Bindi

I would say Number 3 ) Buddha tantra as a distinct development of Buddhist thought and practice and having only a superficial similarity to Hindu Tantra - but actually a unique new movement in Buddhism. There doesn't seem to be any evidence in early Buddhist texts that the historical Buddha ever taught tantric techniques, therefore it is more likely that when Hindu tantra was exposed to Buddhist thought probably via Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche, original Hindu tantra evolved over time into a distinct Buddhist tantra, ultimately with diametrically opposed aims - realisation of Self vs the realisation of the reality of not-self - and underlying beliefs (for example the belief in Hindu tantra in the independent existence of deities vs the Buddhist belief that the essence of all deities is ones own mind), and methods (for example the initial energetic focus in Hindu tantra on the two side channels vs the Buddhist focus on the central channel).

Speaking of assumptions, there are other interpretations of the first line of the TTC ch 10 which don't assume 'merging' is being described: J Legge When the intelligent and animal souls are held together in one embrace, they can be kept from separating. Derek Linn In holding to your inner essence and embracing the oneness of your being, can your mind avoid being distracted, and thus going astray? Matsumoto Forget the separation between your mind and body. Remember you are Tao. Don't forget it. Can a text which is clearly open to interpretation be used to exclusively support a particular interpretation and method?

I'm not a Visishtadvaitin, but I probably align more with their understanding of Atman where Atman is not equal, or the same as Brahman, it is a mode or aspect of Brahman, though still wholly dependent upon Brahman.

To me, Atman is not cultivated until the self falls away, at which time it can be cultivated. I'm guessing you might not agree with this though.

Sure, but... this is the ending in your philosophy, though it's not ipso facto the truth, and it seems to me that the only bit that might appear to be wonderful is the dubious pleasure that comes from fully accepting defeat, ending any striving, and believing that this is the destination.

I quoted it as partial support for the idea of the trinity, as it counters the verse quoted earlier "For my father is greater than I". I didn't add anything more because It's not an area I know a lot about.

There is also in John 10:30 "I and the Father are one.”

RASA's (Ramaji Advaita Shaktipat Attunements) to increase LOC (level of consciousness) via transmission of cosmic light, and best of all, a whole bunch of levels to gauge progress by... LOC 30 to 99 The Jungle of Hungry Beasts (Toxic Apathy and Shame) LOC 100 to 199 The Island of Lost Souls (Toxic Anger and Pride) LOC 200 to 299 The Land of Selfish Heroes (Boldness and Generosity) LOC 210 = Average Human Being on Our Planet LOC 300 to 399 The Domain of Earnest Enthusiasts (Vulnerability and Allowing) LOC 400 to 499 The Kingdom of Brilliant Thinkers (Intellect and Analysis) From Spiritual Emergence to the Supreme Self LOC 500 to 559 The Bonfires of Sacrifice (Spirituality Emerges) LOC 560 to 569 Stepping Into the Blaze (Spiritual Seeking Begins) LOC 570 to 579 The Mystic on Fire (Spiritual Seeking Intensifies) LOC 580 to 589 A Sage Is Waiting (Effortless Thought Free Meditation) LOC 590 to 599 No Man's Land First Spiritual Shock (Ego Death) LOC 600 to 699 The Far Frontier (Pure Feeling of Being / No Self) Second Spiritual Shock (Cosmic Expansion) (6 sessions for $999 guarantees this level) LOC 700 to 799 The Cosmic Vision (Feeling of Being the Universe / Cosmic Self) Third Spiritual Shock (Ascent into Darkness / Great Void Passage) LOC 800 to 899 The Unthinkable Surrender (Not Knowing / Divine Union) Transfiguration (Amrita Nadi and the Consummation of the Crown Chakra / Radical Illumination) LOC 900 The Hesitant Hermit (Stabilization in No Mind / Natural State) Final Stage of Self-Inquiry (Starving the “I”-Thought to Death) LOC 1000 Lost in the Absolute (Universal “I” Consciousness / Supreme Self) (12 sessions for $1999 guarantees this level)

Leonard Cohen, the hugely influential singer and songwriter whose work spanned five decades, died at the age of 82. In October 2016, a New Yorker article revealed that he was in very poor health. "I am ready to die," he said. "I hope it's not too uncomfortable. That's about it for me." The singer-songwriter later clarified that he was ‘exaggerating.’ "I’ve always been into self-dramatization,” Cohen said, “I intend to live forever.”

