The Buddhist term Anatman (Sanskrit), or Anatta (Pali) is an adjective
in sutra used to refer to the nature of phenomena as being devoid of
the Soul, that being the ontological and subjective Self (atman)
which is the "light (dipam), and only refuge" [DN 2.100]. Of the 662
occurrences of the term Anatta in the Nikayas, its usage is restricted
to referring to 22 nouns (forms, feelings, perception, experiences,
consciousness, the eye, eye-consciousness, desires, mentation, mental
formations, ear, nose, tongue, body, lusts, things unreal, etc.), all
phenomenal, as being Selfless (anatta). Contrary to countless many
popular (=profane, or = consensus, from which the truth can 'never be
gathered') books (as Buddhologist C.A.F. Davids has deemed them
'miserable little books') written outside the scope of Buddhist
doctrine, there is no "Doctrine of anatta/anatman" mentioned anywhere
in the sutras, rather anatta is used only to refer to impermanent
things/phenomena as other than the Soul, to be anatta, or Self-less
(an-atta).
Specifically in sutra, anatta is used to describe the temporal
and unreal (metaphysically so) nature of any and all composite,
consubstantial, phenomenal, and temporal things, from the macrocosmic,
to ...

RaaN wrote:

It is not possible to see the total lack of absolutes.
Absolutes are in thought, not in reality, and their
absence is also a fortiori in thought, not in reality.
In raw sensation there is neither the absolutes nor
their absence. That is the space of freedom, the
space cleared for freedom.

Tang Huyen

Some people can see the problem this presents right away. Some people
can't even see that there is a problem. I see the problem, but I can't
see any resolution. I am interested in your feedback...

You have two thoughts in conflict, how do you pick a winner?

You have thought A.
You have thought B.
You choose one of them.
Who or what is the "you" that just chose?

EXAMPLE: "I made myself get up early and exercise this morning". This
implies A: I wanted to sleep, B: I wanted to get in shape. Therefore
"I" "chose" thought B.

Can you see the problem?

Do you know the solution??

Chapter 13 of "Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism" by Chögyam
Trungpa.

Summary:

Cutting through our concepts with the sword of prajna, we discern
shunyata: non-being, void, emptiness, the absence of any duality.

The Heart Sutra is the best-known text on this subject. In it, the
Buddha is portrayed as approving of Avalokiteshvara's
discourse. Shariputra with his analytic approach is the receiver of
the teaching.

"O Shariputra, form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Form is not
distinct from emptiness, nor yet is emptiness distinct from form."

Form is the "like this" quality preceding our conceptualization.

So then, what is form empty of? It's empty of our opinions and
views. Form is empty when we are present without taking a position on
it.

Emptiness is also form. When we see things as empty, we form a
view...

Everybody thinks that they know what is justice, but what they
conceive of as justice is different from place to place. The just-
world hypothesis of different people in different places and times
conceive of completely different kinds of justice. And it is by flux
between people and places that any meaningful concept of what is
justice can be attained.

In Muslim and rural Indian cultures, it is seen as justice that man
bludgeon the woman into being his dog and kill her if she disobeys in
the slightest. In American feminist culture, it is seen as justice...

"^@%%>---*=#" wrote:

Indeed, and elementary, too, but
some people can't do it, even after
years and decades of familiarity
with Chan/Zen.

Tang Huyen

"Allen L. Barker" wrote:

Lifeform wrote:

On Parting

Teasing and tempting and playing
We loved like children, us both
But somebody, hiding a smile,
Set up the ungentle nets -
And here we are at the harbor,
Not seeing the wished-for abodes,
But knowing that I will be yours
In the heart, without words, until death.

You told me of all things - so early!
I guessed them so late! In our hearts
A wound is eternal, a silent
Question exists in our eyes,
The desert on earth is so endless,
The heaven, so high, has no stars,
Revealed is the tender secret,
And frost rules for centuries.

Wisdom from the mouth of Tang:

"If you are a sorry fuckup, accept
yourself just that way, namely as a sorry
fuckup, and you will be amazed at how
better you'll feel toward yourself"

:-)