s1va

I am unable to attach any images. When I click on My Images or attachments there is nothing. When I go to the profile and try to add any image, it just shows there are no attachments. There is no option to add any attachment. If some one can describe, how to add an image, either to my signature, or embed it in a post, I would really appreciate it. The image is not in an URL. The image is locally saved.

That url extension has a jpg attachment. Here is what I found out. I am able to insert images from external sites, as url link. I am unable to insert the image as url link from the TBD site, where they are in my attachments. May be a permission issue? Since they are in my profile, I can't insert them as link on a post.... I have to logged in to see the posts? There has to be a way around this.

I believe in free will also. But the question: Is everything "free will". Do we have complete control over everything that is happening around us?

I tried using the URL Link from "My Attachments" in my profile. This is the url link that I tried to use as image: http://www.thedaobums.com/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=4809 The preview looks great. When I tried to post the image, I get the following. An Error Occurred You are not allowed to use that image extension on this community. I see others using images like this all the time. Is this a bug that is not letting me use images in the community?

I don't have the image as URL link. I have it stored in my computer. Do you mean after I have it in 'my images', I can insert the link from there? Let me try.

If I wanted to attach images and not thumbnails. What is the format limitation for this or size limitation? Please check this thread: http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/43256-to-guru-or-not-to-guru/page-2 In the thread above, Bindi has inserted an image. It was not thumbnail. It is beautiful. This was what I wanted to do. Does any one know the format limitations to insert an image like that without thumbnail?

Yup. Very much on seeking mode. Personally, I have seen very few (less than handful) that are not in seeking mode. I have met a lot of people that claim that they are not seeking. Their actions tell something else.

This is what I understand about gems from my teacher and other sources. Gems are powerful, they can divert the course of karma, temporarily pause or change the course. Temporary is the keyword here. No one can escape the course of karma. If not now, then down the road. We have to face the fruit of actions that we did. Due to this reason for temporary diversion, I see some teachers are totally against wearing Gems. I held this view for a long time. Then I revised my opinions on this. Sometimes, it is good or better to pause certain karmas temporarily or diverting them by wearing these gems. Life can be very unconducive at some times. We are ill prepared to face the brunt of our past karmas at certain periods of life. Some other times, we are better able to face the result of these past karmas. So wearing gems temporarily is okay in my opinion. The complexity comes in choosing the gems. This is some serious stuff. If done wrong, it can have bad consequences. Gems are powerful, they act fast. Sri Parasara Maharishi has given numerous charts on his Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra. Then we come across the cryptic sutras given by Jaimini Maharishi. These days people go only by the Rasi and Navamsa charts in the southern India. Most people think and use Navamsa for marital affairs. Navamsa is the chart of Dharma. In the North India, I rarely see the Navamsa these days, people go only by the Rasi chart. The rasi chart from birth time is just an overview of this particular birth. There are numerous other charts that go into various detailed aspects of the life. Going by one particular chart like the rasi chart, if we chose a gem, it could have negative repercussions from another divisional chart or other aspects of life. This does not mean gems are a No No. I have advocated gems to other people at times. I use it only after trying other methods. I give lot of thought, careful consideration to various aspects and also pray to receive intuitive guidance. Only after I am convinced, I advocate gems in very small number of cases. Even after finding the right Gem to enhance the aspects of one chart, one can't jump to wear that gem, when where and how they like. There comes other things like strengthening a planet or to weaken it's effects temporarily. In order to enhance a chart, some times we have to weaken the effect of certain planets. Depending on which hand a person wears the ring, this weakening/strengthening can change. If the person wears it in the wrong hand, instead of enhancing, it can have entirely opposite effects. The fingers are another factor that comes into play after we chose the correct hand. Depending on which finger one wears the ring has different meanings, different effects. To answer the question straight, yes gems are powerful tools that can enhance a certain chart. They can also do the opposite. Lot of people wear diamond rings or whatever other gems without knowing what kind of effects it can have in their life. For some, it can be great and for some others disastrous. If we can avoid gems, that would be the way I would advocate. Use other tools, prayer is one potent tool that can enhance any and all of the divisional charts of a person. Similar to gems, in prayer at certain times it is conducive to pray to certain deities. This can enhance the chart. Conversely praying to the wrong deity will never have bad effects like choosing the wrong gems. Prayer has meaning in and of itself. Doesn't matter the deity or to 'what' a person prays to. It is just that earnest and sincere seeking. In a flash of a second, it can bring about big changes. Don't expect this to happen right away. Pray sincerely and let it go. The result may not be instantaneous most of the time, but it will come.

They are not the same.

I don't know if anyone answered to your post. Can I ask what type of mediation that you are doing and for how long?

