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Joseph Nguyen - Don't Believe Everything You Think > Chapter 2 - The Root Cause Of All Suffering > Flashcards

Chapter 2 - The Root Cause Of All Suffering Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the primary subject discussed?

A

The Root Cause Of All Suffering

This topic often relates to philosophical and psychological discussions.

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2
Q

Who is quoted in the statement about intelligence and wisdom?

A

MATSHONA DHLIWAYO

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3
Q

What is the distinction made between looking around and looking within?

A

Intelligent vs. wise

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4
Q

Fill in the blank: One who looks around him is _______.

A

intelligent

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5
Q

Fill in the blank: One who looks within him is _______.

A

wise

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6
Q

What did Sydney Banks say about thought and reality?

A

Thought is not reality; yet it is through thought that our realities are created.

This highlights the distinction between objective reality and subjective perception.

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7
Q

How do individual perceptions affect our experiences?

A

Each person lives through their own perceptions of the world, which are vastly different from those of others.

This suggests that our experiences are shaped by our thoughts and interpretations.

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8
Q

What is an example of different perceptions in the same location?

A

Two people in a coffee shop can have completely different experiences, one stressed and the other enjoying their drink.

This illustrates how the same environment can evoke different emotional responses.

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9
Q

Fill in the blank: Money is technically the same thing, but it means _______ to each person.

A

[something different]

This indicates that the value and meaning of money are subjective.

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10
Q

True or False: People often have the same experiences when in the same location at the same time.

A

False

Many individuals may experience the same events differently due to their unique perceptions.

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11
Q

What does the phrase ‘Same Strangers, but different’ imply?

A

It implies that even in the same situation, individuals can have vastly different experiences and perspectives.

This reflects the subjective nature of human experience.

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12
Q

What can happen if you ask 100 different people what money means to them?

A

You would likely get 100 different answers.

This emphasizes the subjective interpretation of concepts like money.

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13
Q

What does the phrase ‘Don’t believe everything you think’ imply?

A

Our thoughts and perceptions can distort reality.

It suggests that our interpretations may not reflect the truth.

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14
Q

How can the meaning we assign to an event affect our feelings?

A

The meaning determines how we ultimately feel about it.

This highlights the subjective nature of human experience.

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15
Q

What is the relationship between perception and reality according to the text?

A

We live through a perception of reality, not in reality itself.

Reality is the event itself, devoid of meaning or interpretation.

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16
Q

If you surveyed 100 people about the current president, what would you likely find?

A

You would get 100 different answers.

This illustrates how personal thoughts and perceptions vary widely.

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17
Q

What is the primary factor that shapes our experience of life?

A

Our interpretation of events.

This indicates that external events do not dictate our feelings; our thoughts do.

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18
Q

True or False: The events that happen in our lives are the sole cause of our feelings.

A

False.

It is our interpretation of those events that influences our feelings.

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19
Q

Fill in the blank: Reality is that the event happened, with no _______.

A

meaning, thinking, or interpretation of it.

This emphasizes the objective nature of reality.

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20
Q

How can people in Third World countries be happier than those in First World countries?

A

Their interpretation of life events can lead to greater happiness.

Happiness is not solely dependent on material conditions.

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21
Q

What influences our feelings according to the text?

A

Our own thinking about the events

Feelings are internally generated rather than caused by external events.

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22
Q

In the hypothetical scenario, what causes stress, anxiety, and frustration?

A

Hating one’s job

The individual experiences negative emotions even when not at work.

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23
Q

What is the impact of thinking about work while at home?

A

Creates a different perception of reality

The individual can feel miserable while others enjoy a moment together.

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24
Q

True or False: External events are the sole cause of our feelings.

A

False

Feelings stem from personal thoughts regarding events, not the events themselves.

