Fear of not reaching to destination

[Dhamma]

Thanks for this Dhamma. One more question. I am presently deluded by my ego. Therefore, I don’t see things clearly as they are. So, I want to remove my ego delusion. Is practicing to remove my ego delusion not a goal?

Thanks again,

Middleway

Hi there!

I have a Zen teacher that I am repeating.  She says that it's not wrong to have a goal, but to be focused heavily on it is not wholesome. We are robbed of the present when we are always projecting ourselves into the future, which is not even real.

I agree with that Matthew that no goal is a goal, but Zen Buddhism is all about paradoxes, right? 

Heavily focusing on a goal shows strong ego. I've heard that from different Buddhist teachers.

Trying too hard is often talked about in Zen, too.  I just watched a video by a Zen monk who said that he became happier when stopped trying so hard to be a good boy.

Peace and enlightenment

[Middleway]

Hey Dhamma, why do you think the present is real? When I see, I see a tree, a flower or a chair. I always see the name and form. The names and forms that I see at the present are not reality.

What do you mean when you say present is real?

Best,

Middleway

[raushan]

just a joke Raushan. I am only an idiot, not a Zen master.

Ha ha. So you are doing jokes since you registered on this forum. You have a good sense of humor. Keep it up.

[Dhamma]

Hey Dhamma, why do you think the present is real? When I see, I see a tree, a flower or a chair. I always see the name and form. The names and forms that I see at the present are not reality.

What do you mean when you say present is real?

Best,

Middleway

The past is just memories; the future is projection. The external is only real in the moment we are currently experiencing. Things are constantly changing in the world every second. Even in the atoms and molecules in a chair changes from second to second, even if we cannot see it. The real is only the here and now.

Maybe I didn't answer your question well. I am not philosopher. I often just repeat what I learn from Buddhist teachers.

Please take care, Middleway.

[Middleway]

The past is just memories; the future is projection. The external is only real in the moment we are currently experiencing. Things are constantly changing in the world every second. Even in the atoms and molecules in a chair changes from second to second, even if we cannot see it. The real is only the here and now.

Maybe I didn't answer your question well. I am not philosopher. I often just repeat what I learn from Buddhist teachers.

Please take care, Middleway.

Hi Dhamma,

You are quite right, the past is just bundle of memories.So, when we see “apple” in the present moment, we are already in the past. Why? When we are toddler, we were shown the image of an apple and we’re taught that object is an apple. So, what we see in the present moment is actually memory that it is an Apple. We just re-cognize it which is memory. We miss what is here and now.

Try to see without assigning the name and form. Notice your ego would have to dissolve for that to happen. Ego = memory +intellect.

Best,

Middleway.

[raushan]

The past is just memories; the future is projection.

Hi Dhamma,

You are quite right, the past is just bundle of memories.So, when we see “apple” in the present moment, we are already in the past. Why? When we are toddler, we were shown the image of an apple and we’re taught that object is an apple. So, what we see in the present moment is actually memory that it is an Apple. We just re-cognize it which is memory. We miss what is here and now.

Try to see without assigning the name and form. Notice your ego would have to dissolve for that to happen. Ego = memory +intellect.

Really helpful concepts. Helped me to understand something which I was missing till now.