[Ian Lancaster]

The thing about contentment is that it's not really 100% linked to the exterior world.  You can have a good business, a nice family, lovely Missis, money in the bank, good health, etc, etc, etc, and yet still not feel content.

And although the basic things we need to live are important, such as food, clothing, a roof over our heads, a computer, a car, a van mounted WFP system with a flow controller; really contentment is more of a state of mind, more than anything else.

So I told anyway.  I'm not content.  And just wait till something 'bad' happens; many of us here are going to get illnesses, cancer, heart problems, mental health problems, have loved ones die etc.

In fact I'd go as far to say that if you're having a good time right now, just wait, something bad is going to happen.  'Good times' are the short bits in-between 'bad things happening'.

This is the nature of life.

Anyway, stay positive, be kind, and don't drink too much.

Regards,

Tosh

Poor old Tosh, half of what was in your glass to start with has gone already

Now me, I look at my glass and think: 67 this year and so far I've only used half the glass full - got all that left to enjoy for what time there is still

[Tom White]

Yep!  And we could get cancer tomorrow and die happy!

Wonderful! 

[combat1]

blimey! lets get back on track, yes i'm fairly content, after 20 years in sales this is the perfect life for me, a bit sad maybe but I love it. Always done the window cleaning and couldnt wait to become full time, now after 3 yrs full time am happier than i've been in a long time.
Got the WFP going well, although still using backpack and barrels (at 60) so longing for a van mount,but it will come.
Had first child at 58, planned, so this life gives me plenty of time to enjoy being a dad.

[Andy Prittchard]

Yep!  And we could get cancer tomorrow and die happy!

Wonderful! 

Not if you got cancer tomorrow and didn't die for quite some time thereafter, you wouldn't be so happy.  Or would you?  I doubt it.

[Tom White]

Yep!  And we could get cancer tomorrow and die happy!

Wonderful! 

Not if you got cancer tomorrow and didn't die for quite some time thereafter, you wouldn't be so happy.  Or would you?  I doubt it.

I wouldn't be so contented then would I?  But actually, this Buddhism lark focusses a lot of attention on the suffering of ageing and death; that's not to say they wait for it; it's going to happen anyway; the bunch of miserable gits; Tibetan Buddhists! 

Anyway, who cares?  I bet most of us are contented at times, discontented at other times; happy sometimes, sad sometimes.  Such is the nature of that ever present mental factor called 'feeling'.
Feelings come, stay for a while and change to another feeling; all things are impermanent, in a state of flux and subject to change; an' all that malarkey.

[boshravie]

The thing about contentment is that it's not really 100% linked to the exterior world.  You can have a good business, a nice family, lovely Missis, money in the bank, good health, etc, etc, etc, and yet still not feel content.

And although the basic things we need to live are important, such as food, clothing, a roof over our heads, a computer, a car, a van mounted WFP system with a flow controller; really contentment is more of a state of mind, more than anything else.

So I told anyway.  I'm not content.  And just wait till something 'bad' happens; many of us here are going to get illnesses, cancer, heart problems, mental health problems, have loved ones die etc.


WELL SAID SIR 

In fact I'd go as far to say that if you're having a good time right now, just wait, something bad is going to happen.  'Good times' are the short bits in-between 'bad things happening'.

This is the nature of life.

Anyway, stay positive, be kind, and don't drink too much.

Regards,

Tosh

Poor old Tosh, half of what was in your glass to start with has gone already

Now me, I look at my glass and think: 67 this year and so far I've only used half the glass full - got all that left to enjoy for what time there is still

[ps outthere]

It's life.
I am still putting my prices up.
We have to make a living and, that is all i am doing.

[Tom White]

But you seem to think that if you changed from whatever state you are in now (post sex with your dog or whatever,) to getting cancer that you would be 'happy'?

I didn't say that!  I don't know how I'll feel when I get cancer.  However, I thought I had cancer in my testicles once though (well my right testicle to be precise); I found a lump while having a fiddle in the bath; it interested my GP and a specialist for a while, but I was okay about it.

And I honestly don't know how I'll feel when (and if) I'm given notice of my impending demise; though I regularly meditate on my own death.  It might sound a bit morbid, but the point is to focus me on living 'right'; it helps prioritise what's important.  When my time is up, I hope I'll go peacefully, but that remains to be seen.

Are you sure?  I don't think you are sure, Tosh, and if you think about it, what you, yes, YOU, should be more concerned about is your level of CERTAINTY, not the actual state of your mind.

Our whole world is constructed in our minds; it can't be any other way if you think about it logically and rationally.  But I'm not sure what you're going on about.

ie, be happy, be sad, be that feeling that you are, but why don't you just check out how SURE you are that you are actually 'there', in that zone?

I feel neutral now; neither happy nor sad.  I don't have to 'check' anything.  It's there!  Mind is clear and knowing - that's it natural state (you'd see that if you meditate; when your mind clears of cognitive thought); our feelings - a mental factor - colours our mind and we 'feel'.  

What's there to check?

[Andy Prittchard]

I'm not good with that clever quoting thing you did there, so I'll just reply in red colour, just like Gold when he's trying, although failing to be pertinent.

But you seem to think that if you changed from whatever state you are in now (post sex with your dog or whatever,) to getting cancer that you would be 'happy'?

