TheSongsofDistantEarth

Why is it not part of cultivation? Because you do it, addictively, literally all day and night long! Wow! Being a Buddhist sounds like fun! Do mantra yoga with a picture of the guru above the computer, spend all day on the internet forums spinning endless esoteric dependently originated reified philosophical debating, canoodle with girlfriend, drink beer, watch movies, hang out at the bar, watch TV... what a life! Suffering? What suffering? Become a Dzogchener and have fun! Vajrahridaya, man, you are so full of it! How many hours a day are you looking at a computer screen? I keep bringing this up, but you always ignore it: what about a real compassion? What about engaged Buddhism? You're so close to enlightenment you're beyond your fellow beings except to put up your often badly written posts? People are better off reading a book about it than following your confused prose. How about getting of your high internet horse just a little while and doing some volunteer or service work? We know you're already beyond meditating, but what kind of selfish Boddhisattva are you? Enough of your thousands of posts! Tear your face and fingers away from your computer! Even your girlfriend wants you to get off the fucking thing. And before you launch into me with what a dark heart I have, you know nothing about me except that I find your egotistical posturing here as a near-enlightened dude pretty disgusting.And don't tell me, like you have so many others, to "look in the mirror". If you would really look, it isn't as pretty as you obviously fancy yourself. And, if you had any inkling of what I do or what kind of service I have done, it would curl your locks, dude. Even including providing medical care to Tibetan monks and nuns, trained monks as basic medics and helping to establish a medical clinic in the Solukhumbu region of Northern Nepal. Plus a lot more here, and now. I'm not wasting time with all these useless posts with 4-5 people endlessly on this forum (which you came to invade because there's too much competition at e-sangha).Hey, we know what a fine Buddhist you are, even though your whole practice is internet forum "dharma". Quit patting yourself on the back and touting your "enlightenment", get off your ass and do something useful and stop giving Buddhism a bad name!

Welcome. We have several members here that practice Tai Chi Bullfrog, so the mantis'es need to keep their eyes peeled. Make yourself at home.

We are curious as to how the music sounds when you make it while doing yoga, lifting weights and doing Taoist exercises? Do you play all the instruments, too? Do people leave money in your hat while you perform this feat? Please make my personalized license plate to say "TAOBUMMED", with diplomat tags for special no parking ticket protection. Thanks, Ruprecht La'Treille

With a such a surfeit of free time, the advantage would be to have extra time to actually cultivate (not just talk about it endlessly) or actually be engaged in some socially conscious endeavors to make the world a better place..some volunteer work or for a just cause... rather than hanging out with the girlfriend, drinking beer, posting all day and night on the internet, going to the beach, etc...then it's a total waste of an opportunity.

It seems like the snowball is beginning to gather momentum...listen to what Suze Orman says...basically quit your mega-bank and engage an ethical local bank or credit union! About the "Debtor's Revolution' she says: Very wise! Read more here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/19/s...t_n_325535.html .

Lerv, lerv lerv...

Vaj, you're like a doo-doo magnet! There seems to be no end of people here who tire of the Buddhist bloviating. You're constantly defending/justifying/expounding and attacking...what's the message for you here? That everyone "looooves" to judge you, or that you've been an obnoxious forum presence here since you arrived? Who else here is undergoing such 'persecution'?

Does this imply that you are a Buddha and not prone to mistakes and mis-cognitions? Who gets to declare who is a Buddha and who is not?

