Dependent Co-Arising
@asitisnow.bsky.social
Meditation, philosophy, lucid dreaming
You are prior to the idea 'I am'. Camp yourself there, prior to the words 'I am'.
—Nisargadatta
You are prior to the idea 'I am'. Camp yourself there, prior to the words 'I am'.
—Nisargadatta
Pinned
![There are moral dangers here. To take what might seem an “objective” economic approach to the origins of the world economy would be to treat the behavior of early European explorers, merchants, and conquerors as if they were simply rational responses to opportunities―as if this were just what anyone would have done in the same situation. This is what the use of equations [in economics] so often does: make it seem perfectly natural to assume that, if the price of silver in China is twice that of what it is in Seville, and inhabitants of Seville are capable of getting their hands on large quantities of silver and transporting it to China, then clearly they will, even if doing so requires the destruction of entire civilizations. . . . In fact, history makes it quite clear that this is not the case. Any number of civilizations have probably been in a position to wreak havoc on the scale that the European powers did in the 16th and 17th centuries, . . . but almost none actually did so.
― David Graeber (in Debt: The First 5,000 Years)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tqlqtnaocssoxvmsxethedjn/bafkreictu2kpcugq6g3tnc6lzy7bqdeg7moq7ynrqtdizracf2u5wv3kbu@jpeg)
Immorality often arises from unexamined and deeply flawed assumptions that are held up as "conventional knowledge" (or, worse, as "wisdom"):
Reposted by Dependent Co-Arising
Bird Cloud, Lyonel Feininger 1926
November 10, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Bird Cloud, Lyonel Feininger 1926
All [phenomena] are defined by emptiness [infinite interconnectedness],
not by birth or destruction,
purity or defilement,
completeness or deficiency.
― The Heart Sutra (transl. Red Pine)
not by birth or destruction,
purity or defilement,
completeness or deficiency.
― The Heart Sutra (transl. Red Pine)
November 14, 2025 at 11:42 AM
All [phenomena] are defined by emptiness [infinite interconnectedness],
not by birth or destruction,
purity or defilement,
completeness or deficiency.
― The Heart Sutra (transl. Red Pine)
not by birth or destruction,
purity or defilement,
completeness or deficiency.
― The Heart Sutra (transl. Red Pine)
The ultimate truth transcends all kinds of notions, including notions of being and nonbeing, birth and death, coming and going. If you don’t let go of these notions, you can never touch the ultimate.
― Thich Nhat Hanh
― Thich Nhat Hanh
November 13, 2025 at 11:30 AM
The ultimate truth transcends all kinds of notions, including notions of being and nonbeing, birth and death, coming and going. If you don’t let go of these notions, you can never touch the ultimate.
― Thich Nhat Hanh
― Thich Nhat Hanh
"Everything becomes commonplace by explanation."
Always very useful to bear in mind when engaging in contemplative practice—when something deeply astonishing is experienced/revealed, the analytical intellect often makes a real hash of it.
Always very useful to bear in mind when engaging in contemplative practice—when something deeply astonishing is experienced/revealed, the analytical intellect often makes a real hash of it.
November 12, 2025 at 10:33 PM
"Everything becomes commonplace by explanation."
Always very useful to bear in mind when engaging in contemplative practice—when something deeply astonishing is experienced/revealed, the analytical intellect often makes a real hash of it.
Always very useful to bear in mind when engaging in contemplative practice—when something deeply astonishing is experienced/revealed, the analytical intellect often makes a real hash of it.
Reposted by Dependent Co-Arising
The X5.1 CME has impacted Earth with a strength of around 37 nT. This is a strong impact, but the Bz remains positive. It is possible we see the Bz turn south, so don't get upset about this. Conditions can quickly pivot during events, especially in the beginning of a CME passage.
November 12, 2025 at 7:25 PM
The X5.1 CME has impacted Earth with a strength of around 37 nT. This is a strong impact, but the Bz remains positive. It is possible we see the Bz turn south, so don't get upset about this. Conditions can quickly pivot during events, especially in the beginning of a CME passage.
Saw a snake stretched out on a sunlit path while out running. It was quite something to briefly behold the exquisitely chiselled head and beautiful banding pattern, only to see it dissolve into a long shiny twig a moment later. The mind is a marvellous magician (and a sneaky one at that).
November 12, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Saw a snake stretched out on a sunlit path while out running. It was quite something to briefly behold the exquisitely chiselled head and beautiful banding pattern, only to see it dissolve into a long shiny twig a moment later. The mind is a marvellous magician (and a sneaky one at that).
Reposted by Dependent Co-Arising
Buddhism in a nutshell.
Leigh Brasington on the Three Trainings of the Buddha
November 12, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Buddhism in a nutshell.
Rely on the meaning, not on the letters.
Rely on the transcendent wisdom, not on ordinary consciousness.
Rely on the teaching, not on the person.
Rely on sūtras of definitive meaning, not on sūtras of provisional meaning.
— Ugraparipṛcchā Sūtra
Rely on the transcendent wisdom, not on ordinary consciousness.
Rely on the teaching, not on the person.
Rely on sūtras of definitive meaning, not on sūtras of provisional meaning.
