The Seven Obsessions

Wisdom Quarterly; Ven. Nyanatiloka, Buddhist Dictionary: Manual of Terms and Doctrines

Obsession destroys (tasithoughts.com)

The seven obsessions or anusayas (proclivities, inclinations, tendencies) are:

1. sensuous greed (kāma-rāga, see fetters),
2. resentment (aversion, anger, patigha),
3. speculative views (wrong views, opinions, ditthi),
4. skeptical doubt (vicikicchā),
5. conceit (māna),
6. craving for continued states of existence (bhava-rāga),
7. ignorance (avijjā) (D.33; A.VII.11-12).

"These things are called obsessions or proclivities because, as a consequence of their pertinacity, they again and again tend to become the conditions for the arising of ever new sensuous greed, [aversion, and delusion]'' (Path of Purification, Vis.M. XXII, 60).

 

Yam. VII first determines in which beings such and such obsessions exist, and which obsessions, and with regard to what, and in which sphere of existence [Sensual, Fine Material, or Immaterial]. Thereafter it gives an explanation concerning their overcoming, their penetration, and so on. Cf. Guide VI (vii).

 

According to Kath. several ancient Buddhist schools erroneously held the wrong view (opinion) that the anusayas, as such, meant merely latent -- and therefore karmically neutral qualities -- which however contradicts the Theravāda school conception. Cf. Guide V, 88, 108, 139.

• Four Dangers of Living a Simple Life (MN 67)

Obsession – When it Turns Destructive

Tasithoughts 

What causes people to fixate on someone [or something] so much that it takes over their being and wipes out whatever common sense and self-esteem they have for themselves?

Recently I have seen this in a few individuals who have basically thrown their self-respect out the window by going uber crazy over someone they initially had a crush on that turned into a full on -- almost Fatal Attraction -- kind of situation. 

The irrational behavior reaches fever pitch when they are rejected by the object of their affection.  Their feelings of  ultra-attachment turn into hurt and open bitterness.  It becomes a frenzy of texting,  calling, and harassing the person who scorned them.

In one instance, I have seen it become violent.... because they have attached their egos and their self-esteem so much to their object of affection...

• The Downward Spiral of Vengeance (anger)
• Can anger ever be good?
• Masks (depression)

Christian terrorist: 7 dead near UCSB (video)

Ashley Wells, Pfc. Sandoval, Wisdom Quarterly; AP, May 24th, 2014, 9:27 am, SCPR.org

Henley Gate at the University of California, Santa Barbara (Ryosuke Yagi/flickr.com)

What is at the root of our Judeo-Christian sexism? Porn, shame, Sharia law? (alarbiya.net)

(ORIGINAL VIDEO, from FurioHerovito, REMOVED. Replaced with "crazy Prozac/Zoloft eyes." 

Christian terrorist [Elliot Rodger?] talks about his planned rampage against humanity and women in particular for not paying enough attention to him as his God intended. Is God's gift to women working for the CIA's Boko Haram American chapter to keep females out of college, or is he just blowing off steam after watching cartoons and playing first-person-shooter video games and eating aspartame, processed foods, sugar, and corn syrup?
 

Christian terrorist kills, injures from car (UCSB)

Investigators are studying YouTube video after family warned police about alarming videos being made by possibly brainwashed Christian terrorist assassin. Was it made to prove all guns need to be remove from citizens? Was he on pharmaceutical antidepressants, too?

 

C'mon, man, we're just cartoons.

A drive-by shooter went on a nighttime rampage near the campus of the University of California at Santa Barbara [home of the biggest parties in Isla Vista, which has become a police state that will only take this tragedy as use it to amp up surveillance, policing, mass arrests, and police brutality in the name of "security"] that left seven people dead, including the attacker, and seven others wounded, authorities said Saturday.

(I'm Shmacked) WARNING: Hedonism, alcohol abuse! DelTopia, the UCSB Southern California party scene in Isla Vista. Pretty and privileged, introducing our future leaders. Woo!

 

Don't shoot! (yogasoup.com)

The gunman got into two gun battles with deputies Friday night in the beachside community of Isla Vista before crashing his black BMW into a parked car, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said.

 

Deputies found him dead with a gunshot wound to the head, but it wasn't immediately clear whether he was killed by gunfire or if he committed suicide, he said.

 

A semi-automatic handgun was recovered from the scene near the University of California, Santa Barbara. Investigators know the gunman's name [Elliot Rodger? as suggested by the title of the video above], but Brown said he couldn't release it pending notification of relatives.

 

"We're analyzing both written and videotaped evidence that suggests that this atrocity was a premeditated mass murder," Brown said.

 

Investigators study video following deadly drive-by shootings

A disturbing YouTube video posted that shows a young man describing plans to shoot women appears to be connected to the attack, police said. Officials would not say whether the person in the video was a suspect in the shooting. [It's probably another guy talking about shooting women.]

 

In the video, posted Friday, the man sits in a black car and looks at the camera, laughing often, and says he is going to take his revenge against humanity.

