Comments on The Peaceful Self.com: Infinite Players have NO need to Sacrifice

Thanks Guys! mikeS

2010-01-29T09:30:32.863-05:00

Thanks Guys!
mikeS

Hey Mike, thanks largely to Nahnni (and others), y...

2010-01-28T14:16:31.597-05:00

Hey Mike, thanks largely to Nahnni (and others), you're getting quite a lively commentary here! Excellent fun to read.

Hey Mike~ Thank you for pointing out the Golas bo...

2010-01-28T12:34:06.156-05:00

Hey Mike~

Thank you for pointing out the Golas book! I went to the Amazon link and I'm going to order it. I see it was originally published the year I learned to jar pickles...among other watersheds, lol. A year of discovering the Minnesota Earth Journal, losing it all that to this day has its' lingering implications. A youthful time of astrology and books on psychic phenomena. Perhaps it is a good thing, though, to have not gone much deeper...I might have come to imagine I actually know something by now. Oy~

Blessings~

Nahnni, Interesting concept...lazy. Kinda reminds...

2010-01-27T20:35:47.247-05:00

Nahnni,

Interesting concept...lazy. Kinda reminds me of "The Lazy Man's Guide to Enlightenment"(located in the blog sidebar).

"I am probably taking it deeper than you intended, but for me, it puts together that Divinity is the Infinite Player, making that presence known in the manifestation of Nature(Cosmos)which is infinite and ever in motion."

It does seem likely that eventually God is realized through infinite play.
I mean... like...it's infinite!

"...relationship encompassing the whole damn
thing."

Yes, like you, I do have a very strong hunch that relationship is the whole shebang.
It is surprising how many seem to be against that and how strongly ego resists that as the essence of it all.

Thanks,
mikeS

"The ego-self is outcome-focused and rarely engage...

2010-01-26T12:37:09.775-05:00

"The ego-self is outcome-focused and rarely engages in any action that does not include a reward or outcome beneficial to its self-actualization."

Unless one is lazy. And there is always cause and effect. Being lazy by nature, the cause and effect law is quite burdensome. This is why there is great zen in being a gardener. One is at the mercy of greater forces at all times, but sometimes a stray seed plants itself and oh, what a surprise. The next day, a rabbit comes and eats the roses. Oy.

"No spiritual or religious endeavors would be pursued if a valued outcome, taught by those who claim to have achieved the reward, were not forthcoming."

This is why it is good to simply be a friend of things. If one is lazy, then much possibility rests in a day.

"This is frustrating to finite players, who are continually dumbfounded by the infinite player's obvious lack of serious intent, even though clearly the infinite player is engaged in most of the same life games as the finite player."

This statement is rather perfect because it fits with the Natura/Sancta dynamic. Man is continually frustrated by what he fails to see infinitely right in front of him. I attempt to blog about this dynamic, but cannot seem to formulate the words correctly because no one seems to understand what I try to say, but this is as close as it comes.

I am probably taking it deeper than you intended, but for me, it puts together that Divinity is the Infinite Player, making that presence known in the manifestation of Nature(Cosmos)which is infinite and ever in motion. What one, in theory, seeks outside is actually right in front of one and all the possibilities which exist right there in the open. It is not a matter of within or without as two opposing forces. In effect, you, not unlike the most ancient of observation between man and nature, are closer to the possibility because all is relationship...relationship encompassing the whole damn thing. Making what is infinite into a finite is what causes the fractures.

Good post, Mike. I liked reading the thoughtful responses as well.

Blessings~

No One, "Can we call it "Fred"?" Or "Wilma." e...

2010-01-26T06:37:24.090-05:00

No One,

"Can we call it "Fred"?"

Or "Wilma."

either one is fine by me...
mikeS

Christine, "so - sometimes even the rule of no ru...

2010-01-26T06:18:44.129-05:00

Christine,

"so - sometimes even the rule of no rules needs to be altered, bent, challenged. it looks like you have been exploring this lately in forum land."

YESSSSSS!!!

Best to You,
mikeS

thanks for your comments mike. so - sometimes eve...

2010-01-26T01:37:44.195-05:00

thanks for your comments mike.

so - sometimes even the rule of no rules needs to be altered, bent, challenged. it looks like you have been exploring this lately in forum land.
(i peaked)

warm regards.

Can we call it "Fred"?

2010-01-26T01:11:45.463-05:00

Can we call it "Fred"?

Christine, "in regard to sacrifices. i think the ...

2010-01-25T21:14:34.389-05:00

Christine,

"in regard to sacrifices. i think the person who plays infinitely is open to the possibilities of sacrificing or not sacrificing... and knowing the workings of his/her own mind and not taking his/her own personal story so seriously..."

Oh good grief! You've just encapsulated in a few lines what took me paragraphs to say.
Indeed, the idea that I must do this or that is fully questioned and, of course, that reduces the serious intent of the story and the story can be changed again and again, if one so chooses.

"...and even in regard to wanting some reward - wanting a reward is also within the fluidity of infinite playing/living."

certainly nothing wrong with 'wanting' rewards, but to the extent that becomes 'need' should be examined.

"...and storylines such as disapointment etc could still arise i think - except that instead of "negative" states solidifying (and positive states too i guess) into a repeatable story of me - instead there is that openness to "what is happening now"... so nothing is clinged to.."

