What's heaven for you?

QED · Post by **QED** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:02 pm

The world can be a demanding and stressful place alright. Progress isn't all it's cracked up to be, although it does have its good points. Maybe the trick is to identify those things that delight and inspire and make the time to indulge in them now and then.

If my friends or family aren't around, heaven for me could be sitting in my leather recliner working my way through Goldfrapp's album "Felt Mountain" on my ipod nano with a glass of Remy Martin champagne cognac and a Schimmelpenninck Cigar. I guess it has most of the addictive elements covered

I'd like to know what material pleasures other people take delight in...

Jenchol · Post by **Jenchol** » Sun May 07, 2006 3:38 am

i can never find a heaven in material things.
i use my mind to get to any form of a euphoric state

QED · Post by **QED** » Mon May 08, 2006 9:29 am

Hello Jenchol -- welcome to the DC&R forums

Material things can be a great burden at times so I guess it could make sense to travel light. Still, no matter how often I read the Buddhist precept, for me the cost/benefit ratio always seems to come down in favour of one of the many ingenious configurations of atoms we've managed to arrange for our further enjoyment. Perhaps just knowing this is a way of getting the best of both worlds?

HughDP · Post by **HughDP** » Wed May 10, 2006 8:38 am

QED wrote:Hello Jenchol -- welcome to the DC&R forums

Material things can be a great burden at times so I guess it could make sense to travel light. Still, no matter how often I read the Buddhist precept, for me the cost/benefit ratio always seems to come down in favour of one of the many ingenious configurations of atoms we've managed to arrange for our further enjoyment. Perhaps just knowing this is a way of getting the best of both worlds?

Snap. I enjoy going away on Buddhist retreats or stimulating the intellect in places like this, but I also enjoy fine foods and wines, sport, travel, films, electronic gadgetry and plenty other material things besides.

When I was younger I travelled India and Sri Lanka extensively and I've holidayed to both a few times since. I think some of my most 'heavenly' experiences have been on that sub-continent. Not, unfortunately, in a temple somewhere seeking enlightenment though, but in a beach bar enjoying a sunset after a day messing about in the sea!

QED · Post by **QED** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:05 am

HughDP wrote:...in a beach bar enjoying a sunset after a day messing about in the sea!

Isn't it interesting what a natural attraction the sunset has for us, especially when seen over the sea!

OccamsRazor · Post by **OccamsRazor** » Wed May 10, 2006 11:19 am

I think that some of the most 'heavenly' experiences for me have been visiting different countries.

I think that the most wonderful thing that I have ever visited is the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul. It is an amazing behemouth which throws Christianity and Islam into a single building.

Some of the Buddhist monastries in Thailand are also quite amazing.

I think that there are two different experiences here though. I think that the mind state you get on Buddhist retreats (also called 'flow') is a wholly different experience to the sudden sense of awe that hits you when you visit places like the Louvre or see the Grand Canyon.

HughDP · Post by **HughDP** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:36 pm

Yes I agree. I was awe-struck by the Taj Mahal - no amount of seeing it on TV or in pictures can prepare one for actually going through the gates and seeing it oneself. I was also awe-struck by most of Tanzania, just by the general panorama of the scenery. Seeing the country from the air was incredible (and a useful distraction from the pilot's tapping of non-working instruments in the cockpit).

Scrotum · Post by **Scrotum** » Wed May 10, 2006 2:58 pm

I dont really know. Im not like these Christian americans whom seem inclined to love there "stuff" more then anything. Actually, I am antimaterialist. I only have what i need, no more.

So i guess, maybe eating? Yeah, Eating a nice meal and take a glass of milk (i know americans dont drink milk, but its sorta white stuff, usually come from cows, you should visit the Scandinavian countries, because our milk kicks arse, compared to let say British, to thick and not really good, and american, haha, well, I dont like Soya

).

And this is sorta funny, is it not? Our High Religious John for example I BET YOU MY LIFE that he has STUFF he could not manage without, YET, he claim to have The Lord(tm) waiting for him, why would he care for his stuff? Is not our life´s just a shell? Funny that.

bernee51 · Post by **bernee51** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:55 pm

OccamsRazor wrote: I think that the most wonderful thing that I have ever visited is the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul. It is an amazing behemouth which throws Christianity and Islam into a single building.

I would have to agree. Having visited such places as the Taj Mahal (even after numerous visits it still evokes a sense of wonder), the Pyramids in Cairo, Karnak Temple on the Nile, the remains of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Ephesus and sundry other wonders, natural and man made, Hagia Sophia is probably the most awe inspiring building I have had the pleasure of visiting.

Second on the list is the Ajanta Caves in Maharastra State of India.

Scrotum · Post by **Scrotum** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:30 am

I was not impressed by the Taj Mahal at all, and so small (my expectations was bigger i guess). But the Gobi Desert, THATS a wonder..

Think about it, all that sand, Evolution manage to put every sand for a purpose in perfect order all over the desert. Thats amazing, just dont forget water.