dontknwmucboutanythng

Hello, Is there a safe way to contact the spirit of recently (about 100 days) departed loved one, just to find out if they are ok? By "safe" someway that doesn't hurt the deceased's soul or the living. I recall reading somewhere that this activity can harm the departed soul, or open pathway for bad spirit to harm the living. Many thanks.

Silent Thunder and Nungali said to authenticate/test the unbodied in earlier part of this thread. I am told recently that do not try to contact loved one departed spirit. If they already crossed-over or moved-on (is crossed-over or moved-on the same?) they cannot response. Regardless, there are bad spirits who can read mind so it's not possible to test by asking questions that only the tester and departed loved ones would know. Is this true? Thanks again.

Hello, Can ghost, spirit, angels, deities, etc appear or exert influence during the day? Thanks.

> But it would all revolve around like causality, reincarnation, life, >death, transmigration, ghosts, the various bodies of man, and how they > relate to this, the process of death etc, past (and future lives), soul, > spirit etc etc Hello Shadow_self, I read "Tibetan book of the dead", "The Tibetan book of living and dying", a number of books on NDE, research on NDE and reincarnation by University of Virginia Division of Perceptual Studies, summary of a few Buddhist Sutras, and of course lots of posting on this site relating to these topics. Obviously, I don't know much compare to all the people on here. Regardless, I feel that my belief/understanding about what happen after death is still very much bookish and not so very deeply held. All of what I do regarding to these subjects is Pascal's wager. I hope that in these subjects your knowledge of them are empirical if this is the right word to use. Hence my first few questions are: Is there anything after death, and what did you do to convince yourself of that? What are signs that a soul has successfully make the transition vs stuck around in this realm? What are signs that a soul is still around here? Is it possible to find out where a soul transition to, i.e another human life, or ? Thanks again Shadow_self!

Hello Shadow_self, >But i'm eternally grateful that i've had almost all of my burning questions answered already Could you please list those "burning questions", and if it's not too private please share their answers? Thanks so much.

Hello Nungali, > ... Depending on their transition, 100 days might not be enough ... "Not enough" to transition from earthly realm to next realm? Or "not enough" for the soul to "learn" or "gain power" to communicate to earthly realm? Does this imply the soul cannot communicate to earthly realm until it complete the above? > ...One dear and close 'spiritual friend' taught me that Is this "spiritual friend" an earthly friend who passed away? Thank you Nungali.

Hello, I am looking for prayers and/or mantra to help the recently departed's soul to move on. Also looking for prayers/mantra to lessen the pain of the bereaved. Thank you very much.

Hello, In some tradition, one is supposed to suppress emotion for 49 days after loved one passes away. Is casual talking (good morning, I did this today, etc) to the air or hugging an empty pillow prevents the soul from moving on? Thanks again.

After just about 40 years of marriage, 27 of which we fought stage 4 breast cancer every step of the way by her side, she passed away unexpectedly in my arm without being able to say goodbye. I didn't feel/see anything "supernatural" as she took her last breath, and days (38 now)after . Although it's extremely hard to control emotion, I didn't want to mess-up this last step that might cause her soul to linger on. Two days after she passed away, I passed out on a couch in the afternoon, as I came to (maybe half awake) I saw her smiling full of health (vs emaciated body just before dead) bent down look at my head. I hope this was the sign she already moved on and came to say good bye. Thank you all for reading and commenting, I wish life treats you very gently in health, loved ones, and friendship.

What are some of the signs that a soul has moved on, and signs that a soul has not moved on? Thanks again.

Stirling, >My experience is that it has been possible to channel my grief into love, compassion and kindness for the one who has passed, rather >than toward a more common absorption into personal loss. Could you elaborate on this please, even though I might not be wise enough to understand or to do it? Thanks.

Study with Tibetan monks reveals how different types of meditation affect brain activity https://www.psypost.org/study-with-tibetan-monks-reveals-how-different-types-of-meditation-affect-brain-activity/ Report from a Tibetan Monastery: EEG neural correlates of concentrative and analytical meditation https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1348317/full

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-visualizing-mysterious-quantum-entanglement-photons.html

How spirituality protects your brain from despair "... But it's worth noting, of all the forms of spiritual life, the one that most correlates with the thick, strong cortex, if you will, the fortification of the awakened brain, is altruism: love of neighbor. If you really feel stuck, if you feel trapped in despair or depression, stand up, walk out the door, and bring something of beauty, of love to your neighbor. Bring them a meal. Shovel their driveway. Step out of your comfort zone just enough to do something a little bit nice for someone. And as you do, you'll see that long ago you paved the highways into your natural seat of transcendent awareness. There is a way back to God, your higher power, the Universe- and it was paved long ago. If you own it and take it back, you will have jump started your awakened brain. ..." https://bigthink.com/the-well/how-spirituality-protects-your-brain-from-despair/

