Okay. The last two posts, and your generous responses to them, got me to thinking about what a Buddhist decision-making algorithm might look like.
So I spent a few hours tinkering in the algorithm workshop and came up with the flowchart below, designed to help us negotiate most any life situation. What do you think?
Double-click on the image to see it full size.
Ouch. That looks a bit stark!
Posted by: Marcus | December 17, 2009 at 01:57 AM
It's like the Ox Herding pictures. I no it's there I just can't seem to find the right path.
Posted by: bob | December 17, 2009 at 03:46 AM
The yes and no answers for the "will it make a good story?" may be switched around?
Posted by: BuddhaFrog | December 17, 2009 at 05:26 AM
STOP! You're hurting my networked brain! :-)
I would just go from Start --> DO IT! bypass rationalizations. Because aren't all the other nodes just that? Rationales? Hey, mb we need to have (Bodhi mind, no mind)before START???
Having a joyous, silly, first-day-of-21-day-vacation mind today!
Posted by: Genju | December 17, 2009 at 05:32 AM
Hey Genju...envious of your long vacation...better go work on that!
Posted by: Suzanne | December 17, 2009 at 07:53 AM
What if "For Self" and "For Others" is the same thing?
Posted by: Mike Carter | December 17, 2009 at 09:00 AM
Thanks, Suzanne. First three-weeker in three decades...
Love your blog btw. Amazing stuff especially Dec 10th...
Posted by: Genju | December 17, 2009 at 09:18 AM
Thanks Genju sweetie. Enjoy yourself. Screw the discipline occasionally!
Posted by: Suzanne | December 17, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Well, I ain't never gonna make a living as a programmer. Thanks all for your good questions and comments. Mike has the right slant on it, I think - in some sense "self" and "other" are the same thing. Only our thinking mind creates the separation.
Posted by: Barry Briggs | December 17, 2009 at 11:36 AM
I like to look at the negative space in your charts where there is nothing but the shadow of the overlaid diagram. I think this is the place to be...
Posted by: Steve | December 21, 2009 at 03:14 PM
I think both "Will it make a good story?" answers, Yes and No, could point to "Is it truthful, Kind and Helpful?"
Posted by: John Small | December 23, 2009 at 01:01 AM
Steve - this is a very good answer! Thank you.
John - yes, in accord with your earlier comment on this.
Posted by: Barry Briggs | December 23, 2009 at 01:07 PM
Actually if the question "Will it make a good story?" is in the equation, I still haven't made it past the "Why do I want to do this?" question because it is clearly "For me"!
_/\_
Posted by: puerhan | December 25, 2009 at 01:48 PM