Yes, an openness to any story and that there always is a story and it need not be seriously engaged with.

"the freedom of the infinite player does not mind this... if it serves the family unit and members in their various stages of development..."

Certainly...but always with an openness to change rules, but mostly with a desire to be aware of rules.

"and so also - the infinite player out in society in general may choose to simply play within the existing rules... even though he/she recognizes them as finite rules... if only to skillfully serve those who are not able to think outside of those boxes..."

Yes and always realizing it is a choice to play within the rules and one can choose not to or one can choose to play WITH the rules.

"this may be a sacrifice - if it seems that the finite set of rules are not "best" overall - in the big picture of things... but it is a sacrifice that he/she does not invest in... that is - the sacrifice is not then built into the personal spreadsheet of good deeds."

Indeed, if the sacrifice is clearly seen for what it is one can choose to sacrifice, but need not, also.

"i think the movement toward all beings playing infinitely are taken in microsteps... spanning many many generations... and during these times - there is the opportunity to be skillful in the choice of rules one wishes to follow, bend, or break... and these choices change with conditions as they arise..."

yes, it would take a social 'movement' to speed things up and we could call it...

the infinite movement...Ha!

Thanks, Christine
mikeS

Barbara, Yes, I think that simply being aware of ...

2010-01-25T20:59:35.508-05:00

Barbara,

Yes, I think that simply being aware of our expectations (as in questioning them often) tends to minimize experiences of sacrifice. To play infinitely tends to reduce sacrifice, since playing is no longer about outcomes and an ego unconcerned with outcomes is probably a much happier ego to be around.

But I only speculate based on some comments my wife has made about me...Ha!

Thanks,
mikeS

No One, "If love is what you want to label the na...

2010-01-25T20:54:08.053-05:00

No One,

"If love is what you want to label the natural state, and all the connotations that go along with that...well, for most humans, that is a relief."

Indeed, I should probably stop labeling it "love," since we all seem to know what that IS.

The point is if we let go our rules, as to what love IS, we just might be surprised as to what we experience.

Now, as far as what we call that...well...I suppose it really doesn't matter except to us "writers along these infinite lines"...

And who really cares what they think...

Thanks!
mikeS

well, that was a fun post mike! in regard to sacr...

2010-01-24T23:08:58.512-05:00

well, that was a fun post mike!

in regard to sacrifices. i think the person who plays infinitely is open to the possibilities of sacrificing or not sacrificing... and knowing the workings of his/her own mind and not taking his/her own personal story so seriously - is in fact perhaps more likely to sacrifice comfort, or to make some other sacrifice in order to decrease the suffering of another... and even in regard to wanting some reward - wanting a reward is also within the fluidity of infinite playing/living... and storylines such as disapointment etc could still arise i think - except that instead of "negative" states solidifying (and positive states too i guess) into a repeatable story of me - instead there is that openness to "what is happening now"... so nothing is clinged to...

but in regard to relationships - like having children etc and and spouse... there is the bonding and the rules as you say - in place - that look quite finite in nature... household rules, agreements between family members etc. and as you say - the freedom of the infinite player does not mind this... if it serves the family unit and members in their various stages of development...

and so also - the infinite player out in society in general may choose to simply play within the existing rules... even though he/she recognizes them as finite rules... if only to skillfully serve those who are not able to think outside of those boxes...

this may be a sacrifice - if it seems that the finite set of rules are not "best" overall - in the big picture of things... but it is a sacrifice that he/she does not invest in... that is - the sacrifice is not then built into the personal spreadsheet of good deeds.

i think the movement toward all beings playing infinitely are taken in microsteps... spanning many many generations... and during these times - there is the opportunity to be skillful in the choice of rules one wishes to follow, bend, or break... and these choices change with conditions as they arise...

such an interesting process... so full of human expression and experience... the full range.

Hi Mike When one finally gets this no expectation...

2010-01-24T11:28:04.956-05:00

Hi Mike

When one finally gets this no expectation concept, things get easier. I surely can't wait until I can be this instead of only being aware or attempting it. It's ironic the saying 'practice makes perfect' comes to mind. I hope that leaves out sacrifice, for everyone's sake. Maybe all it takes is not seeing what is perceived as sacrifice as such. Might have to practice that, too...

Barbara

Hi Mike, I love how specific you're getting. M...

2010-01-24T00:07:34.197-05:00

Hi Mike, I love how specific you're getting.

My ego has all kinds of expectations of reward, what the consequences will be of hard work or the shirking of it, etc. It's amazing how easy it is just to note those things with amusement.

And I don't know if it's always the case, a conscious choice to play infinitely...sometimes it seems like there's no choice at all, that it's a big out-of-ego's-control ride that I'm happy to be on.

However, I'm under no illusions that my ceaseless work for the family (and this is all of it, ironing, getting kit ready, making everyone a coffee in the morning, delicate emotional parenting, being the chauffeur, being tolerant of the hubbie's mood swings, putting the things I want to get done on hold) will be warmly appreciated! It's nice, somehow, to be taken for granted.

It seems lots of writers along these infinite lines come to the conclusion, or see clearly, that love is the natural state. If love is what you want to label the natural state, and all the connotations that go along with that...well, for most humans, that is a relief.

Thanks for regaling us with your very engaging concepts!