The very essence of internal alchemy is transforming one energy into another, to make it more refined. Heat ice to make water. Boil water to create steam. Gather and direct it. All alchemy.

An interesting theory, I found his book online, click on READ PAPER: http://www.academia.edu/11423212/The_Kabbalistic_Words_of_Jesus_in_the_Gospel_of_Thomas_Recovering_the_Inner-Circle_Teachings_of_Yeshua

He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have kundalini, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are ida and pingala.” “That is enough,” he replied... ...50“Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him. At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his kundalini and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52“Put your kundalini back in its place, Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the kundalini will die by the kundalini. 53Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” 55At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with kundalini and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me. 56But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” I think sometimes a sword is just a sword.

Staying with swords for one more post, when it comes to actually using them Jesus is recorded as not being interested. Again he seems only interested in fulfilling prophecy (which to me raises its own questions): Matt 26:51 At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52“Put your sword back in its place, Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

I think poor means actually poor, one of the groups of people who are blessed, as opposed to the powerful rich. Jesus offers promises to the poor, the hungry, those who weep and those who suffer religious persecution, they are promised the kingdom now and blessings later, including enough to eat, laughter and heavenly reward. In contrast to these stand the rich, those who are well fed, those who laugh and those who receive praise. Their fate is sorrow, hunger and mourning. It points to me towards a Jesus who favours the poor, the sinners, the outcasts and the worthless. He's reevaluating the standard societal perspective.

He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” he replied. It looks to me like he is trying to set himself up conclusively as the Messiah, dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's, he doesn't come over as that interested in swords really when just two will do.

Though quoting what Paul wrote is not any proof of what Jesus actually said, only what Paul imagines - Paul who never actually met Jesus in the flesh.

To circumcise or not was one of the debates that arose as Christianity was being taken from its Jewish origin to the gentiles, mid 1st century CE. It was decided that it was unnecessary to follow Mosaic law (in the Apostolic decree) in order to ease the burden on gentile converts, but like most contentious issues, the debate continued between Paul and James the Just (from the Jerusalem church). Clearly Paul's view was victorious. This suggests this verse was written when there was still some uncertainty, and the writer wanted to strengthen his anti-circumcision stance with a 'Jesus said' proof.

From JAJ: The Upper Dantian is located in the center of the Brain, in an area that encompasses the pineal, pituitary, thalamus, and hypothalamus glands... The center of the Upper Dantian is located in the pineal gland, which is a small, reddish-gray colored gland attached to the base of the third ventricle of the Brain, in front of the cerebellum. The pineal gland is a mass of nerve matter, containing corpuscles resembling nerve cells and small hard masses of calcareous particles. It is larger in children than in adults and more developed in women than in men. The pineal gland is the organ of telepathic communication, and receives its impressions through the medium of vibrations caused by thoughts projected from other individuals. When an individual thinks, he or she initiates a series of vibrations within the surrounding energy field which is radiated out from his or her body as energetic waves and pulses. Therefore, this area is considered the space where the Shen transcends the limitations of form and merges with the infinite space of the Wuji.

I looked into 'Olam' for example, one of Biglino's disputed words, usually translated as 'eternity' in the bible, and the more literal translation from the Ancient Hebrew Research Centre: So Biglino has reason I believe to make a new literal translation, but it's also true that he does go further than just literal translation, as he then interprets his literal translation.

The flood story would be the main parallel from Sumerian texts, but there are also Gods (plural) in the Sumerian Eridu genesis which are mentioned in the biblical genesis but don't fit the monotheistic pattern. This page gives a reasonable overview http://www.piney.com/EriduGen.html One of the bottom line issues is that some people, those that end up in the alien UFO camp really, are reading the Eridu genesis text and other Akkadian texts as factual history instead of myth. edit: Also 'The genesis of genesis' by Victor Hurowitz regarding the Babylonian creation myth and its similarity to the Biblical genesis. http://www.michaelsheiser.com/PaleoBabble/babylonbaghdad.pdf

It's the first I've heard of Mauro Biglino, but I have compared genesis and Sumerian/Akkadian texts for my own interest and some of the similarities are striking. Researching Mauro Biglino briefly, he seems to be coming at the whole thing from a fairly solid scholarly base:

Wouldn't 'differentiated stuff' be yin and of the earth, and the 'truth' be of the heavens and yang?

My second tentative answer is that there is a sound or some other quality that is radiated by the transcendent Self, which causes us to search for its source. So then the wish and the desire are mine to know directly what it is that is radiating.