Being in the World

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Walk the Path

walk the path.

walk it again.
walk it with full awareness,
full presence. turn.
do it again.

walk the path.
do not think.
just walk the path
with full presence.

watch the arising of
ten thousand things

and their passing away.
turn.
do it again.

My Life

read 10,000 books.
sit 10,000 days.
walk 10,000 miles.

The Meaning of Life…

…is Ours to Choose

Our basic choice is to determine the meaning of our life. Specifically, we must choose whether to accept the default mode of being in the world and allow external forces to assign meaning to our life, or to assume that responsibility for ourselves.

We are in a difficult position. We find ourselves in an embodiment and situation we did not choose, in a world we do not understand or control. The meaning of our life is not immediately apparent. However, we require certain resources to maintain our existence, and it seems that these are under the exclusive control of others.

Empty Your Cup, then Wake Up

I have heard:

Once the great Japanese Master Nan-in gave audience to a Western professor of philosophy. Serving tea, Nan-in filled his visitor’s cup and kept on pouring. The overflowing tea filled up the saucer, spilled over into the tray, and still Nan-in kept pouring. The professor watched the overflow until he could restrain himself no longer: “Stop! The cup is full; no more can go in.”

Nan-in said: “Like this cup, you are too full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you the Buddha’s teaching unless first you empty your cup?”

Like the professor, you want to learn something about the Buddha’s teaching; that’s why you are here. But if you are there, then you are full—filled with own self. Even if you feel that you are empty, then you are not empty at all: you are still there. Who is feeing empty? Only the name has changed: now you call yourself ‘emptiness’.

Being in the World 7: Conclusions

This is a series on Existentialism and phenomenology based on Heidegger’s masterpiece Being and Time [26-MB PDF]. This series presents an extended ontological analysis of a subject that concerns and involves us all: Being in the World. Each section of the analysis will be accompanied by a detailed Study Guide giving directions for further observation and study.

We analyze the ontic qualities of being in the world according to the ontological criteria and phenomenological methods given in the previous series, Becoming Genius. Needless to say, a working knowledge and practical familiarity with the methods presented in our previous series will be necessary to follow the discussion in Being in the World [490-KB PDF].

Click the link to go to MediaFire streaming. For the best experience, download the file to you computer and use Quicktime Player, which recognizes Chapterized AAC encoding, to display the graphics.

Being in the World 7: Conclusions

 

Being in the World 6: Study Guide

Each section of Being in the World is accompanied by a detailed Study Guide giving directions for further observation and study. Please go through it carefully and contemplate the issues raised.

Click the link to go to MediaFire streaming. For the best experience, download the file to you computer and use Quicktime Player, which recognizes Chapterized AAC encoding, to display the graphics.

Being in the World 6: Study Guide

 

Being in the World 6: A Basis for Choice

This is a series on Existentialism and phenomenology based on Heidegger’s masterpiece Being and Time [26-MB PDF]. This series presents an extended ontological analysis of a subject that concerns and involves us all: Being in the World. Each section of the analysis will be accompanied by a detailed Study Guide giving directions for further observation and study.

We analyze the ontic qualities of being in the world according to the ontological criteria and phenomenological methods given in the previous series, Becoming Genius. Needless to say, a working knowledge and practical familiarity with the methods presented in our previous series will be necessary to follow the discussion in Being in the World [490-KB PDF].

Click the link to go to MediaFire player. For the best experience, download the file to your computer and use Quicktime Player, which recognizes Chapterized AAC encoding, to display the graphics.

Being in the World 6: A Basis for Choice

 

Being in the World 5: Study Guide

Each section of Being in the World is accompanied by a detailed Study Guide giving directions for further observation and study. Please go through it carefully and contemplate the issues raised.

Click the link to go to MediaFire player. For the best experience, download the file to your computer and use Quicktime Player, which recognizes Chapterized AAC encoding, to display the graphics.

Being in the World 5: Study Guide

 

Being in the World 5: Impending Death

This is a series on Existentialism and phenomenology based on Heidegger’s masterpiece Being and Time [26-MB PDF]. This series presents an extended ontological analysis of a subject that concerns and involves us all: Being in the World. Each section of the analysis will be accompanied by a detailed Study Guide giving directions for further observation and study.

We analyze the ontic qualities of being in the world according to the ontological criteria and phenomenological methods given in the previous series, Becoming Genius. Needless to say, a working knowledge and practical familiarity with the methods presented in our previous series will be necessary to follow the discussion in Being in the World [490-KB PDF].

Click the link to go to MediaFire player. For best experience, download the file to your computer and use Quicktime Player, which recognizes Chapterized AAC encoding, to display the graphics.

Being in the World 5: Impending Death