Comments on: What am I? Tom Responds

By: Tom Stine

Tom Stine — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:02:03 +0000

@MonkMojo More Zen TV coming in a few weeks. I’ll record some more videos probably 2 weekends from now. To do them the way I want to do them, I have to set up the lights and backdrop. A bit of work, but lots of fun!

By: MonkMojo

MonkMojo — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:52:08 +0000

Indeed you are learning quickly and it appears you are getting more comfortable. Looking forward to more, I want my Zen TV! MonkMojo's last blog post..Deep Meditation Happens

By: Tom Stine

Tom Stine — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:34:54 +0000

@MonkMojo You put a HUGE smile on my face! My floating face, that is. I didn’t realize that my black shirt would make my body disappear! Yes, I’m still a novice at video. But learning quickly.

By: MonkMojo

MonkMojo — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:26:20 +0000

I am one. I am one with peace. I am one with love. I am one with Tom Stine’s floating head! MonkMojo's last blog post..Deep Meditation Happens

By: Tom Stine

Tom Stine — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:02:33 +0000

@Loraleigh Glad you enjoyed the video. So black shirt and black background? I was actually thinking of wearing a white shirt next time. Or blue. Or using a white background. You will understand if I experiment a touch? As for the subject, yes, “no answer” is a good one. As I mentioned in the video, it really is the only one that is even remotely accurate, at least as I see it. But, still fun to give verbal answers, too.

By: Loraleigh Vance

Loraleigh Vance — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:16:05 +0000

Hi Tom,

I too liked the video and would vote that you don’t change the color of your tshirt next time. The talking head and hands effect was very cool.

As for the answer to “What am I?” I prefer the “can not be answered” answer. I like being with the mystery of the Universe.

Thanks!

Loraleigh Vance’s last blog post..7 Surefire Ways to Ignite your Passion

By: Tom Stine

Tom Stine — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:53:11 +0000

@John That is perfect! I can’t believe I didn’t think of it. I am the Walrus! Thanks John.

By: John Torcello

John Torcello — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:15:07 +0000

What am I?
I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.
Borrowed from Lennon/McCartney

By: Tom Stine

Tom Stine — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 03:27:53 +0000

@Davidya Thanks. I’m glad you liked the answer. And I agree: it can be answered, but experientially.

@Evan I love it! Bubbly. Silence does have qualities in a sense. I love the way Adyashanti describes the Void: it is the fullest nothingness you’ll ever find.

By: Davidya

Davidya — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 02:23:18 +0000

Evan – love the comment. At its root, silence has 2 qualities. A principle alertness and a principle of liveliness. Alertness becomes lively leading to awareness. Awareness becomes aware of its liveliness, leading to all expression.

Being aware of your bubbly self is thus being aware of of how it all comes to be. Well done

Davidya’s last blog post..The evolving Scribe

By: Evan

Evan — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:45:53 +0000

For me the silence has a quality. So my answer: bubbly is what I am. Evan's last blog post..Lung Cancer and Fruit and Vegetables

By: Davidya

Davidya — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:45:00 +0000

Hi Tom Love your approach to this. And loved your response. I would say the question can be answered, but not with words.(laughs) Just being with someone who is very clear on the "answer" can help us find our own. Davidya's last blog post..The evolving Scribe

By: Tom Stine

Tom Stine — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:22:49 +0000

@Albert I would agree that the question cannot really be answered. It is a pointer beyond our minds to what truly is. However, it is still fun to play with answers. All of them are attempts to describe what can’t be described. Cool, huh?

I wish I could claim the “floating hands” to be intentional. I wore a black shirt against a black background. I will need to where a different color next time. I don’t want to float. However, the quality of the video, by using my own flash encoding, better software, lights, editing, etc, was much better. I had fun. I’m going to do more.

By: Albert | UrbanMonk.Net

Albert | UrbanMonk.Net — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:25:00 +0000

Tom you handsome devil you! This question, as you know, is something that interests me tremendously.

What do you think of this possibility – that the question simply cannot be answered. All this asking is simply a way to make the mind give up trying, a way to go beyond the mind. Many teachers have said that who/what we are is something that the mind simply cannot grasp, and we have to go beyond the mind. This question might be a way of doing that, instead of actually wanting an answer.

Love the production values on this vid, too. Your hands look like they’re floating in black sometimes, which is a cool trick

Albert | UrbanMonk.Net’s last blog post..Separating the Spiritual Wheat from the Chaff

By: Tom Stine

Tom Stine — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:09:50 +0000

@Tim Hey there, nice to have your comments! Isn’t it amazing how so many really in touch spiritual teachings tend to agree. Ramana Maharshi, whom I reference in the video, is from India, Advaita is what he is usually aligned with. But Thich Nhat Hanh can sound like him. As do some of the old Zen patriarchs. So much wisdom. I enjoy it.

But guess what? Deepak just did a metaphysical look at Jesus in his latest book, The Third Jesus. Nicely done. I’ve read other interpretations of Jesus through the lens of something more Eastern or metaphysical, but Deepak did well. And sure enough, once you open to this way of seeing the world, what do you find in the Gospels? You find a very Buddhist Jesus. Especially if you toss in the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas. Very cool stuff. I need to write about this, don’t I? That should get some wild comments going!

By: Tim Brownson

Tim Brownson — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:31:13 +0000

This is timely for me Tom as I have just got back from seeing family in the UK and whilst there read books by Deepak Chopra and Thich Nhat Hanh. It was interesting to hear takes from different perspectives sound so similar.

We have so much to learn from Eastern Philosophies imho it takes my breath away at times.

By: Tom Stine

Tom Stine — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:49:36 +0000

@James Ray Fan Thanks for you comments about James Ray. Sounds to me like you’ve found something valuable to you.

By: JR Enthusiast

JR Enthusiast — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:18:08 +0000

Thanks for the video, Tom! I’ve been thinking about these issues recently, and I thought I’d share something with you. I just finished reading James Arthur Ray’s newest book, Harmonic Wealth, and I had to share this concept he has that I think makes so much sense: LIVING FROM THE OUTCOME (Page 322). James says that most people live toward the outcome, meaning you are living like you don’t have it yet. He says you should shift your thinking so that you are LIVING FROM THE OUTCOME and thus sending out the energy to the world that you already have it. Think, feel, and act like you’ve already made it and the universe will say “Your wish is my command.”
For me, that meant acting like I was more valuable as an individual – acting like a $500 a day earner instead of a $150 a day earner (no more reality TV marathons!) and acting like a thin and fit woman instead of a slightly overweight and sometimes lazy woman (goodbye Ranch Doritos!). Honestly, in the two weeks since I put down the book, things have started changing. And I think it really comes down to that one concept.
Check out the Harmonic Wealth site and link to the book: harmonicwealth.com/read
- A James Ray Fan