— Ugraparipṛcchā Sūtra
November 12, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Rely on the meaning, not on the letters.
Rely on the transcendent wisdom, not on ordinary consciousness.
Rely on the teaching, not on the person.
Rely on sūtras of definitive meaning, not on sūtras of provisional meaning.
— Ugraparipṛcchā Sūtra
Rely on the transcendent wisdom, not on ordinary consciousness.
Rely on the teaching, not on the person.
Rely on sūtras of definitive meaning, not on sūtras of provisional meaning.
— Ugraparipṛcchā Sūtra
Unlike a computer, the human mind is capable of perception, or recognition. This function is the "unborn" aspect of mind.... It's this aspect of mind that can truly see Reality. Indeed, it's completely One with Reality.
—Steve Hagen (in Why the World Doesn't Seem to Make Sense)
—Steve Hagen (in Why the World Doesn't Seem to Make Sense)
November 11, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Unlike a computer, the human mind is capable of perception, or recognition. This function is the "unborn" aspect of mind.... It's this aspect of mind that can truly see Reality. Indeed, it's completely One with Reality.
—Steve Hagen (in Why the World Doesn't Seem to Make Sense)
—Steve Hagen (in Why the World Doesn't Seem to Make Sense)
I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.
— Attributed to Mark Twain
— Attributed to Mark Twain
November 10, 2025 at 11:44 AM
I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.
— Attributed to Mark Twain
— Attributed to Mark Twain
People go abroad to admire the heights of mountains, the mighty waves of the sea, the broad tides of rivers, the compass of the ocean, and the circuits of the stars, and yet pass by themselves without a thought.
― Saint Augustine
― Saint Augustine
November 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM
People go abroad to admire the heights of mountains, the mighty waves of the sea, the broad tides of rivers, the compass of the ocean, and the circuits of the stars, and yet pass by themselves without a thought.
― Saint Augustine
― Saint Augustine
The defining characteristics of the domains of conditioned phenomena and of the ultimate are free from being distinct or indistinct. Those who imagine them to be distinct or indistinct are mistaken.
― Unravelling the Intent: Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra (transl. 84000)
― Unravelling the Intent: Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra (transl. 84000)
November 8, 2025 at 4:20 PM
The defining characteristics of the domains of conditioned phenomena and of the ultimate are free from being distinct or indistinct. Those who imagine them to be distinct or indistinct are mistaken.
― Unravelling the Intent: Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra (transl. 84000)
― Unravelling the Intent: Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra (transl. 84000)
Most of Western culture (including science) is based on an idea that's little more than a hunch:
November 7, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Most of Western culture (including science) is based on an idea that's little more than a hunch:
The policies of the new NYC mayor would be considered barely left of center in most of Europe, but the US as whole (including most Democrats) has moved so far to the right that he's considered a radical outlier. High time to recalibrate and re-center.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Europeans recognize Zohran Mamdani’s supposedly radical policies as ‘normal’
Critics of New York City’s mayor-elect have said his pledges of free bus service and universal childcare are unrealistic, but in Europe it’s a given
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:34 PM
The policies of the new NYC mayor would be considered barely left of center in most of Europe, but the US as whole (including most Democrats) has moved so far to the right that he's considered a radical outlier. High time to recalibrate and re-center.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
[D]reaming can be viewed as the special case of perception without the constraints of external sensory input. Conversely, [waking] perception can be viewed as the special case of dreaming constrained by sensory input.
— Stephen LaBerge
— Stephen LaBerge
November 6, 2025 at 1:09 PM
[D]reaming can be viewed as the special case of perception without the constraints of external sensory input. Conversely, [waking] perception can be viewed as the special case of dreaming constrained by sensory input.
— Stephen LaBerge
— Stephen LaBerge
Reposted by Dependent Co-Arising
There's a sort of bardo between thoughts.
When a thought we're chewing on gets old, we habitually disengage and attach to the next.
By claiming the space between, concepts stop arising in a way that distracts.
Time does not exist there. Self is not imposed. Other do not arise. Peace just is.
When a thought we're chewing on gets old, we habitually disengage and attach to the next.
By claiming the space between, concepts stop arising in a way that distracts.
Time does not exist there. Self is not imposed. Other do not arise. Peace just is.
November 5, 2025 at 4:50 PM
There's a sort of bardo between thoughts.
When a thought we're chewing on gets old, we habitually disengage and attach to the next.
By claiming the space between, concepts stop arising in a way that distracts.
Time does not exist there. Self is not imposed. Other do not arise. Peace just is.
When a thought we're chewing on gets old, we habitually disengage and attach to the next.
By claiming the space between, concepts stop arising in a way that distracts.
Time does not exist there. Self is not imposed. Other do not arise. Peace just is.
If you are free from your own mind and senses, nothing can bind you; then you are really free. Even imperial power, even dictatorship, can never bind you. You are not afraid of anything.
— Swami Satchidananda (in: The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali)
— Swami Satchidananda (in: The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali)
November 5, 2025 at 2:34 PM
If you are free from your own mind and senses, nothing can bind you; then you are really free. Even imperial power, even dictatorship, can never bind you. You are not afraid of anything.
