Fa Xin

When you think of someone and hold them in your heart with gratitude, appreciation... there's an energetic transfer that happens. You're connecting with them. That's why you feel what you feel in your heart. So by doing this, you are sharing. But it's not something to be bottled up... is what I meant by sharing. Since everything is energy, the thing like the chair holding your weight - your connecting with your surroundings, and feeling the increase of energy in your body. That's how I see it, at least. I heard a story once, of a boy who went to see a Sufi master. He traveled long and hard to get there...when he finally arrived at the Master's house he tried to open the door and it stuck. After all the travelling and hardship, he was angry and kicked the door. The Sufi master calmly said, "I won't teach you anything until you apologize to that door." The boy yelled - "Why should I do that? It's just a stupid door. It's not alive." The Master replied, "If the door was alive enough to take your anger, it's alive enough to take your compassion." Cheers!

Sounds right to me. Good intuition and deduction !

Awesome! I think the energy of gratitude/love cannot be contained, as you said. It must be shared. And the more you share it, the more it will return to you, as it will never run out - so no need to store it in a dan tien. This is my experience, and the basis of much of my personal energy practice. If done correctly, it will start to dissolve the barriers between you and "not you".

This is a big realization. Simply by becoming aware of the resistance that your having, it should begin to liberate itself. Once an issue is under the light of awareness, it tends to dissolve in time. You are doing great. It's not easy to let go of expectations and desire for progress. It is deeply interwoven into our conditioning. I will recommend a practice called "quiet sitting". Just sit there and be. Let whatever arise arise, if you feel that pressure or anxiety to do something/have results/progress, just sit with it. Be still and just relax into the moment. You're asking all the right questions and I can tell from your posts you're on your way (on your wu-wei).

As the AA crowd says “Let go and Let God”

Hello, MuadDib, and welcome. Your membership is approved and we're happy you found your way to us. We look forward to accompanying you on some of the way that you still have to go. Please take the time to read the post pinned at the top of this Welcome page and take a look at the forum Terms and Rules. This covers all you need to know when getting started. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. Good luck in your pursuits and best wishes to you, Fa Xin and the TDB team Welcome MuadDib, Sounds like you have a solid foundation already. Great to have you aboard, I hope you enjoy. You are welcome to jump right in to the ongoing discussions, revive an older thread, start a new thread of your own, or start a discussion in the "Newcomer Corner" sub-forum to expand on your introduction or ask general questions to help you get started. May you enjoy your time here. Fa Xin

Nice observation, spotless. To build on the mystery of emotions, how about personal connections and interactions... those really interest me. The level of emotional, energetic complexities that happen from one person to another... how one person can elicit a casual response, and the next person can cause a flurry of intense reactions. This past week I spent a few days in relative seclusion... reading and meditating mostly. Even after 2 or 3 days, it becomes apparent just how important the human connection is.

Very interesting perspective! Thank you for sharing. It’s not quite how I see it myself - but I like how you’re thinking outside the box. I tend to think of Jesus as a sun - more of a spiritual sun that radiates light. Cheers!

Gotcha. Thank you. I like your concept of a permission slip. It seems we do need to abide and reside in “something” first - a practice of some kind, to learn how to abide and reside in the moment and flow of life.

Interesting perspective. Would you say a mantra practice is a “doing”?

Great job yonkon. I would say keep sitting with that “uncomfortable silence”, and eventually it will be the most fulfilling silence there is. Keep up the experimenting and playing with these concepts.

Very true. thank you. For what is Gods forgiveness, if not forgiving ourselves.

Oh gotcha. Thank you. Reading it now

Sounds good. Just keep your orange juice at home...

I do believe we as humans have a drive to “be better” for a reason. This usually manifests in outward forms, like achieving material goals... and many people fall short of applying this to the spiritual. No sense in denying this. Saying “I no longer seek” is to me, a trap. I seek every moment of every day... I seek the union with the divine. It’s a constant turning inward. It’s not “one and done” for me. It’s a constant evolution, a constant motion and growth/expansion. Residing and non effort does not mean you are not still going places, changing and learning. It is a being (residing in...), in a dance of becoming (...expansion and change. )

Very cool... so his example like how he acts? Or something more?

Thanks Jeff... This whole verse is worth a long study in many ways. Seems he is saying, the Fathers kingdom is already inside of us (and we in it)... even saying to Philip, “You still don’t get it do you?” Jeff what’s your take on verse 3? John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Haha, I may... but just curious as to your view on it. Also will be good for others reading to have a dialogue, rather than just me talking to myself.

Being, in a dance of becoming.

Very interesting statement. Why do you think that? Also, what do you think of the verses that seem to say something different? Say John 14:6 for example. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Yes agreed here. Heart is key. Also maybe why Jesus is shown with his "Sacred heart" in paintings. I also interpret that verse as one who is with the Holy Spirit is able to share that with others.

Maybe a bit of both. I have a feeling a lot of blame is falling on the early Church leaders also wielding political power. Spirituality is corrupted when used as a tool to control the masses. I had a friend ask me once, "There must be some priests who know about this stuff (meaning enlightenment and awareness etc), why would they bother to join the Church ? (which seems so far removed?)"..... My reply was based on my own situation... "I know a lot of western medicine is bad, yet I'm studying to be a nurse... perhaps it's because they go where they can do the most good." I personally think an inner relationship with Jesus is the most effective tool in the tradition... the more someone opens to that connection, the more they will understand the teachings. I think of it like this: The light of God is in us all, but is obscured by our own stuff like ego and karma, therefor, hard for us to see. By forming a link with Jesus, we have direct access to that light. Being aware of that feeling on a daily basis, it allows us to recognize that same feeling within ourselves. The meaning of "one in Christ" takes on a new dimension from there. So very possible, using the method above, to find our way just through our own meditations and prayer. But it gets confusing as the Church seems to make it much more complicated then it is.

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:38

Thanks. What’s the next higher realm for you?

I just found this tonight while browsing the forum. Had never noticed it before, almost 9 years old, but I enjoyed it and hope you do too.