I am a student of vedic astrology among other things. I was just pondering over the significance of the time that any event starts; or takes birth in universe. Starting time. This is termed as muhurta in vedic astrology. Many think that muhurta is the time to fix for marriage. That is just one small aspect of muhurta. A time that is considered conducive for marriage or union could be totally negative for some other event. For example: starting a war. Significant importance is given to muhurtha in vedic astrology. If I understand it right, astrology was (is) not entirely about fortune telling. This knowledge came about initially to choose conducive time to start worldly activities. During the vedic time, the major activities were vedic rituals. Muhurtha is not confined to the timing for rituals described in vedas, it seems to be vast and comprehensive, covering most conceivable actions in the world (positive or negative). Provides guidelines with conducive and non-conducive times for the positive and negative actions. Down the road, sadly astrology turned entirely into fortune telling. Like everything else, (ex: yoga) it got corrupted over the ages. There were some greedy people that wanted to make money out of what little intuitive powers they had (if any) to foretell. Exploiting peoples need or curiosity to know the future events. Like other fields, people that claim that theirs is the only right method as given by whatever they see as authority. Many distortions to the teaching, so much to cast doubts on the entire subject. The birth of a person this world is also an event just like any other. We have control over certain events and we don't have control over certain others. Some out of ignorance, try to time (these days) even human birth based on their blind beliefs. They set c-section to happen at certain time. This just shows how much ignorance they are mired in. Some things (start of) simply is not in our hands. Dr. B.V. Raman has given some beautiful worldly examples that can be classified as scientific, to explain, how certain animals behave differently during some lunar phases. Modern science more or less acknowledges the influence of moon over a person's mind. I strongly believe that at the moment an event starts, or takes birth in this universe, has huge significance on the outcome of the event. In many ways, some qualified people, with their intuitive powers can tell, to certain extent, how this event will turn out to be, based on the time in which it was started. I could have started this discussion in astrology forums. There are many. If I started it there, mostly, all would concur with what I say. There would be little to discuss from different perspectives. This is why I started the topic here. I wanted to see and listen from others here who believe and don't believe. How many of you believe that the moment or time that an event starts in this universe holds significance (if any) ? If you believe that it holds even some significance, do you believe by choosing time wisely for events, one can get influence (to certain degree) the outcome. Be it positive or negative, based on the time chosen? For the events which we have the control to chose. I am willing to listen to the opinions from anyone that cares to share their thoughts. Doesn't matter if you believe in astrology or not, on any spirituality for that matter. I don't care if you are an agnostic or atheist. I have some atheist friends who believe that moments or placements of planets (celestial bodies to put it aptly) have certain influence over each other or in the affairs in universe.

That's true. But the 'guru-shishya' tradition, I wouldn't say the chain was broken entirely. It does look and feel that way. There are some very minor threads that still keep it connected. You are right, it is no more the solid chain the way it was. These minor threads that still keep the chain connected are visible. If we pause and carefully look around. I feel this chain or bond can never be entirely broken. I may be wrong.

I read the post. enthralling read! then it went to confusion. the nature of read read read?

Started reading the kindle version couple of days back. Simply fascinating. My mind opened up. I got the sample from Amazon to read it in the kindle app in my iPad. I am getting the full version now. When I try the sample versions from Amazon, I normally end up buying one out of 50 (or even 100) books that I try. If I had come across this book just when browsing Amazon, I would have been very skeptical about it. For this, I have to thank you for bringing this up here. Our mind opens up when we hear, or come to know of certain things from certain place or people. I would encourage to those that are debating to get this or not, to test drive, with the sample portion of the book that is given free on the following link from Amazon. On the right hand side of the page, below buying options, there is a button that reads 'Send a free sample': https://www.amazon.com/Apprenticed-Himalayan-Master-Yogis-Autobiography-ebook/dp/B007F2I3F0/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1486219308&sr=8-1

I thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic. I used to think and still think sometimes Vedic astrology is complex. There is a difference between complex and hard. This is like a huge ocean. What I think I know is few drops. We can never completely learn this. We can strive to learn. The striving itself becomes the path. This is what I learned. If I put one final goal post in front of me, it looks daunting. Goal posts are needed. There is no progress without them. This is just like how some one said, a thousand mile journey starts with the first step. If you want to look at some simple resources on vedic astrology, I can point you in some directions. I am sorry, I don't have much knowledge in Swara Yoga. Others who know more about it can chime in here. It sounds interesting to me. All of these things are interwoven in a complicated and very simple way. For the 'lost knowledge' part, many think knowledge of vedic astrology is lost. If we look hard, we may find them. I don't personally subscribe (anymore) to this, 'some knowledge is lost' theories.

