dontknwmucboutanythng

I'm not sure where to post this. During meditation, how does one recognize these: inner voice, a thought, internal monologue, and inner voice that is not oneself ? Thanks.

What to do when anxiety is due to a serious health issue of oneself or love ones? Thanks.

Hello, In the below image which hand position is the correct one, the one on the left most or right most? Are the two pinkies sticking up (left most image) or fold down (right most image)? Also do the tips of the two thumbs touch the other fingers or stay up in the air as in the left most image? Lastly can I use this mudra while praying in general or praying to other Buddhas? Have you ever seen a Christian holding this mudra while praying in a church? Many thanks.

Hello, Hope you don’t mind sharing your experience regarding to these: What do you do (mantra, or ???) when “Churchill’s black dog” and/or anxiety bites? Does knowing the existence of other realms or superior beings (God, Buddha, Deities, etc) help handling of this life’s difficulties? Many thanks!

Hello, Does the phrase "Om Bhrum Soha" function as a multiplier for the mantra that was just recited before it? If yes, what is the multiplication factor? If no, what does this phrase mean? Thank you.

I came back from dinner last night and happened to watch Anthony Bourdain’s show about Madagascar and Ethiopia. In one part of the show, the train that Bourdain rode on stopped at a food station after a long ride, all the passengers were hungry. As the passengers ate, there were rows of young children longingly looked on. I could see the hunger in their eyes, and could almost feel their hunger even through the TV. Bourdain and his travelers couldn’t stand to eat and started handing pieces out to the children. The children pushed/shoved to get near the food, hands reaching up, mouth-watering, and my heart ached again. I often saw scenes like this and other worse form of suffering through various documentaries of many unfortunate countries. A few tiny donations here and there have been less like a grain of sand on the beach. Even the generosity of people with vast amount of resources like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet aren’t close. Even if current evil/corrupted leaders of these nations somehow no longer in power, the problem remain, as many similar others would take their places, on and on. But then I came upon this web site. I have been reading bit and pieces of this site and elsewhere. I get the impression that there might be people who might have gain some sort of “supernatural” power on their quest for awakening, enlightenment, or some other supernatural goal. Are you out there? If you alone aren’t powerful enough, can you sense the others, and join forces to influence “those leaders” mind to improve their countries and ease suffering of the people? Please don’t mention karma, and yes it’s wishful thinking. How many being can be/will be liberated from suffering one at a time and how many millennia will it take?

Yes, I have been doing a number of conventional charities type and of course praying for daily. But it seems conventional methods (even on very large scale) don't go very far or lasting, unless a country get very lucky with regime change to a benevolent care for the people regime. Hence my wishful thinking about supernatural mean. Anyway, when I wrote about "no karma", I just didn't want to hear something along the line that they are in that situation because of bad actions in previous life, whether "karma" is real or not, may be lessen the penalty a bit, perhaps 1/2 a meal a day, instead of none. So sorry, I think I am rambling.

Hello, If one has opportunity to travel to Japan in the near future for a very short time, would you please suggest some ways to find a teacher or to obtain empowerment (in Buddhism and/or Taoism) in these cities: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Nagoya? Thanks so much!

Hello, I hope you don’t mind and it’s ok (per your school) for you to answer these questions: What was the event(s) that convince you the “supernatural world” (deities, ghosts, heaven, hell, reincarnation, etc) exist? By “convince” and “know” I mean as in knowing like 2 + 1 = 3 or some sort of hard evidence and not something like “closing your eyes” and mentally experience the other realms. No insult or any sort of offense is intended by the preceding sentence. Did that event(s) just happen out of the blue, or after a long period of training? How did this knowledge change you if at all Thanks so much!

I am too slow (or reading thing too literally) so I'll reread Stosh's post a few more times, but a quick question for Stosh: does "Manifest the ideas" mean continue to practice/pray? Thanks.