Really? Alcohol still figures into your idea of "real happiness"? As I've gotten clearer through my spiritual work (yes, I know you find that concept shocking!-but you really know next to nothing about me...only your projections), I find that any alcohol at all takes me away from where I enjoy being-clarity. It's not that I "shouldn't", it's just that I can feel the effect of alcohol taking me away from that clarity and presence. I know that your rinpoche and the Dzogchenskis like to have a few beers after the retreat or whatever is over, and that's all convivial if one isn't attached, but to me that does not translate into a regular partaking of alcohol on a frequent basis. Also, I wonder... do you eat meat or are you vegetarian? I understand that the Tibetans allow eating of meat, but of course that makes sense, since in Tibet, traditionally there isn't much plant material to be had in that stark environment. And of course, plants are life forms and possess a certain level of consciousness, but I think that the higher animals are certainly more sentient, and how can a Bodhisattva justify creating this suffering? To say that "plants suffer too, etc", is certainly evading the issue. I know that the Dalai Lama eats meat even though he no longer has to. I think this is in conflict with the spirit of his teachings. How can this be reconciled? Would you eat meat if you had to kill the animal itself?

That's so sweet! You fell asleep and "disappeared"! This is off topic, but I found the whole SYDA scene very creepy. Big money vibe. I met Gurumayi several times, had a personal audience with her for about 10 minutes. I found her energy not to be good, no kindness in her eyes. Muktananda was a powerful master with a lot of dark energy, which is not acknowledged or even seen by the devotees. I do not agree that he was a "great being". He did have lots of shakti, which enthralls westerners, but is not significant in terms of spiritual level. I speculate that V is super idealistic about his spirituality, and is not capable of acknowledging the dark side of SYDA, or even of the Tibetans. This turning away from the Shadow is really common in the Yoga ashram scenes, and this was the culture in which he was raised. Thus the idealizing of his gurus, and now Namkhai Norbu. I imagine that this colors his own personal life as well (?drunken and violent online rows with his GF). Spiritual growth without bringing in the Dark or Shadow will be unfruitful, no matter who your Rinpoche is. I must say though, that the large Nityananda statue at South Fallsburg had a lot of shakti. They had a constant parade of Indian monks doing puja and charging it up. I disagree... this statement misrepresents Eckhart's teaching.

Might that be the 'Little Richard' who you have to quiet down periodically?

A Buddhist love triangle? Cool!

Well, the rapist probably shouldn't die, he may someday have realization and redemption and become a human being again, you can't deprive him of that. Plus there's your own karma to consider. But you can always call Zed from Pulp Fiction to pay homes a visit and get Medieval on his ass with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch. And finish with a broomstick. La la, have a great day!

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Mikey, One suggestion: Is your given name Michael? if it is, I suggest you use it, always and everywhere, instead of 'Mikey'. If you want to be taken seriously as a man, you've got to drop the kid nickname. Seriously. Names are important. Very important. A name orients you to the world, and the the people around you. Michael is a wonderful name, many successful Michaels out there, the only Mikey I know of is the Life cereal kid ("Mikey-He likes it!"). I promise you it will make a difference. Use it here on Taobums, with your family, work, women, everywhere. Or pick a new name that has power and strength, and use it. Also, your TaoBums name, 'idontknowanymore' may reflect your current state of mind, but is it where you wish to remain? Why not pick a name of strength, or of seeking, rather than one of surrender? Will you want that name next month, next year? If so, you stil 'wont know anymore'.l You have the energy now to work a lot, just plan your future so you can work smarter, not just harder. Pick your friends carefully. Hang out with successful people who are going someplace in life. This is very, very important. it will affect your degree of success more than just about any other thing you can easily do. Plus, the connections you make will lead to other opportunities that will lead you out of your work predicament. You won't get anywhere hanging out with your fellow dishwashers (or whatever) from the restaurant you may be currently working at. Instead of reading the Tao Te Ching only, pick up some practical success-type stuff, maybe like Tony Robbins. You can move to some alternative community, but if you escape from life there, you will be stuck there, and in the same situation as now when you want to leave. Create some degree of success wherever you go. Work hard, make sacrifices, and find something you have passion for and go for it. Stay in touch, we're a pretty supportive community here, unless you're into pushing Buddhist propaganda.