I didn't say that!  I don't know how I'll feel when I get cancer.  However, I thought I had cancer in my testicles once though (well my right testicle to be precise); I found a lump while having a fiddle in the bath; it interested my GP and a specialist for a while, but I was okay about it.
That's nowhere good enough for being close to dying from cancer.  For example, if you were that close, you might at this moment barely be able to breathe.  Let alone think.
And I honestly don't know how I'll feel when (and if) I'm given notice of my impending demise; though I regularly meditate on my own death.  It might sound a bit morbid, but the point is to focus me on living 'right'; it helps prioritise what's important.  When my time is up, I hope I'll go peacefully, but that remains to be seen.

Are you sure?  I don't think you are sure, Tosh, and if you think about it, what you, yes, YOU, should be more concerned about is your level of CERTAINTY, not the actual state of your mind.

Our whole world is constructed in our minds; it can't be any other way if you think about it logically and rationally.  But I'm not sure what you're going on about.
It's not that difficult, Tosh.  You seem to jabber on about 'hereness' and other intangibles as if they are certainties.  I don't think anything is certain, and I'm surprised you seem to take certainty of existence for granted.  Maybe I'm missing something in our writings?

ie, be happy, be sad, be that feeling that you are, but why don't you just check out how SURE you are that you are actually 'there', in that zone?

I feel neutral now; neither happy nor sad.  I don't have to 'check' anything.  It's there!  Mind is clear and knowing - that's it natural state (you'd see that if you meditate; when your mind clears of cognitive thought); our feelings - a mental factor - colours our mind and we 'feel'. 

What's there to check?

That's up to you.  I'd check your certainty quotient, for staters.

Got to go, the ole bitch wants a go on the 'puter.

Slag.  (rolly eyes etc.)

[Bushboy]

Wow , I never knew window cleaners were so deep,  

I'm happy with my lot , I've been doing this for about a year now , bought
A established round , was a area manager a feŵ years back for tesco
& hated every minute of the 25 years I gave them blood suckers ,

When I left tesco I went into business & it was a big success , but then found
I was doing the same as tescos & doing 100 hours a week & beating staff up all
Day .

So sold up looking for the holy grail ie to work & enjoy myself , a good mate once told me Your a lucky f#u#cker if you go to work & enjoy yourself ,

Well window cleaning does that , sad but I like the hard graft & the ethos what you put in you get out .  

Plus no staff to worry about happy days .

[H S and Son]

Got to go, the ole bitch wants a go on the 'puter.

Slag.  (rolly eyes etc.)

 

[Tom White]

Andy Prittchard said:

I don't think anything is certain, and I'm surprised you seem to take certainty of existence for granted.  Maybe I'm missing something in our writings?

Who says I take the certainty of existence for granted?  There's Two Truths here; one conventionally correct, and the other ultimately correct.  Conventionally, of course I have to take the certainty of existence as real.  If a car is coming towards me, I'm going to move out of the way; because it would be stupid not to.

But at an ultimate level, there is another truth that's analytically razor sharp, but takes some effort to understand and is probably beyond my scope to explain in this format because I don't understand it properly myself.

I also hope your good lady logs on and reads your last post!  

Just to add; there is one certainty - DEATH.     At a conventional level anyway. 

[Tom White]

Wow , I never knew window cleaners were so deep,  

You'll get like this; too much time on our hands to think while we're washing windows! 

[Moderator David@stives]

     Re: Are you content ?
« Reply #30 on: Today at 11:17:56 pm »       

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote from: Andy Prittchard on Today at 11:14:14 pm
Got to go, the ole bitch wants a go on the 'puter.

Slag.  (rolly eyes etc.)

 
 Not nice that

[G Griffin]

I agree with SSWC Andy.
Tosh, you can't really use your lump on the testicle story, in the context of this thread.

[Tom White]

I agree with SSWC Andy.
Tosh, you can't really use your lump on the testicle story, in the context of this thread.

Okay, no problems.  I'll not remove it, but consider it removed. 

[Tom White]

My Tibetan Buddhist teacher reckons (and anyone is welcome to disagree with him), that we in the West have a culture of saying "I'm okay, you're okay', when really we're not okay.

It's almost as if it's a 'personal failing' if we're not contented, because maybe we don't realise that, for periods of time anyway, it's the human condition to be this way.

I've also read somewhere that "quiet silent suffering' is the British way.

I think there's truth in both statements.

[dazmond]

it was pink floyd who who wrote the lyric "hanging on in quiet desperation is the english way".

i find AA meetings a real tonic for my mind and they make me "giddy" in my soul at times.to be able to switch off after a busy day and be open and honest and have a laugh without having to half kill myself with drink is a wonderful thing.to be able to help other people there is a very altruistic thing.very healing.

yeh tosh its like when a newcomer at AA says their F.I.N.E!!F**ked up.Insecure.Neurotic,Emotional!!

most of the time when i say im fine i am though!not many things phase me these days.even though i have a girlfriend whos battling cancer with another 5 chemo treatments to suffer.its sad but thats life.just doing the best i can for her and hope she pulls through.if she doesnt then it will be sad and emotional but i wont go to pieces.

impermanance.nothing lasts and everything changes.the ebb and flow of life and death.we get attached to lots of different things.

ive already been to my girlfriends funeral in my head months ago.


most of the time i am content in myself and have a deep inner strength i never new existed just 5-6 years ago.looking forward to the meditation class on tuesday and will be taking my girlfriend with me if shes well enough.



best wishes


dazmond

[perfectpanesplymouth]

You tell me where there is a career where you can earn well in excess of 50k a year with little or no qualification, no silly jumped up bosses or people telling you what to do.

Bailiff I did it for a number of years only took 6 months training! But the stress does get to you!

[dazmond]

i doubt there is any window cleaners earning £50,000+ a year!and even if they are they wont be content as they will be working their selfs into the ground with no work life balance and lots of stress.pointless really!!