— Swami Satchidananda (in: The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali)
— Swami Satchidananda (in: The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali)
Reposted by Dependent Co-Arising
My assessment of where America stands, one year after the election.
A fascistic movement controls the government; they are building an authoritarian state; but they have not been able yet to extend authoritarian rule across society. A democracy no more, but not a consolidated autocratic regime yet:
A fascistic movement controls the government; they are building an authoritarian state; but they have not been able yet to extend authoritarian rule across society. A democracy no more, but not a consolidated autocratic regime yet:
Revolutionary Escalation, Semi-Authoritarian “Normalization,” or a Democratic Turnaround?
One year after the election: What we can say with certainty about the state of the Trumpist assault, where uncertainty lies, and where America might go from here.
New piece:
One year after the election: What we can say with certainty about the state of the Trumpist assault, where uncertainty lies, and where America might go from here.
New piece:
Escalation, Authoritarian “Normalization,” or a Democratic Turnaround?
One year after the election: What we can say with certainty about the state of the Trumpist assault, where uncertainty lies, and where America might go from here
steady.page
November 4, 2025 at 1:19 AM
My assessment of where America stands, one year after the election.
A fascistic movement controls the government; they are building an authoritarian state; but they have not been able yet to extend authoritarian rule across society. A democracy no more, but not a consolidated autocratic regime yet:
A fascistic movement controls the government; they are building an authoritarian state; but they have not been able yet to extend authoritarian rule across society. A democracy no more, but not a consolidated autocratic regime yet:
When a mute tastes the sweetness of sugar, he can taste it, but he is unable to describe the experience. Similarly, when we look directly into the nature of mind we cannot really describe how this mind is actually experienced.
― Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche (in Crystal Clear)
― Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche (in Crystal Clear)
November 4, 2025 at 1:03 PM
When a mute tastes the sweetness of sugar, he can taste it, but he is unable to describe the experience. Similarly, when we look directly into the nature of mind we cannot really describe how this mind is actually experienced.
― Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche (in Crystal Clear)
― Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche (in Crystal Clear)
Reposted by Dependent Co-Arising
Donate to your local food pantries and shelters. We still have no idea whether the emergency funds will be released and they’re not enough to cover full costs.
Build mutual aid. The only way we get out of this mess is to reinvigorate our sense of interconnectedness.
Build mutual aid. The only way we get out of this mess is to reinvigorate our sense of interconnectedness.
November 3, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Donate to your local food pantries and shelters. We still have no idea whether the emergency funds will be released and they’re not enough to cover full costs.
Build mutual aid. The only way we get out of this mess is to reinvigorate our sense of interconnectedness.
Build mutual aid. The only way we get out of this mess is to reinvigorate our sense of interconnectedness.
"[O]ver 40% of the US population, including nearly 50% of children, are considered low-income. . . ."
In almost any other culture (including early Christianity) this would be considered a disgrace, a sign that society is failing.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
In almost any other culture (including early Christianity) this would be considered a disgrace, a sign that society is failing.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Top 10 US billionaires’ collective wealth grew by $698bn in past year – report
Oxfam warns Trump policies risk driving inequality to new heights – but Democrats have also exacerbated wealth gap
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"[O]ver 40% of the US population, including nearly 50% of children, are considered low-income. . . ."
In almost any other culture (including early Christianity) this would be considered a disgrace, a sign that society is failing.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
In almost any other culture (including early Christianity) this would be considered a disgrace, a sign that society is failing.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
You must give up all you have read and heard, and just be. Don't be carried away by concepts. Truth is eternal; whatever you can grasp is unreal.
― Nisargadatta (in Consciousness and the Absolute)
― Nisargadatta (in Consciousness and the Absolute)
November 3, 2025 at 1:21 PM
You must give up all you have read and heard, and just be. Don't be carried away by concepts. Truth is eternal; whatever you can grasp is unreal.
― Nisargadatta (in Consciousness and the Absolute)
― Nisargadatta (in Consciousness and the Absolute)
Reposted by Dependent Co-Arising
From my book THEY KNEW, written in 2021, on Trump's plans. This is what's happening now.
November 3, 2025 at 1:56 AM
From my book THEY KNEW, written in 2021, on Trump's plans. This is what's happening now.
If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks of his cavern.
― William Blake (in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell)
― William Blake (in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell)
November 2, 2025 at 9:25 PM
If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks of his cavern.
― William Blake (in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell)
― William Blake (in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell)
Many of us pathologize our nightmares as symptoms of a broken mind and so naturally try to get rid of them. In fact, nightmares are not only one of the most visceral ways to meet our shadow, but often also a sign that the mind is healing.
― Charlie Morley (in Dreaming Through Darkness)
― Charlie Morley (in Dreaming Through Darkness)
November 1, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Many of us pathologize our nightmares as symptoms of a broken mind and so naturally try to get rid of them. In fact, nightmares are not only one of the most visceral ways to meet our shadow, but often also a sign that the mind is healing.
― Charlie Morley (in Dreaming Through Darkness)
― Charlie Morley (in Dreaming Through Darkness)