Vajra, for the eleventeenth time, if you were a clear writer and communicator, it would be obvious to all. You wouldn't have to keep coming back that the problem is with others. Shit, man, I read Ken Wilber and understand what he's saying, and he's a bit more advanced than you, even though he's not a Norbutron. And you, Senator, are no Ken Wilber. Your beliefs cannot be insight. They can only be insights. And just because you had them, it does not follow that they are true. They still remain your relative reality; having apprehended them in a meditative state does not confer them any truth. They can be true for you, but posting them on a forum doesn't convince anybody. Are you then claiming to be a Buddhist Prophet? And lastly, many, many things in the world do not lead to Buddhahood. Why is that the test of anything? Love, Songs Take Care, Young master!

Thanks, Gary. That one did make me think...that's a good site, pangea, no?

Me too! Take care! You're welcome! What are the calculations to which you refer, young master? May I have a peek at them? Plus, how am I being defensive? I believe I'm being offensive, only! Plus, you always accuse me of never contributing because you only look at threads that have a Vajra post in them, I contribute plenty in other, non Buddhist-dominated threads, if you'd ever care to take a look. You never, ever do! It hurts my feelings! I hate it when you accuse me of non-contributory negligence...hate it hate it hate it! (But I am glad to finally be recognized as your teacher..but if I'm gonna be your teacher, you two are going to have to clean up your act, bigtime! ) PS, I love how we all get to cover everything with these smiley and laughy faces to hide our own sarcaz : It makes it all so happeeee!! Take Care, young Masters!

Yes, in a sense, you are actually right. You two are the center of all this stuff (the common denominator) among all this snarky-snipey buddhist arguing drama. No one else. Yet you insist that it's everyone else, not you. In a sense, we are a single entity in many disguises, much like all the obstacles in your karmic path... we are that which has come to awaken you from your egoic slumber so comfortably wrapped in what you believe you are doing with dzogchen, etc... can't you see the thread? Can you not see your own blind spots when they are pointed out to you? You would have much more success in having people hear you out if you take another approach, of humility and self reflection. More people would actually take you seriously. As it is, you two are a terrible advertisement for your spiritual path, being so arrogant, preachy and defensive. Sorry, no equanimity. Nope. Nuh-uh.

Vajra, it seems you're becoming our ownTaoBums drama magnet. I hear Perez Hilton is seeking out a TB membership to keep tabs on you! Vaj, stop being mean to your GF! It positively ain't Buddhist! Be careful, she gonna rearrange the dependent origination of your junior member if ya don't knock off the tough guy stuff!! Sorry, dude, I been trying to keep a low profile and not select you out for special attention for your many [arrogant] posts, but you're making it too hard for me! Oh! the dramz!

Now, that's a nice post! "God', not "god"? As my friend Vajrahridaya often says, "Look in the proverbial mirror"... what, you have no ego? Why is an egoless Arhat constantly getting into snipes with lowly Taoists? You can't ever let a comment pass? It's very sad. Very sad.

This is really bizarre. You guys can't stay offline long enough to have a fight in realtime? Hoo-eey! Having a fight with your girlfriend on a forum? May I point out that its not the first time? You two had a knock-down aired over on e-sangha in early June, and when the GF started another thread about our hero. Vaj later apologized, saying something to the effect that they were both "way more drunk than any normal person" and they "both got violent". Among other stuff. I mean, WTF?? You already aired your dirty laundry online once before, and now again? Jeez, V, with all your snarky retorts to anyone who dares criticize you or your Rinpoche, and these online brawls, are you sure everything is so peachy in the Buddha's Pure land? I know, I know...I never contribute anything but to criticize you. But consider: maybe if you had some humility and equanimity you wouldn't be fighting with everyone? You're only human.

Some of us practice equanimity by dispassionately reading Buddhist posts on Taoist forums...Ah, so...

Jack Schwartz had amazing abilities to access and control bodily processes, yet sadly, he died of cancer at age 76. What does that mean?