We were talking, about the space between us all (George Harrison)

View from the ART room doorway

Wie geht's?

Well - actually, we were talking about the Buddhist concept of duhkha (doo-kar) - dissatisfaction or craving.

If you require a primer, I've written about the concept a few times in the past, like here and here.

It's hard talking about this with Jacky. We have different views.

My aim is to be aware of my reality, rather than thirst for another reality. When I do, I need to be aware of the craving, acknowledge it, and aim to move beyond it. Easier said than done.

SWMBO feels that's wrong - that impatience should be accepted/ embraced for what it is - a craving that pushes us and provides forward momentum along our pathway.

It's an interesting contrast of approaches.

Steve Hagen (in Buddhism  Plain and Simple) gives his view:

In ignoring this - our actual experience - the mind no longer rests quietly in Wholeness, but begins to lean. The Buddha called this "disposition of mind," or intention. This forms the second link on the chain. Any actions that come out of such a mind are willed. 

We routinely act out of intent, out of a leaning mind. Nature, acting out of the Whole, does not. We commonly see things "out there" and go after them. Our mind is thus characterised by division and separation. 

Simply put, willed action is radically different that unwilled, or natural action.

Loads to think about here!

Trust the maple leaf, is my parting thought.

Love and peace - Wozza

It just isn't fair. Oh, Biggs is right. I'm never gonna get out of here! (Luke Skywalker)

Sometimes I sense a feeling of longing and frustration I've not felt since...

Sometimes I feel like Luke Skywalker.

You know the scene - he's living on Tatooine with Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen. They buy two new droids - R2D2 and C3PO for the farm. Luke's talking to C3PO. The dialogue goes like this:

C3PO: Is there anything I might do to help? 
LUKE: Well, not unless you can alter time, speed up the harvest, or
teleport me off this rock!

C3PO: I don't think so, sir. I'm only a droid and not very
knowledgeable about such things. Not on this planet, anyways. As a
matter of fact, I'm not even sure which planet I'm on.

LUKE: Well, if there's a bright center to the universe, you're on 

the planet that it's farthest from.

Doing the last two posts hasn't helped me with this feeling - London 1966, San Francisco 1967 were happening, vital places.

Tatooine is so small, so insignificant in the universe, so far away from the action.

I know 'wherever you go there you are' and that this thinking is counter productive. 

I know this wheel out of kilter feeling. I have felt it before. It sneaks up on me from time to time.

The Buddha described it as duhkha (doo-ka). It's not an easy word to translate but 'dissatisfaction with your lot' is close. 'Suffering' is often used as a blanket term for this general deal: something basic and important isn't right.

Luke is definitely feeling duhkha.

Luke's mental suffering happens because he doesn't get what he wants. He's forced to live on the farm on Tatooine and endure what he doesn't want.
The fact is - we can't turn our heads away from pain. We have to face it or we are never going to find our way out of the situation we are in - this situation of duhkha.

We can only deal with pain by facing it squarely!

Love and peace - Wozza

P.S. Check out this awesome fan made extended trailer for The Force Awakens: