Lostcoin Class Notes for March 3, 2009        


This practice we do with Daniel is unique to Lostcoin.  It is convergence of many things Daniel has studied throughout his life.  The study of excellence and consciousness is very close to the same thing.  

The book "Talent is Overrated" by Geoff Colin explains that if you have talent there is no way to say you will be great at that thing.  But if you put in long hours of work and attention you will excel.  The three areas that are studied to produce excellence are music, athletes, and chess playing.  Daniel has excelled in all three areas.  Daniel notes the book is wrong about the way chess players learn.  The difference when we study something ourselves can be as evidence based as can be.  You have to have observable measured confirmation and results.  We were to observe ourselves, not to think about ourselves, this is a big difference.  

The lostcoin approach is to see/observe yourself.  There are theories that say if you get married you will be happy.  Evidence does ot support this.  Today we are going to talk about studying yourself.  Doubt what others tell you.  You think you will be happy if you have alot of money, fame and women(or men)---not true.  Study life- dont assume, be scientific, doubt until you have evidence.

Religions have killed millions of people maybe more than governments but people will remember the times of war and say those were happy times.  Don't assume, look at the evidence.  Our aim is to see what is is.  Today we will focus on what is real.

Observe yourself:  You go to Belize, you look at the plants, foods, smeals, weather, living structures, how others observe it.  Do this with yourself, see how others react to you, how you feel, what you do, how you hold yourself.  You have to start where you really are.

Daniel was talking to Deido Roshi, he wanted to have the first American Zen Monestary in the world.  You can be altruestic your whole life, doing what you should do, and never do the things you want to do.

Daniel asked us "Is ordinary life boring?"  He got about 60% no and 40% yes (answers maybe, partly, kinda were not accepted).  The way you see it can help you develop.  The Buddha say ordinary life as completely horrifying, so set out to find new meaning.  See what is true for you.  It is not necessarily more fruitful to say life is not boring.  It is important to look at your personal truths, when you get there it will feel like truth.  

The hard truths are often the deep truths.  Lost coin helps you get down with what you are feeling.  Maybe people that are bored are more in touch with reality.  See what is true and real.





















