Monday Musings: Losing Your Senses

Steve Olson on Freedom, Politics, and Spirituality Knowledge Is Not Knowing

April 30th, 2007 by Nneka -- Bookmark on del.icio.us

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In my cube I have a sign on a sheet of paper that reads, “Be a Buddha. Empty of desire, full of peace, at one with the Universe.” It’s the first thing you see when you enter. Invariably I get asked, “Are you Buddhist?” “Well, no, I’m not, I just like the saying”, I reply. It’s a reminder that I have a choice.

On Friday, someone remarked that Buddhist monks don’t eat spiced foods because they don’t want to arouse the senses. I told him that would definitely be one of the reasons I couldn’t be Buddhist. I love my senses. I love the dance and drama of life. I enjoy experiencing passion and even sorrow. I really believe that there must be another way. I mean, why incarnate as a human, but spend your time denying the human experience or detaching from it?

Do you have to lose your senses to experience enlightenment and bliss?

In Spirit,
Nneka

Entry Filed under: Spiritual Growth, Spirituality, Personal Development, Monday Musings

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6 Comments Add your own

1. gayle | April 30th, 2007 at 3:43 pm

Hi Nneka,

The Yoga Sutras teach that your senses heighten to teach you, once taught, they leave you. I don’t think it means they literally leave you. I think it means the desire for sensation leaves you and you just accept things for what they are. No seeking pleasure or avoiding pain.
2. Steve Olson | April 30th, 2007 at 4:17 pm

Do you have to lose your senses to experience enlightenment and bliss?

Hell no… you don’t HAVE to do anything to experience enlightenment and bliss. We are all experiencing enlightenment and bliss right now, we just don’t realize it.

:-P
3. David Hollingworth | April 30th, 2007 at 5:13 pm

Some Buddhist monks may not eat spicy food.

I am an Buddhist (though not a monk) and I definitely eat spicy food.

As Steve said, enlightenment isn’t after lifetimes of austerities. Enlightenment is right here, now, in this very moment.

Enjoy it!
4. Nneka | April 30th, 2007 at 10:10 pm

Thanks for the reminder guys I don’t know where this post came from. Information overload, maybe the next one will make more sense.

Cheers,
Nneka
5. Ann M. | May 2nd, 2007 at 10:42 pm

From what I know of Buddhism, Nirvana is considered a perfect state. When we experience something that pleases some aspect of our senses (i.e. the smell of a great perfume, the taste of a good meal, the site of a beautiful piece of art or landscape) then some small version of nirvana has been reached for that aspect of our sense. That is how I view it.
6. Nneka | May 3rd, 2007 at 8:53 am

Ahhh, I like that Ann

They really must start making emoticons that are lotus sitting positions.