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25
Fill in the blank: If external events caused our feelings, one would be a happy camper every time they watch a _______.
funny TV show ## Footnote This highlights the inconsistency of feelings based solely on external stimuli.
26
What happens to the family dynamic when one person is preoccupied with negative thoughts?
They experience a different reality than the others ## Footnote One person's negative thoughts can overshadow shared moments.
27
What is suggested about the relationship between job stress and family time?
Job stress can affect enjoyment of family time ## Footnote Even in positive settings, negative thoughts can dominate one's experience.
28
What question does the author pose regarding feelings and external events?
Is it absolutely true that every single person feels the same way due to external events? ## Footnote This challenges the idea that feelings are universally caused by external circumstances.
29
What can lead to completely different experiences of the same job?
How individuals think about their job
30
What determines how a person ultimately feels about their job?
Their thoughts about it
31
What feelings can arise from thinking about hating your job?
Stress, anxiety, and frustration
32
Who would you be without the thought that you hated your job?
Happy, peaceful, free, and light
33
What happens to our experience of an event when we change our thinking about it?
The experience is completely altered
34
What concept does the phrase 'we live in a world of thought, not reality' suggest?
Our perception of reality is shaped by our thinking
35
Fill in the blank: Our perception of reality is created from the _______.
[inside out, through our own thinking]
36
What is the root cause of human psychological suffering?
Our own thinking ## Footnote This concept suggests that our perceptions and thoughts shape our emotional experiences.
37
How does our perception of reality affect our feelings?
We will feel what we think, and our feelings are real ## Footnote This indicates that our thoughts directly influence our emotional states.
38
What can we change to alter our feelings?
Our thinking ## Footnote Understanding that feelings stem from thoughts allows for the possibility of change.
39
What is the relationship between thinking and our experience of life?
Our experience of life comes from our own thinking ## Footnote Recognizing this connection can empower us to transform our experiences.
40
According to the text, how far away are we from experiencing something different?
One thought away ## Footnote This emphasizes the immediate potential for personal transformation through thought.
41
When does happiness begin, according to the text?
The moment we stop thinking ## Footnote This suggests that stillness of thought may lead to greater happiness.
42
What is the title of the Zen story mentioned?
A Young Monk & The Empty Boat ## Footnote This story illustrates how thinking contributes to our suffering.
43
What does the text imply about the nature of reality?
Our reality is created by our thinking ## Footnote This means that our thoughts shape our subjective experience of reality.
44
What is one of the most important obligations of the monks in the monastery?
Their daily routine of meditating in silence for hours at a time ## Footnote This practice is essential for their spiritual development.
45
What issue did the young monk face during meditation?
He had difficulty staying focused due to various disturbances ## Footnote These disturbances included movement around him and sounds from nature.
46
What question did the elder monk ask the young monk to highlight a lesson?
Do you know what is really making you angry? ## Footnote This question was intended to provoke self-reflection.
47
What were some of the disturbances that frustrated the young monk?
* Someone moving around * A cat or small animal brushing past * Wind blowing and tree branches making noise * Birds chirping ## Footnote All these disturbances contributed to his agitation during meditation.
48
What did the elder monk point out about the young monk's reactions to interruptions?
He becomes angrier with each interruption ## Footnote This reaction was contrary to the purpose of meditation.
49
Fill in the blank: The young monk got mad because he felt ______ during meditation.
[disturbed]
50
True or False: The elder monk's advice was to ignore the disturbances completely.
False ## Footnote The elder monk aimed to teach the young monk about managing his reactions.
51
What did the young monk seek to avoid during his tasks?
Anger with people, animals, or disturbances ## Footnote The monk was advised to find a way to remain calm amidst distractions.
52
Where did the monk first try to meditate?
At the shore of the nearby lake ## Footnote He believed it would be quieter than the monastery.
53
What disturbed the monk while he was meditating at the lake?
A flock of birds ## Footnote The noise from the birds led him to open his eyes and check the disturbance.
54
What solution did the monk come up with to achieve peace for meditation?
Rowing a boat to the middle of the lake ## Footnote He thought this would provide a disturbance-free environment.
55
What was the outcome of the monk meditating in the middle of the lake?
He was able to meditate the whole day without disturbances ## Footnote This led to a sense of calm and no feelings of anger.
56
How did the monk feel after he found the middle of the lake as a meditation spot?
Thrilled and calm ## Footnote He was pleased that he could continue his meditation practice without anger.
57
Fill in the blank: The monk believed that in the middle of the lake, there would be nothing to _______.
[disturb him]
58
True or False: The monk found peace immediately upon arriving at the lake.
False ## Footnote He initially experienced disturbances and anger before finding a suitable meditation spot.
59
What did the monk do on the third day?
He sat in the boat, rowed to the middle of the lake, and started meditating again ## Footnote This sets the stage for the events that follow, highlighting the monk's intention to meditate in solitude.
60
What did the monk hear while meditating?
He heard splashing of water and felt the boat rocking ## Footnote This indicates a disturbance during his meditation, prompting a reaction from the monk.
61
What was the monk's initial reaction to the disturbance?
He started getting upset and yelled for the other boat to steer away ## Footnote This demonstrates how external factors influenced his emotional state.
62
What happened when the other boat did not steer away?
The other boat hit the monk's boat ## Footnote This escalated the monk's frustration, leading to a confrontation.
63
What did the monk demand to know after the collision?
He screamed, 'Who are you, and why have you hit my boat?' ## Footnote This reflects his anger and need for accountability.
64
What did the monk discover when he looked at the other boat?
He found that there was no one in the boat ## Footnote This revelation was crucial for the monk's understanding of his anger.
65
What realization did the monk come to about his anger?
It's not other people or situations that make him angry, but his reaction to them ## Footnote This insight is the central lesson of the story, emphasizing personal responsibility for emotions.
66
Fill in the blank: The boat that hit the monk's boat was _______.
empty ## Footnote The emptiness of the boat symbolizes the absence of external blame for one's emotional state.
67
True or False: The monk's anger was caused by the empty boat.
False ## Footnote This statement is false as the monk learns that his anger stems from his own reactions.
68
What did the monk remember from his mentor?
His mentor's question: 'Do you know what is really making you angry?' ## Footnote This question prompts the monk to reflect on the source of his emotions.
69
What did the monk do after experiencing anger?
He rowed the boat back to the shore and returned to the monastery.
70
What did the monk do upon returning to the monastery?
He started meditating along with the other monks.
71
How did the monk treat the noises and disturbances around him while meditating?
He treated them as the 'empty boat' and continued to meditate peacefully.
72
What did the elder monk say to the young monk after observing his change?
I see that you have found what is really making you angry and overcome that.
73
Fill in the blank: The monk treated the disturbances as the _______.
'empty boat'
74
True or False: The young monk's reaction to disturbances remained the same after meditation.
False
75
What was the young monk's emotional state before meditating?
He was angry.
76
What is the significance of the 'empty boat' in the context of the monk's meditation?
It symbolizes a way to detach from disturbances and maintain inner peace.
77
What lesson did the young monk learn from his experience?
He learned to identify and overcome the source of his anger.

Joseph Nguyen - Don't Believe Everything You Think (6 decks)

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