My own religion...

Only worry about recognizing "heaven" within. Paradise lies within yourself. Happiness comes from within.

Peace and love

 

we want to create it externally.

how can you seriously be in some 'inner paradise' when the world is in the state it's in, and so many suffer so much? It would be a selfish and escapist attempt at burying your head in the sand.

 

I am not suggesting "bury your head in the sand." Recognize that everything is as it is supposed to be, even when there is suffering. Suffering is not bad, people choose to make it bad. Accept suffering for what it is, a temporary condition, just like pleasure is temporary. It is when we grasp to either suffering or pleasure that causes the discomfort.

What I mean by "paradise within" is that you must be happy with yourself and your conditions before the outside world becomes the paradise that you are describing. If everyone recognized that paradise already exists, then we wouldn't have wars or genocides based on grasping to what is temporary.

Before the world will change as you describe, people must be happy with themselves and the temporary conditions of this world. You cannot force paradise on people who are blind to it. They must see it for themselves.

Peace and love

 

I guess I didn't really answer all of the question. Look at the Dali Lama. He lives in paradise, even with all of the injustices that happen in the world. He does what he can to relieve the suffering of others while not getting attached to his actions. In other words, he does what he can and doesn't focus on the outcome. Do what you can to help others, if you can't help, don't hurt others.

Peace and love

 

I'm all for doing anything you can to create positive energy for yourself and others. Let's not argue about that

I'm sure the Dali Lama has deep meditative states which could be described as paradisical. But he also does a lot of work in the world, and I've seen him in interviews express sadness and things like that. In the full version of paradise, there will be no tears..isn't that what they say?

What I like most about the Dalai Lama though is is modest attitude and bearing. He never claims to be enlightened, and laughs off talk of him being an avatar.

 

There are tears in paradise. Paradise is this life and accepting what comes your way. Don't grasp and don't fight. Just be with the Now and this is how you reach heaven within.

Peace and love

 

Sorry HC, I missed this before.

In essence I would agree with you that you need to find happiness, balance and so on within yourself. Certainly unless you do, you can't do much for the world or other people. And it makes sense whatever you believe to be happy. Ads the Dalai Lama says, to seek happiness is natural, and it is what everyone does - only some seek it in the wrong ways.
I'm not suggesting we should all be miserable, or agitated about the negatives in life.

However, to be happy we do need external things too. We need necessities of life, we need other people to relate to, we need love. Maybe human love is temporary - I certainly wouldn't stick my neck out and say either way. And although we can give love, we also need I think, to recieve it. So unless one is some kind of ascetic who wants to withdraw from ordinary relationships, and I have never been that, one has to seek a balance between inner and outer happiness.
I know all too well how external things can break in and destroy inner happiness, even if it seems to come from some high or divine source.
I am also fortunate to know how real joy can come from outside too.

The way I see it, everyone has the potential to be source of positive energy. The problem is I think, that the solution is just too simple for a lot of people who want some complex reason to do what they know perfectly well deep within themselves they should do.

 

The word 'paradise' comes from the xian tradition mainly. I seem to recall that in heaven god will 'wipe away all tears'.

Personally, I don't believe in c/anity. But I suppose I'd say that a lot of the tears shed in this world need never be shed - humans create misery for themselves, and in my view, a lot of it stems from these old religious belief systems which tend to have a negative view about the world and 'material life'.

As to heaven within - I can find a comfortable place to just be most of the time. I'm happy with being me - I don't need to think of it in terms of heaven. It is more like a place of accord - accord with nature both internal and external. Accord with the universe. I am not seeking really for heaven, just happiness here on earth, and I'd prefer it if everyone else were happy too. I think the world would then be nicer place.

 

You said that god would wipe away all tears. Doesn't that imply that one must cry in paradise so god can wipe?

I digress. I agree with your post. Happiness, true happiness is heaven. And it sounds like you found your place within yourself. Right on

Peace and love

 

Yes.

 

Heywood - to whom are you adressing this?

 

entities coexist. you cant just ignore the reality around you and 'turn within' to escape.

thats called wisdom. your inner space and outside reality exists together. one needs to balance both, not escape one.

those who try to control outside reality for their own safety and/or preference get devoid of inner space, those who escape to their inner space get devoid of reality.

 

I never said to do that. I just stated a fact, that you can't find happiness outside yourself. You misunderstood my words. Paradise comes from accepting what you can't change and doing what you can on the outside. Not to bury your head in the sand. Not to turn from reality, but to accept reality, both inner and outer.

My point was that you won't find happiness outside yourself, no matter how hard you search. First you must be happy with you, then you can make changes.

Peace and love

 

I disagree completely.

There are heaps of things in the world that can make you happy. Ice cream. Puppies. Children. Rainbows. Roses. Kindly strangers. Babies. Springtime. Autumn leaves. Campfires. Music. A good book. Poetry. Stars. Other people. Love. Family. Parties. Talking. Bungee jumping. Scuba diving. Weird coincidences. Amusement parks. Caves. Trees. I could go on all night...

And you NEVER state 'facts', HC666, you state OPINIONS. If they were facts, you wouldn't be pulling them out of your ass.

 

I think you need to be balanced within yourself,you have to know what you want, but I certainly think you can find happiness outside. Look for example at love, by which I mean human relationships - they can be great source of happiness, and so can many other things. Anything really that you like or enjoy. Just the sunshine even...

Ok - it may not last forever, but we actually have no proof that anything lasts forever.

I'd agree with the idea that we need a balance of inner and outer happiness.
The problem with world denying views is that they often don't really lead to happiness, and often do lead to fanaticism.

Sometimes it can be hard to find happiness either within or without - those are times you just have to keep going.

 

Yes but these external things are not making you
happy, YOU are making you happy by allowing
yourself to enjoy your sense perceptions.
It's like when you get a cut on your finger, your
finger does not hurt, your brain is making you
sense a pain in your finger.
Pain doesnt come from the finger, and happiness
does not come from material things.
It comes from yourself. -

 

Perhaps it comes from a blending of whats inside and whats outside.
Sometimes, external things can connect you more closely with whats inside.
Music for instance.

 

For crying out loud! If you say that it's my brain that's making me happy then I guess there is no external at all, because my brain makes everything I know, and I'm pretty sure that everyone else is in the same boat. And if there is no external then there is no internal, no without, no within.

Therefore, Jesus was a big fat liar.

 

happines is a combination of whats outside and whats inside.

as per the 'infinite existence' concept, or 'unity' concept as some say, everything simultaneously exists in the same unity.

therefore, when something outside is unhappy, it, with a magnitude affects your happiness. the vice versa is also true.

one's inner space has much greater effect on overall happiness correct, but numerous external factors can negate whatever you have in you - ie you cant be happy in 1942 in dresden on top of a building if bombs are falling around. at least you cant go on maintaining that happiness. eventually you get blasted.

 

you contradicted yourself. prove that she is pulling them out of her ass.