He describes loneliness and frustration because "girls have never been attracted to me," and says, at age 22, he is still a virgin. The video, which is almost seven minutes long, appears scripted. The identity of the person in the video could not be independently confirmed.

 

The shootings started around 9:30 pm in Isla Vista, a roughly half-square mile community next to UC Santa Barbara's campus and picturesque beachside cliffs. More + Updates

Suey Park vs. The Colbert Report (video)

I. Rony, Amber Larson, CC Liu, Seth Auberon, Wisdom Quarterly; NPR "#CancelColbert Let Asian-Americans Call Out The Real Ding-Dongs"; Colbert Report (colbertnation.com)

I won't stand for that white hipster ironical racism; people might misunderstand it.

.

Stephen Colbert responded to criticism about a tweet about his show from his TV network last week, saying he would dismantle the imaginary foundation that created the stir.

 

It surely says something about our culture that a single tweet (when the twit hit the fan) can turn into a major racial incident: Colbert's send-up of Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder's new foundation to help Native Americans.

 

The controversy erupted when a Twitter account associated with Colbert's Comedy Central show, The Colbert Report, took the joke too far -- away from its original context.

 

"I am willing to show #Asian community I care by introducing the Ching-Chong Ding-Dong Foundation for Sensitivity to Orientals or Whatever," read the tweet from @ColbertReport.

 

Hipster (ironic) racism? It's not Colbert's Twitter handle, and Colbert himself had nothing to do with the tweet, but a lot of people -- specifically Asian-Americans -- didn't think it was funny. They thought it was racist.

 

But not everyone thinks so, not, for example, Jay Caspian Kang, an Asian-American who wrote a piece about the controversy for newyorker.com. Where some saw racism, he tells NPR's Rachel Martin, he saw a big misunderstanding.

 

"When the tweet came out, without the sort of context of the first part of the joke, then it does seem a little bit shocking," he says.

One of those offended was activist Suey Park, 23. Park re-tweeted in outrage, and the #CancelColbert social media campaign began. Kang understands where the anger comes from.

 

Seeing Red

Colbert responded on his show by saying he would "shut down" the imaginary foundation that sparked fury among select critics. The most vocal has been Suey Park (Twitter nickname Angry Asian Woman). She began the #CancelColbert campaign.

#CancelColbert's Suey Park, activist

In an article for Time, Park wrote last week: "The problem isn't that we can't take a joke. The problem is that white comedians and their fans believe they are above reproach." She also discussed her motivations in a video interview with Huff Po. In another tweet she stated: "White people -- please keep #CancelColbert trending until there's an apology."

Rachel Stark has the right idea: "Calm, reasoned debate among comics about which jokes should be off limits doesn’t exist"!

We love you, Suey Park, but be an activist about something more serious than satire. For if we lose our hero and white-ally Colbert because of your humorless campaign, we will not be amused, not amused in the slightest, and we'll start our own offensive imaginary foundation to continue the mission of calling attention to a racist #Redskins owner Dan Snyder by mocking Asians in the blogosphere. (Please send all complaint letters in response to our rant to "Attention: I. Rony, Features Editor, Wisdom Quarterly" via EFF.org).

 

"Some of what Suey Park was saying [was about] Asian-Americans who are second-generation: It's sort of ingrained in our heads to always protect that idea of assimilation and upward mobility," Kang says.

 

"One of the things that upsets us," he says, "is when somebody comes and agitates in a way that would reflect badly upon us."

 

But Kang defends Colbert. It's also upsetting to "reflect badly upon the people who[m] we would consider our allies, who are trying to help us have this sort of assimilation, post-racial dream," he says.

 

In his article, Kang writes, "There's a long tradition in American comedy of dumping tasteless jokes at the feet of Asians and Asian-Americans -- [which] follows the perception that we will silently weather the ridicule."

 

"I think the writers in Hollywood know that it's just not going to be an issue the way that it would be if the joke was on another minority group," he says. LISTEN
 

All jokes and satire aside, there are discomfit ting conversations to be had.

• Someone else's tweet stirs up accusations of racism
• In #CancelColbert firestorm an opportunity is lost
• On being a black woman who writes (Kima Jones)
• Demi Lovato and (distraction) Hollywood sex scandals
• Appalachia is not (only) full of white morons (reverse racism?)

God kills anti-gay Westboro Baptist preacher

I. Rony, Wisdom Quarterly (EDITORIAL); SCPR.org via the Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

People-hating, gay-bashing, God-fearing Westboro Church members (npr.org)

 

The New Hate

It is a sad day in West Hollywood as news arrives that the tribal god of the Judeo-Christians has struck down yet another wayward minister/sinner who preached hate instead of love, prejudice instead of tolerance, bias instead of forbearance. Yea, know ye that the "wages of sin is death" (i.e., that the god will kill you if you stray). Fred Phelps, Esq. leaves us this day for a grander vision of karma (vipaka) in the hereafter than we are yet privy to see. For, lo, he preached invective and damnation on his walk with the lord from on high, frequently stating that "God Hates F*gs" and "Obey or Perish" without a trace of irony. 

