Guest guest Posted February 3, 2000 Report Share Posted February 3, 2000 Observations about the word " realization " : The word realization implies a movement from a state that is less complete and authentic to a state that is more complete and authentic. However, whatsuch a movement never arrives, if it did realization would be reduced to stasis. Can never-arriving movement justifiably be called realization? Some say realization is where you already are. If that is true, there is nothing to realize. So why call it realization? All apparent movement is transition, but we can never say transition of what. Judgments made about what is moving, or where movement is from and to are relative, necessarily arbitrary, based on assumption and inference. We try to concretize such judgments for the sake of social discourse and interaction. Transition that never arrives, can't be said to begin at any point either. Such movement can't be said truthfully to be either ignorance or realization. The judgment that this is even transition depends entirely on whether one makes comparisons or not. Transitory compared with what? And the nontransitory is unmoving compared with what? Each defines the other, each depends on a comparison-maker. What happens to such comparisons when the one who makes them is not there? The one who appears to be making comparisons actually is the result of making comparisons and contrasts. When all " mental comparisons " are dropped, the comparison-maker isn't there. At this moment, all is dropped, and there is neither realization nor lack of realization, nor is there a realizer. This dropping of realization is itself " realization, " which as a name is no better or worse than other misleading names such as " unconditional being, " " emptiness, " or " God. " Each name suggests a quality or negates a quality, thus any name involves mental comparison, and any and every assertion and negation ceases when there is " realization. " Love, Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2000 Report Share Posted February 3, 2000 When I was young and pretty (HAH!) I remember reading one of Rob't Heinlein's characters, Jubal Harshaw saying, " I have the arrogant humility of someone whe finally realizes how ignorant I really am. " I have always thought that this was a majestic use of words, as well as a lesson to be learned. Dan Berkow, PhD wrote: > > " Dan Berkow, PhD " <berkowd > > Observations about the word " realization " : > > The word realization implies a movement > from a state that is less complete and authentic > to a state that is more complete and authentic. > > However, whatsuch a movement never arrives, if it did > realization would be reduced to stasis. > Can never-arriving movement justifiably be called realization? > > Some say realization is where you already are. > If that is true, there is nothing to realize. > So why call it realization? > > All apparent movement is transition, but we can never say > transition of what. Judgments made about what is moving, > or where movement is from and to are relative, necessarily arbitrary, > based on assumption and inference. We try to concretize such > judgments for the sake of social discourse and interaction. > > Transition that never arrives, can't be said to begin at any point either. > Such movement can't be said truthfully to be either ignorance or realization. > The judgment that this is even transition depends entirely on whether one > makes comparisons or not. Transitory compared with what? And the > nontransitory is unmoving compared with what? Each defines the other, each > depends on a comparison-maker. > > What happens to such comparisons when the one > who makes them is not there? > The one who appears to be making comparisons actually > is the result of making comparisons and contrasts. > When all " mental comparisons " are dropped, the comparison-maker isn't there. > > At this moment, all is dropped, and there is > neither realization nor lack of realization, nor is there > a realizer. This dropping of realization is itself " realization, " > which as a name is no better or worse than other misleading names > such as " unconditional being, " " emptiness, " or " God. " > Each name suggests a quality or negates a quality, thus any name > involves mental comparison, and any and every assertion and negation > ceases when there is " realization. " > > Love, Dan > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > > GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds. Get rates as low as 0.0 percent > Intro or 9.9 percent Fixed APR and no hidden fees. Apply NOW. > <a href= " http://clickme./ad/NextcardCreative5CL " >Click Here</a> > > ------ > > ..........INFORMATION ABOUT THIS LIST.......... > > Email addresses: > Post message: Realization > Un: Realization- > Our web address: http://www.realization.org > > By sending a message to this list, you are giving > permission to have it reproduced as a letter on > http://www.realization.org > ................................................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2000 Report Share Posted February 3, 2000 Dan, When one posits the word realization at that time the word non-realization automatically is inferred. What is ones understanding of their condition when neither is posited? When the opposites disappear from awareness what remains? Sounds perhaps like silence. Yes? No? Maybe? Huh? Victor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 6, 2000 Report Share Posted February 6, 2000 Hi Dan, Unless you object, I'd like to print this letter on the website. Can you tell me how this sentence should read? (There's a typo in it) -- " However, whatsuch a movement never arrives, if it did realization would be reduced to stasis. " Also, would you like your email address to appear on the website? thanks, Love, Laura - Dan Berkow, PhD <berkowd <Realization > Thursday, February 03, 2000 12:15 PM the word " realization " > " Dan Berkow, PhD " <berkowd > > Observations about the word " realization " : > > The word realization implies a movement > from a state that is less complete and authentic > to a state that is more complete and authentic. > > However, whatsuch a movement never arrives, if it did > realization would be reduced to stasis. > Can never-arriving movement justifiably be called realization? > > Some say realization is where you already are. > If that is true, there is nothing to realize. > So why call it realization? > > All apparent movement is transition, but we can never say > transition of what. Judgments made about what is moving, > or where movement is from and to are relative, necessarily arbitrary, > based on assumption and inference. We try to concretize such > judgments for the sake of social discourse and interaction. > > Transition that never arrives, can't be said to begin at any point either. > Such movement can't be said truthfully to be either ignorance or realization. > The judgment that this is even transition depends entirely on whether one > makes comparisons or not. Transitory compared with what? And the > nontransitory is unmoving compared with what? Each defines the other, each > depends on a comparison-maker. > > What happens to such comparisons when the one > who makes them is not there? > The one who appears to be making comparisons actually > is the result of making comparisons and contrasts. > When all " mental comparisons " are dropped, the comparison-maker isn't there. > > At this moment, all is dropped, and there is > neither realization nor lack of realization, nor is there > a realizer. This dropping of realization is itself " realization, " > which as a name is no better or worse than other misleading names > such as " unconditional being, " " emptiness, " or " God. " > Each name suggests a quality or negates a quality, thus any name > involves mental comparison, and any and every assertion and negation > ceases when there is " realization. " > > Love, Dan > > > > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > > GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds. Get rates as low as 0.0 percent > Intro or 9.9 percent Fixed APR and no hidden fees. Apply NOW. > <a href= " http://clickme./ad/NextcardCreative5CL " >Click Here</a> > > ------ > > ..........INFORMATION ABOUT THIS LIST.......... > > Email addresses: > Post message: Realization > Un: Realization- > Our web address: http://www.realization.org > > By sending a message to this list, you are giving > permission to have it reproduced as a letter on > http://www.realization.org > ................................................ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.