“Like a Vibration Cascading through the Body”: Energy-Like Somatic Experiences Reported by Western Buddhist Meditators Abstract There are numerous historical and textual references to energy-like somatic experiences (ELSEs) from religious traditions, and even a few psychological studies that have documented related phenomena. However, ELSEs remain an understudied effect of meditation in contemporary research. Based upon narratives from a large qualitative sample of Buddhist meditators in the West reporting meditation-related challenges, this paper offers a unique glimpse into how ELSEs play out in the lives of contemporary meditation practitioners and meditation experts. Departing from studies presuming a “kundalini awakening” framework, this paper presents a broader scope for understanding ELSEs by describing the metaphors practitioners used when speaking about them; the trajectories and impacts of ELSEs, including the factors that were reported as influencing their nature or trajectory; the various ways in which they were interpreted and appraised by practitioners, teachers, and specialists, such as doctors and therapists; and how practitioners responded to them or managed them with particular remedies. Deciding how to interpret and manage ELSEs entailed recruiting frameworks from within and/or beyond the meditator’s specific Buddhist lineage. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/12/1042

Hello, I am really bad at sophisticated/deep thinking, could you please elaborate on how is "suffering ... optional", especially illness related suffering? Lots of thanks! > Life is life. Death is life. Dying is living... and suffering... is entirely optional.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/02/well/family/random-acts-of-kindness.html From one reader comment: "..."...Do you know the story - now spread across the internet - of the 7th grade teacher who changed the lives of her students by one simple positive act? A seemingly small - no, almost insignificant - gesture? I had wondered for awhile if it was another internet myth but no, it was quite real. It took place over 50 years ago, but it still touches many hearts. One rainy afternoon, the students in class seemed distracted, so the teacher asked them to set aside their books, take out a piece of paper, and write one nice thing about each of the other 24 students. She collected the papers and over the weekend, put together each thing the students said. On Monday morning, she passed out a sheet to each student with the kind statements about them written by the other 24 students. They were all shocked; they ALL had felt that for the most part, they were rather insignificant in the eyes of the others. Quite some years later, the students met up again at a memorial for one of them who had died in Vietnam. At one point in the service, the deceased soldier's mother came over to the teacher and handed a tattered piece of paper that had been found in the dead soldier's wallet. It was that paper the teacher had put together years before. Slowly, other students came up to her, took out THEIR papers, which they had saved all those years, so much had this one simple gesture meant to them..."

Hello, Do you have suggestions for mantra or any method to reduce persistent health related anxiety? Thank you for your thought.

After a couple of years of meditation/introspection I thought I made a bit of progress on pride/ego. But a few recent next to nothing incidents proved I was wrong, perhaps even regressed. So any tips on training to reduce pride/ego would be much appreciated. Thanks!

I’ve been watching this one legged song bird really struggling hunting worms to feed her 3-4 babies. I am thinking of buying a box of live meal worms to help her (yes there are lots more human that need help and I am already doing as much as my resources allow). But I am mindful of creating (this is selfishness, isn't it) bad karma of trading many worms to 3-4 small birds. Though I pray daily, my understanding of various religions is surface level at best. But isn’t there something about “life value” of higher v.s lower life forms? On the other hand, worms that I might supply will take place of worms that might be hunted by the mother bird. But still something doesn’t feel right. Thanks for your thought.

My apology for this very late thank you for all the suggestions.

Effect of rosary prayer and yoga mantras on autonomic cardiovascular rhythms: comparative study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC61046/ “… Recitation of the rosary, and also of yoga mantras {om mani padme om), slowed respiration to almost exactly 6/min, and enhanced heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity… … Both the Ave Maria and the yoga mantra had similar effects, slowing respiration to around 6/min and thus having a marked effect on synchronisation and also increased variability in all cardiovascular rhythms (table). This was seen not only in the respiratory signals but also in the RR interval, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and in the transcranial blood flow signal…”

Could someone provide a bit more explanation to the below passage, "...nose doesn't exist ... what's hurting..."? Thanks! “ In the first story, the Zen master asked the novice monk: “Tell me about your understanding of the Heart sutra.” The novice monk joined his palms and replied: “I have understood that the five skandhas are empty. There are no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body or mind; there are no forms, sounds, smells, tastes, feelings, or objects of mind; the six consciousnesses do not exist, the eighteen realms of phenomena do not exist, the twelve links of dependent arising do not exist, and even wisdom and attainment do not exist.” “Do you believe what it says?” “Yes, I truly believe what it says.” “Come closer to me,” the Zen master instructed the novice monk. When the novice monk drew near, the Zen master immediately used his thumb and index finger to pinch and twist the novice’s nose. In great agony, the novice cried out “Teacher! You’re hurting me!” The Zen master looked at the novice. “Just now you said that the nose doesn’t exist. But if the nose doesn’t exist then what’s hurting?” “ It is from the below link: https://plumvillage.org/news/thich-nhat-hanh-new-heart-sutra-translation/

Hello, Does anyone happen to have mantra/prayer to ease anxiety/worry? Thanks!

Through out the days I have to kill a bunch of ants crawling around the kitchen counter. I don’t know if an ant has soul, I hate doing this regardless. I would let them be, but they would take over the house and I can’t risk contamination. It seems hypocrite to ask this, but what can I say to “ease” (for lack of better word) their passing. I recall reading a story in incarnation research where a child remembered being a snake in his previous life. Part of himself was in the snake and part of himself followed the snake around. He said life was tough being a snake. Anyway, thanks for your comment.