Wah! I take it back! I take it back!!

Have we anything to learn from his example, or shall we too stray in the fields of the lord disregarding the good news that we are capable and responsible for the decisions that lead inevitably to our actions (karma)? May he rest in peace and find renewal of spirit, not wrestling as those he condemned in life, but in the fullness of the mercy he now seeks. Aum'n. [In all seriousness, we hope he's okay, for to hate a hater is a great mistake.] See the full story.

"As it turns out, God actually hates small-minded, bigoted, blind fanatics..."

"Super Miranda," teen Craigslist Killer (video)

CC Liu, Amber Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly; Daily Mail Reporters (Feb. 17, 2014)

"Super Miranda" murderous alter-ego

How many has she killed? Real-life "Dexter" confesses to murdering close to 100 "bad people" across the US while possessed by her Satanic alter-ego "Super Miranda."

• Miranda Barbour made the sensational claim in a newspaper interview over the weekend that she is a prolific female serial killer.

• 

  Regular mild-mannered Miranda

  The 19-year-old said that she stopped counting her victims after the 22nd victim.
• She told the reporter from jail during her interview that she could have killed dozens more.
• When pushed she said she had killed "less than 100" possessed by her Satanic alter-ego "Super Miranda."
• She is currently charged with the murder of [bad man] Troy LaFerrara, 42, in November, whom she met with her new husband, Elytte Barbour, using Craigslist.
• The teen mother has a son by a man who is now deceased, and his death is now part of the investigation.
• She claims she killed La Ferrara with a knife that has a notch on it for every victim.



Can I go now? This sucks.

• Police in Pennsylvania told The Daily Item that they're working with investigators from other states and the FBI to probe possible connections to unsolved murders throughout the U.S.
• A law enforcement source close to the investigation told CNN Barbour's new claims could be "the real deal." "It's conceivable," the source said.
• "Super Miranda" has been compared to a "real life Dexter" -- after saying she only killed people who had done bad things.

Mother Miranda with her son

The Satan worshiping Pennsylvania teenager dubbed the "Craigslist Killer" and "the real life Dexter," who confessed to more than 22 murders in a sensational newspaper interview over the weekend, states that she could have killed dozens more.

When pushed on the total number of victims she claims to have killed, Miranda Barbour, 19, blurted out a staggering figure of, "less than 100."

Explaining that she adopted a murderous alter ego she dubbed "Super Miranda" when she killed, Barbour said that she kept a favorite knife that had notches on it -- one for each of her victims. More

• All about killer Mrs. Miranda Barbour
• Kali, the Dark Mother (Hindu deity)
• Hindu Goddess Kali - ferocious devi (Sanatan Society)
• FREE one week of yoga (Yoga Works)
• Have you tried Craigslist for LOVE?
• Mother Goddess as Kali - the feminine force in Indian art
  

  Kali makes her official debut in the Devi-Mahatmya, where she is said to have emanated from the brow of Goddess Durga ("Slayer of Demons") during one of the...

If I were a beautiful and fierce yakshini, might I get angry and go on a Kali-esque (protective) killing spree? Supernatural powers are a dangerous thing without enlightenment and its full complement of virtue rooted in liberating wisdom and compassion.

Mindfulness, Suffering, Engaged Buddhism

Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly; Thay (Plum Village), Krista Tippett, OnBeing.org, NPR

Mindfulness, Suffering, and Engaged Buddhism

Host Krista Tippett (onbeing.org/CCP)

Vietnamese Zen master, peace activist, and poet Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay, "teacher") was forcibly exiled from his native country more than 40 years ago. On Being (NPR's discussion of faith and existence) visits the Buddhist monk at a Christian conference center in a lakeside setting in rural Wisconsin.

• Listen to the On Being radio show PODCAST
• Learn more On Being (Speaking of Faith)
• Deer Park Monastery, California

ON TOUR NOW (tnhtour.org)

Thay offers stark, gentle wisdom for living in a world of anger and violence. He discusses the concepts of "engaged Buddhism," "being peace," and "mindfulness." This message gets through to violent, hyper-vigilant police officers eager to kill at a moment's notice. Thay agrees to lead them on a Buddhist mindfulness retreat that manages to change their lives and their capacity to carry guns as "warrior" or "fierce" bodhisattvas (beings bent on enlightenment, not as Tippett defines it already enlightened beings staying on Earth). A person may take vows to become a bodhisattva, which generally means refusing enlightenment and liberation for the presumed sake of helping others. It would make more sense to help oneself and others by striving for enlightenment. But such is Mahayana Buddhist logic that martyrdom has been mistaken for a nobler goal. This historical Buddha was a bodhisattva not forestalling his own enlightenment but for the sake of becoming a supremely enlightened teaching buddha. This meant foregoing attaining as a disciple or as a nonteaching (pacceka) buddha. But it never meant dissuading others from attaining or from striving to reach the goal as quickly as humanly possible, bringing the ten perfections to maturity. More

Thich Nhat Hanh comes to Pasadena, CA on Oct. 4, 2013