mu is to understand that both yes and no are both right and wrong.

Again, I’m no Zen master. But Zen is deeply rooted in the practice of wisdom, even when that wisdom says to let go of conceptual thinking.

]]> By: Peter http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-3/#comment-2411 Peter Mon, 31 Dec 2007 05:35:53 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2411 Buddha said, "Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense." Find the answer within yourself, not from Graham English, the Dali Lama, Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha, or any person (particularly me). Buddha said, “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”

Find the answer within yourself, not from Graham English, the Dali Lama, Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha, or any person (particularly me).

]]> By: Vonkastell http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2410 Vonkastell Mon, 31 Dec 2007 04:54:01 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2410 I'm sure I'm not explaining it clearly, but I'll try. The irony isn't in any wording you chose, it's in the act of writing itself. The write is to create, the list above says create nothing. In Zen Buddhism, with the ultimate goal is to escape the wheel of fate and one of the ways believed to do that is to minimize your impact on the world, be it good or bad. Just being, going with the flow and not making any waves. By putting a list online, and people finding it, waves are created. For example, I had no idea who you were before I saw this post. Now I know who you are and you now exist to me. This means you've made an impact. This conversation we're having is getting me to think, and hopefully others. Which means more waves. Similar examples can be made from all 10 of the principles listed. The irony is creating something about a philosophy that shouldn't have any writings about it. Anyone who leaves evidence of their existence during their life, cannot have succeeded in practicing the philosophy of Mu. Nothing is only something because we have a word for it. I’m sure I’m not explaining it clearly, but I’ll try. The irony isn’t in any wording you chose, it’s in the act of writing itself.

The write is to create, the list above says create nothing. In Zen Buddhism, with the ultimate goal is to escape the wheel of fate and one of the ways believed to do that is to minimize your impact on the world, be it good or bad. Just being, going with the flow and not making any waves.

By putting a list online, and people finding it, waves are created. For example, I had no idea who you were before I saw this post. Now I know who you are and you now exist to me. This means you’ve made an impact. This conversation we’re having is getting me to think, and hopefully others. Which means more waves.

Similar examples can be made from all 10 of the principles listed. The irony is creating something about a philosophy that shouldn’t have any writings about it. Anyone who leaves evidence of their existence during their life, cannot have succeeded in practicing the philosophy of Mu.

Nothing is only something because we have a word for it.

]]> By: Graham English http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2406 Graham English Mon, 31 Dec 2007 02:58:39 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2406 @Vonkastell: I guess I'm just not sure what you mean. I still don't think that writing these out goes against anything really. And I don't mean the wordplay to be ironic. Nothing is something. @Vonkastell: I guess I’m just not sure what you mean. I still don’t think that writing these out goes against anything really. And I don’t mean the wordplay to be ironic. Nothing is something.

]]> By: Vonkastell http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2404 Vonkastell Mon, 31 Dec 2007 01:55:16 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2404 Doug, On all your points, we are in agreement. One a philosophy is codified and transmitted it becomes open to interpretation and change, it can never be the same from person to person. All religions concerned with Karma are especially difficult because there is no real good and evil, but rather cause and effect. Graham, I agree that it is a "cool spin" on Attraction. You are correct, there is a paradox in your post, but the problem is in the post itself. Your play on words doesn't change the implications of the message. The list itself goes against each of the 10 principles by being written out and published. Just as you said about yourself, I am no Zen master, but I know irony when I see it. Doug,

On all your points, we are in agreement. One a philosophy is codified and transmitted it becomes open to interpretation and change, it can never be the same from person to person. All religions concerned with Karma are especially difficult because there is no real good and evil, but rather cause and effect.

Graham,

I agree that it is a “cool spin” on Attraction. You are correct, there is a paradox in your post, but the problem is in the post itself. Your play on words doesn’t change the implications of the message.

The list itself goes against each of the 10 principles by being written out and published. Just as you said about yourself, I am no Zen master, but I know irony when I see it.