Thank you all for answering. I wasn't sure if the 2nd reply (Michael) was a joke, though it did cause me to reflect on his answer. YES, absolutely I don't know much (if anything at all) about the theory/practice to connect to the supernatural world and/or enlightenment. The main reason I asked is to have "real" evidence to motivate/convince me to progress in my "practice". A friend who is very experience/knowledgeable in the practice of Taoism and Esoteric Buddhism, put it to me this way (paraphrasing), from the time I started school until I understood calculus, then to get a degree, it took decades (slow learner, ha ha) with diligent studied and practiced. It could possibly take as much or longer to “get” some of this stuff. So well put, but as I reflect on this I realized that with conventional education, there are evidence of progress all around me and readily accessible, relate-able, i.e I knew the kid next to me understood 2+3=5, the one in high school knew trig, and so-on. From my extremely limited exposure (read, infer, and talking with a very few people) these “supernatural” experience/worlds are all in the mind (again not mean to offend anyone). This of course makes learning/practicing difficult. However, perhaps there is hope (in learning for me) after stumbled across (papers, books) reincarnation research at University of Virginia and the book “The Quantum and The Lotus” and recent advance, I am beginning to be able to relate some of this to my limited knowledge of conventional science. Still, I am looking for some “hard” evidence, and especially if these are physical in nature. Somewhere I read (or came to an understanding) that the stronger one’s belief the more one’s wishes/prayers (nothing fancy, just for less suffering in this world) stand a better chance of becoming true. I am hoping someday my practice (daily prayer/mantra to God-Buddha) will be based more than just faith. Thanks again.

Hello, In the below Zhunti mantra, is the phrase "Om Bolin" need to be added at the end of each Zhunti's mantra? I am not sure what is "the end of each reciting cycle" mean, hence the preceding question. Hopefully this is not too dumb a question, section "IV" paragraph "IV" the "image" might show up in one's mind (visualization) and not actually in front of a prayer while his/her eyes open, right? Incidentally I can't even visualize a straight line. Many Thanks. http://www.meditationexpert.com/meditation-techniques/m_buddhist_zhunti_meditation_opens_your_heart_chakra_for_enlightenment.htm#

I read the two books written by the current principal investigator. They described a number of reincarnation cases in detail and the process of verification. I came away with a set of mix feelings: afraid, hope, disappointment, surprise. From time to time I wish i hadn't read these books. Return to Life: Extraordinary Cases of Children Who Remember Past Lives. Life Before Life: Children's Memories of Previous Lives

Hello, I am not sure if this is the right sub-forum for this question. If not, moderator please move to appropriate forum, thank you. Is it o.k to recite these five mantras regularly without being initiated? “om lam”, “om tsilam”,“om mani padme hum”, “om tseli tsuli tsunti soha” and “bo lam”? Many thanks.

Hello, What do you think of the reincarnation research at the University Of Virginia? Thanks. http://www.npr.org/2014/01/05/259886077/searching-for-science-behind-reincarnation https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/ https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/publications/academic-publications/

Hello, I went to an empowerment (Chenrezig, Buddha of Compassion) ceremony performed by a group of Tibetan monks (The Venerable Geshe Lobasang Dhonye), how do I know if I receive the seed? Thank you.

Yes Sudhamma, at some point I am sure I need to find a teacher/school to learn in-depth. The problem is to find authentic school especially teacher with authentic knowledge and lineage. I don’t even know how to differentiate the charlatan from the real. Yes OldSaint. Would you mind elaborate on the “…terrifying process…” part? I read in one of the posting of another thread that one needs to have “…big balls…” to practice the “art”. The only time I wouldn’t want to know about this other realities is the process involved minute ceremonial details (such as forming an incorrect mudra, mispronounce a syllable of a certain mantra, forget to bow X times, etc) discipline that if I mess up, a bad guy/spirit would get me or bring harm to my family or something. Anyway, please elaborate on the “…terrifying process…” part. Thanks again.

Well, I can't say I truly understand the full meaning of each one of them. There are multiple definitions (from a variety of web pages) for each, particularly the third one. There are web pages that I read about their lineage and associated deity, Buddha, etc. These are the five essential dharanis of secret (or esoteric or vajrayana I think) Buddhism. To date my belief in the "supernatural" (for lack of better term) world of God, Buddha, Deities, Saints, Reincarnation, etc is based on hope and faith. I have read and heard from others that this supernatural world is as real as this physical one. I am hoping by reciting these mantras, I would experience/see something that would convert hope/faith into knowledge. Many thanks.

Hello, I am very new to this “supernatural world” and just want to know/learn/experience ( if there is anything else beyond this one realm. Thanks for all the help. Respectfully.