Hope you understand fully what you unleashed. Edited to Add: Still not the full size image, like the way I wanted. I will figure it out. Just lazy now.

Thank you. I had seen it before. I imagined, it was attachment for that particular post or reply. I guess it gets added to "My Attachments" or images in my profile. It would be nice to have this "Add attachment" feature, on the Profile section itself where it shows my attachments. Just to have attachments not related to posts. That I can use them on my signature or posts. I guess this works same way. Sometimes I don't look deep around me, for the solid things that are out there. Anyway, it is good to ask and get an answer. I hope the post helps some other new comer.

If I feel any negative energy, these are some things I do. During my meditation sessions, I focus between my eye brows and just breathe them out. This works for me without fail. Plus earnest prayer to whatever we believe in can help. This sincere prayer combined with the breath can make wonders within few minutes. To cleanse whatever in one session. If there is strong and persistent negative energy, then this should still work. Consistent focus and sincere prayer are the key. May be this might help. Closing eyes and when things calm down. The breath becomes quiet. Imagine lot of dirt, and you having a shovel and throwing them out some at a time. There may be little to throw or lot. Keep at it. Eventually it should clear. Edited to add: Perhaps try Bhastrika pranayama. Forceful breathing out. Feels like powerful cleansing. Getting out negative stuff or toxins, whichever way we choose to look at them. Some physical body cleansing stuff like Neti (nasal cleansing) and/or colon cleansing as described in yoga books should help. Fasting is another thing if done reasonably with moderation. Physical cleansing is mental cleansing also. When we talk of negative energy around us, invariably the physical body comes into the picture.

You say images already uploaded to the site by the member. I don't know where this place is. Where to upload initially, so that I can attach later?

I am ignorant on Doa. These are just eager questions to understand. I hope no one misunderstands or misinterprets any intention to ask these questions. When I keep hearing Dao, it sounds similar to the state of enlightenment or a state of peacefulness despite what happens around me. This thread was about cultivating enlightenment. I hear a lot of Dao. I can't help but think these two if not the exact same, must be similar. Is this a correct observation? 1) Do I have to 'not think' and 'not ponder' to understand Dao? Right now my mind is consumed by thinking and pondering. How can I get to the place where I don't have to think or ponder? I am simply not there as far as I know. 2) Do I have to 'not engage' in willful action to be peaceful in Dao? Right now, I engage in lot of wilful actions. How do I get to the state to 'not engage' in wilful actions? 3) Is 'taking no route' and 'using no method' the only ways to arrive at Dao?

Posted Yesterday, 05:25 PM Cauvery, on 02 Feb 2017 - 1:39 PM, said: Sorry, you are talking about something that is totally not relevant to the question that was put forth above. Yet, you have quoted the question above. Which implies your text is relevant to the question posted above. Your writing says, "One first observes........" That original question remains unaddressed, while your post is talking about getting caught on "Method" vs "No Method"...... The original question was, "Who is the observer making these observations?" Let me rephrase based on your new text. What or who is the "One" that you have mentioned that first observes? Where does this "One" reside? Inside you or out in the world? Who is the observer of the observations? And to whom are the observations made? To the observer himself? If not, to who?

I don't want to get into who is killing everyone with "vaccinations". Just want to say this: Please stop killing me with vaccinations. Enough is enough!

I agree entirely with what you have said. I agree with Roger also entirely. Where I disagree is, when we make statements in forums online, 'we don't have to try', (in another thread I just saw someone advocating there are "no methods" and when we realize there are "no methods", that is the way to enlightenment). There is truth in these statements also. On the other hand, these statements can cause potential unwanted damage to some (or many). There is 'nothing to try', or that line of thinking has the possibility to escalate. To escalate to other statements like this made by some philosopher: "nothing is good or bad, our thinking makes it so". Yes, I agree with him also. But, putting forth such ideas to those who are not ready (like me), can causes damage. I will be very happy to take up the "no trying". Trust me Many people have not crossed the stage that you are talking about. The place from where, there is no seeking. It would be wonderful for me to be on the other side of the line, where there is no seeking. Sadly right now, I am at a place where there is "seeking". As long as there is seeking, I must DO things and keep moving. There is "good" and there is "bad". I have to work on these from where I am. Otherwise, I stagnate or end up in ways that are counter productive to me.

I can't resist but ask, what are you teaching to the students that you chose to teach? I see from your PPF that you are teaching something wonderful. Something that I really want to try. To learn. A "method" or a "process" that I want to try and learn, no matter what name it is called (I don't care if it is called "No Method", I still think what you are teaching in your PPF is great!).

That above is your signature. What do you want people to practice with you? Practice "No Method". Learn about "No Method" and practice it with you? Can "No Method" be practiced?