]]> By: Graham English http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2401 Graham English Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:48:48 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2401 @Vonkastell: My intention was simply wanting to share what I thought was a cool spin on the idea of attraction. That's straight from the post. "All 10 points of your list are negatively represented in that you posted this list." I disagree. Especially if you notice the wordplay in "learn nothing" or "offer nothing." It doesn't have to mean do not learn anything or do not offer anything. So to me, there's paradox represented in the list, which always excites me. @Doug: "A philosophy of how to live cannot be transferred from one person to another..." I don't agree with this entirely. Of course, if I did agree, then I would be proving you wrong since your philosophy would have been transferred to me. ;) I'm wary of absolutes unless they include the possibility of being wrong at times. I operate under the philosophy that nobody can be 100% right or 100% wrong 100% of the time. ;) @Vonkastell: My intention was simply wanting to share what I thought was a cool spin on the idea of attraction. That’s straight from the post.

“All 10 points of your list are negatively represented in that you posted this list.” I disagree. Especially if you notice the wordplay in “learn nothing” or “offer nothing.” It doesn’t have to mean do not learn anything or do not offer anything. So to me, there’s paradox represented in the list, which always excites me.

@Doug: “A philosophy of how to live cannot be transferred from one person to another…” I don’t agree with this entirely. Of course, if I did agree, then I would be proving you wrong since your philosophy would have been transferred to me. ;)

I’m wary of absolutes unless they include the possibility of being wrong at times. I operate under the philosophy that nobody can be 100% right or 100% wrong 100% of the time. ;)

]]> By: Doug Rosbury http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2400 Doug Rosbury Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:25:11 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2400 A philosophy of how to live cannot be transferred from one person to another, because each person has his or her own karma to repay. To me, my philosophy is my task to perform in order that I may at last achieve liberation from the need to reincarnate and to take residence on a higher plane of existence. How can you transfer that to another person without creating an imposition on another persons life plan? I believe we are given the task of being ourselves, in other words being our own distinct way of life with our own self determined philosophy. By its nature then, it would be impossible to teach a way of life,since each person is charged with thinking for himself. Religion, therefore, creates a false situation, an imposition on the principle of self determination. The true way which is a persons self determined way therefore,cannot be taught.---Doug Rosbury A philosophy of how to live cannot be transferred from one person to another, because each person has his or her own karma to repay.
To me, my philosophy is my task to perform in order that I may
at last achieve liberation from the need to reincarnate and to take residence on a higher plane of existence. How can you transfer that to another person without creating an imposition on another persons life plan? I believe we are given the task of being ourselves, in other words being our own distinct way of life
with our own self determined philosophy. By its nature then, it would be impossible to teach a way of life,since each person is charged with thinking for himself. Religion, therefore, creates
a false situation, an imposition on the principle of self determination. The true way which is a persons self determined way
therefore,cannot be taught.—Doug Rosbury

]]> By: Vonkastell http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2397 Vonkastell Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:51:12 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2397 theoldstephyouknow, I'm glad you answered my reply, I was somewhat worried my post would be ill received since I think it's the most negative in the whole chain. I agree that the original intent of this post is important, I wouldn't mind knowing it. Perhaps it may even lead people to understand at a more visceral level what it really means. Living this philosophy is about escaping the wheel of fate and it takes more effort to accomplish then anyone knows. Even Buddha left evidence of his existence. Vonkastell theoldstephyouknow,

I’m glad you answered my reply, I was somewhat worried my post would be ill received since I think it’s the most negative in the whole chain. I agree that the original intent of this post is important, I wouldn’t mind knowing it. Perhaps it may even lead people to understand at a more visceral level what it really means. Living this philosophy is about escaping the wheel of fate and it takes more effort to accomplish then anyone knows. Even Buddha left evidence of his existence.

Vonkastell

]]> By: theoldstephyouknow http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2395 theoldstephyouknow Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:35:09 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2395 In the great dance of consciousness, we humans are prone to musing out loud. Intentions for such span a vast spectrum. Though a blog certainly isn't a vacuum, perhaps it is relevant to ask Graham's intention for posting in the first place. I do agree, Vonkastell, your final insight has been my own ultimate truth, as well...yet we are in a constantly exposed to stimulus for this very understanding, such as my observing your response to Graham's post, and your thoughts regarding it. In the great dance of consciousness, we humans are prone to musing out loud. Intentions for such span a vast spectrum.

Though a blog certainly isn’t a vacuum, perhaps it is relevant to ask Graham’s intention for posting in the first place.

I do agree, Vonkastell, your final insight has been my own ultimate truth, as well…yet we are in a constantly exposed to stimulus for this very understanding, such as my observing your response to Graham’s post, and your thoughts regarding it.

]]> By: Vonkastell http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2393 Vonkastell Sun, 30 Dec 2007 15:52:41 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2393 This list goes against the list itself. All 10 points of your list are negatively represented in that you posted this list. By posting this list, you promise, offer and teach. You expect others to learn what you created which is being hyped by others. You plan to teach others how to become no one, which is paradoxical because that would change them. Can you really teach the philosophy of Mu, of nothingness? Isn't giving Mu a name and a sound creating something? This is an idea that can only be discovered on its own to be pure, by teaching it, it is corrupted for the teacher and student alike. This list goes against the list itself. All 10 points of your list are negatively represented in that you posted this list.

By posting this list, you promise, offer and teach. You expect others to learn what you created which is being hyped by others. You plan to teach others how to become no one, which is paradoxical because that would change them.

Can you really teach the philosophy of Mu, of nothingness? Isn’t giving Mu a name and a sound creating something? This is an idea that can only be discovered on its own to be pure, by teaching it, it is corrupted for the teacher and student alike.

]]> By: Marc http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2392 Marc Sun, 30 Dec 2007 13:35:12 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2392 It's always nice to see people getting involved in intelligent conversation and discussing important and thought provoking concepts, new or old. I have to admit that I am a fan of such lifestyles but my efforts to follow them would seem to fall flat to others. As I see it, applying any altruistic or possessionless ideals to a modern life is always going to be challenging; One shouldn't expect to be able to follow them completely, instead to achieve a balance in life that affords compromise between the inspiring "lifestyle" concepts put forward (here and elsewhere) and the simple necessity in modern times to deviate from the "pure" paths we might seek to follow. -Marc It’s always nice to see people getting involved in intelligent conversation and discussing important and thought provoking concepts, new or old. I have to admit that I am a fan of such lifestyles but my efforts to follow them would seem to fall flat to others.

As I see it, applying any altruistic or possessionless ideals to a modern life is always going to be challenging; One shouldn’t expect to be able to follow them completely, instead to achieve a balance in life that affords compromise between the inspiring “lifestyle” concepts put forward (here and elsewhere) and the simple necessity in modern times to deviate from the “pure” paths we might seek to follow.

-Marc

]]> By: Graham English http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2374 Graham English Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:01:20 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2374 @Doug Rosbury: Thanks for sharing. @Mark Yu: Glad you liked it. Thanks for stopping by. @Luna: And thanks for sharing <em>your</em> beautiful spirit. Sincerely! @Brad: Thanks! The comments have definitely been a trip. @goodfoot08: If you have any Christian mystics to recommend, that would be great! @john meade: Thanks for your thoughts. @Stephanie: You're as beautiful as ever! ;-) @david: We'll keep it up if you keep dropping by! :D @Doug Rosbury: Thanks for sharing.

@Mark Yu: Glad you liked it. Thanks for stopping by.

@Luna: And thanks for sharing your beautiful spirit. Sincerely!

@Brad: Thanks! The comments have definitely been a trip.

@goodfoot08: If you have any Christian mystics to recommend, that would be great!

@john meade: Thanks for your thoughts.

@Stephanie: You’re as beautiful as ever! ;-)

@david: We’ll keep it up if you keep dropping by! :D

]]> By: david http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2355 david Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:31:56 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2355 very good work going on over here. keep it up, brothers and sisters. very good work going on over here. keep it up, brothers and sisters.

]]> By: theoldstephyouknow http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2354 theoldstephyouknow Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:23:28 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2354 The essence of what i read in your list, as it relates to my own journey, is summed up in the word "enough". Enough is presence, and presence is attraction. The moment I am not enough, I am in struggle and discontent. Yet, in presence, there is still plenty of room for passion and desire, clearing, improving, etc. It's a paradox. It's also worth the surrender. Enough. And merry new holidays. The essence of what i read in your list, as it relates to my own journey, is summed up in the word “enough”.

Enough is presence, and presence is attraction.

The moment I am not enough, I am in struggle and discontent.

Yet, in presence, there is still plenty of room for passion and desire, clearing, improving, etc.

It’s a paradox. It’s also worth the surrender.

Enough. And merry new holidays.

]]> By: john meade http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2329 john meade Wed, 26 Dec 2007 16:22:23 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2329 The confusion surrounding the definitions self, nothingness, emptiness, etc., is language-based. We communicate using a noun-based language bit we are not nouns. We are verbs. Everything in the universe is a verb, including the universe itself. There is no static unchanging 'self'. Every object-seeming entity is a verb. We don't often experience this, anymore than we experience the spinning earth's surface moving us away from the sun. We know this is so yet we experience being on a flat unmoving surface where the sun comes up and goes down. Enlightenment is when we transcend our noun-base reality and experience constant ever- changing process as reality. And when we do, so what? The experience is of no value, in the noun sense of value. However we are thereafter content, knowing there is nothing to gain or lose. All there is is to be. The confusion surrounding the definitions self, nothingness, emptiness, etc., is language-based.
We communicate using a noun-based language
bit we are not nouns. We are verbs.
Everything in the universe is a verb, including the universe itself.
There is no static unchanging ’self’.
Every object-seeming entity is a verb.
We don’t often experience this, anymore than we experience the spinning earth’s surface moving us away from the sun.
We know this is so yet we experience being on a flat unmoving surface where the sun comes up and goes down.
Enlightenment is when we transcend our noun-base reality and experience constant ever- changing process as reality.
And when we do, so what? The experience is of no value, in the noun sense of value. However we are thereafter content, knowing there is nothing to gain or lose. All there is is to be.

]]> By: The Best Of Graham English 2007 by Graham English http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2291 The Best Of Graham English 2007 by Graham English Mon, 24 Dec 2007 18:30:24 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2291 [...] far the most popular and most controversial post of 2007 was The Zen Of Attraction. I’m surprised at the attention it received because I wrote it as an aside. Some people loved [...] [...] far the most popular and most controversial post of 2007 was The Zen Of Attraction. I’m surprised at the attention it received because I wrote it as an aside. Some people loved [...]

]]> By: Brad Grace » Blog Archive » The Zen Of Attraction http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2217 Brad Grace » Blog Archive » The Zen Of Attraction Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:29:45 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2217 [...] recently Stumbled upon a great blog post that distills “The Law of Attraction” into 10 simple “Zen” principles. The [...] [...] recently Stumbled upon a great blog post that distills “The Law of Attraction” into 10 simple “Zen” principles. The [...]

]]> By: goodfoot08 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/comment-page-2/#comment-2199 goodfoot08 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:36:57 +0000 http://i.grahamenglish.net/576/the-zen-of-attraction/#comment-2199 An interesting article, Graham. I am a first time reader brought here by a recommendation from a StumbleUpon friend. You recast a number of things I tried to express to some well-meaning people who invited me to watch the DVD with them when it was still an internet phenomenon. I tried to explain my reservations to them by aligning myself with their desire for abundance, but argued that material abundance was a dangerous, false god. For that group, I agreed that emotional and spiritual abundance was possible, but a shiny car in a attached garage was not really possible for most people. The desire to then label someone in reduced circumstances, or ill health, is unfair and even dangerous. Ghettos are created around such thinking. But restating this all as being about the rejection of abundance is a really good idea. Based On the the anger and attacks you are getting here, I guess that people are not understanding what you have been patiently trying to explain about clarity and nothing when it is affiliated with Zen. I claim to understand little so I don't want to enter into any arguments about what is real or not. But I find it remarkable that people are claiming this article is "giving up" or does not deal with infirmity or diminished health, or that something as trivial as a parking a car is connected to a positive attitude. It might be helpful for critics of what is said here to read some of the Christian mystics. They follow down the same path in the above piece. An interesting article, Graham. I am a first time reader brought here by a recommendation from a StumbleUpon friend. You recast a number of things I tried to express to some well-meaning people who invited me to watch the DVD with them when it was still an internet phenomenon. I tried to explain my reservations to them by aligning myself with their desire for abundance, but argued that material abundance was a dangerous, false god. For that group, I agreed that emotional and spiritual abundance was possible, but a shiny car in a attached garage was not really possible for most people. The desire to then label someone in reduced circumstances, or ill health, is unfair and even dangerous. Ghettos are created around such thinking.
But restating this all as being about the rejection of abundance is a really good idea. Based On the the anger and attacks you are getting here, I guess that people are not understanding what you have been patiently trying to explain about clarity and nothing when it is affiliated with Zen.
I claim to understand little so I don’t want to enter into any arguments about what is real or not. But I find it remarkable that people are claiming this article is “giving up” or does not deal with infirmity or diminished health, or that something as trivial as a parking a car is connected to a positive attitude.

It might be helpful for critics of what is said here to read some of the Christian mystics. They follow down the same path in the above piece.

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