Gunther

With gay abandon At the feet of the master All blissful silence

Xian (Taoism) This article is about Taoist religion. For other uses, see Xian (disambiguation). Xian (Chinese: 仙/仚/僊; pinyin: xiān; Wade–Giles: hsien) is a Chinese word for an enlightened person, translatable in English as: "spiritually (Yang Untouchable) immortal; transcendent; super-human; celestial being" (in Daoist philosophy and cosmology) "physically (Yin Touchable) immortal; immortal person; immortalist; saint" (in Daoist religion and pantheon) "alchemist; one who seeks the elixir of life; one who practices longevity techniques" or by extension "(alchemical, dietary, qigong) methods for attaining immortality" (in Chinese alchemy) "wizard; magician; shaman" (in Chinese mythology) "genie; elf, fairy; nymph" (in popular Chinese literature, 仙境 xian jing is "fairyland", faery) "sage living high in the mountains; mountain-man; hermit; recluse" (folk etymology for the character 仙) "immortal (talent); accomplished person; celestial (beauty); marvelous; extraordinary" (metaphorical modifier) Xian semantically developed from meaning spiritual "immortality; enlightenment", to physical "immortality; longevity" involving methods such as alchemy, breath meditation, and tai chi, and eventually to legendary and figurative "immortality". The xian archetype is described by Victor H. Mair. They are immune to heat and cold, untouched by the elements, and can fly, mounting upward with a fluttering motion. They dwell apart from the chaotic world of man, subsist on air and dew, are not anxious like ordinary people, and have the smooth skin and innocent faces of children. The transcendents live an effortless existence that is best described as spontaneous. They recall the ancient Indian ascetics and holy men known as ṛṣi who possessed similar traits.1994:376 According to the Digital Dictionary of Buddhism, Chinese xian (仙) can mean Sanskrit ṛṣi (rishi "inspired sage in the Vedas"). So looks like it's about enlightenment, liberation, self realisation. Some might practice some Taoist magic I know nothing of. Can everybody who is 1000 years old or over please step forward.

But we still don't know what immortality is.😀or are we talking about the definition of immortality? In which case I have to rest mine😀

Don't know equate, but they are inherent within each other. That means you can't increase the one without the other. So the universe is exactly perfect as it is. (Cosmos) Maybe worth pointing out that the mess our planet is in is created by those trying to make it a better place. Sorcerer's apprentice😀 The road to hell is plastered with good intentions 😀

Ok, I lean myself out the window😀: The emotional content of the universe equals the number of lives. (Sentient beings) But I could be wrong, not the sharpest tool in the box😀😀

Feudal system, but kept in check with religion. The rich all did a runner, the poor illiterate serfs are mostly still there. Now some might have a bicycle, a watch and a radio. Everything has two sides

Thanx for the reply Stosh Maybe you noticed there is a great secret hidden in my question. It is the bodhisattva concept. Those who want things for themselves have to struggle many lifetimes. If you are full, can say thanks what life has given beyond your wildest dreams can ask for no more. Whatever happens from then on is for the benefit of others, the whole. It's ways are mysterious, maybe the Buddhas countless as the grains of sand in the Ganges have realised just that they are insignificant individually like the countless grains of sand in the Ganges. Together they form the BANKS of the river. Forget the Rothschilds😀😀😀😀have nice day

A hyena grin Creeps silently through the street Then, laughing out loud

Grateful for you, sir That's the haikus back on track Like whispering leaves

Heya, Rishi Das This is not 'nam, there are rules It's five-seven-five 😀😀😀

Let me ask you something Stosh: If I do sit down and meditate, I get very easily into an ecstatic state. So if I think about the suffering in the world my whole body starts to radiate streams of energy. Sometimes I think this is like sending loving or healing energy out. Then I think what sentimental nonsense and I don't bother. What say you, I appreciate your advise. Cheers

Most importantly being aware of your thoughts and feelings all the time, there is no more brushing under the carpet, projecting, blaming others, you have to accept yourself as you are

Either your attention is focused on something (spotlight) or it's like peripheral view. Not blurred but without anything catching your mind. Just normal, don't know what you mean, there's nothing wrong with my eyes😀if I start daydreaming it feels odd, I don't like it and shake it off. I guess as you get older you are less fascinated with your mind. Same old, same old The conversations here in this group are ok, but meaningless Smalltalk is unbearable and the mind goes dull. Even I'm not sure if this isn't meaningless as well

What about it? They look nice😀

It's hard to say. I don't do anything really. The tell tale is that clear head space, and a sense of well being. And everything is very normal, ordinary, natural. No confusion. There are situations when you lose that presence for a short while, then you remember, become aware again, go back, that's all. Big deal😀😀 As some Zen master has said when asked about enlightenment/satori: Already there is no confusion, now what can satori do for you😀

😀😀 Zen works it's way backward a bit like the 4th way of Gurdjeff. You don't work with the body (fakir) Or the heart, emotions (bhakta, devotee) devotion/prayer Or the mind like the yogi, magician, (concentration) But with the 4th body directly. Which is the Self, pure intelligence, intuition, awareness, conciousness.

Huang Po - "This pure mind, which is the source of all things, shines forever with the radiance of its own perfection. But most people are not aware of it, and think that mind is just the faculty that sees, hears, feels, and knows. Blinded by their own sight, hearing, feeling, and knowing, they don't perceive the radiance of the source. If they could eliminate all conceptual thinking, this source would appear, like the sun rising through the empty sky and illuminating the whole universe. Therefore, you students of the Tao who seek to understand through seeing, hearing, feeling, and knowing, when your perceptions are cut off, your way to mind will be cut off and you will find nowhere to enter. Just realize that although mind is manifested in these perceptions, it is neither part of them nor separate from them. You shouldn't try to analyze these perceptions, or think about them at all; but you shouldn't seek the one mind apart from them. Don't hold on to them or leave them behind or dwell in them or reject them. Above, below, and all around you, all things spontaneously exist, because there is nowhere outside the Buddha mind."

I'm not happy with that definition. You are not avoiding anything but you don't grab hold of anything either. That way you stay clear, have a distance so to speak. So you stay calm, relaxed, while you interact quite naturally, that's called meditation. Like if you call Zazen: just sit. It means just be. And beingness is awareness. Awareness is the Buddha within It just works for me but i'm not dogmatic about it. We all do what we have to do

Cool, so it is a globe? The earth is not flat?

Non abiding (no attachment) awareness is sitting meditation (Zazen) How is the suffering of physical pain gonna help? This would be the way of the fakir who is torturing himself on a bed of nails to gain will power. He might succeed, but that will not lead to wisdom/compassion at all

Why false? It could be right. The point is that it's just a premise. And without conclusion it's like nothing, useless

Beautiful. The ordinary mind is the Buddha mind. Yet, there is always a great outcry/misunderstanding. It doesn't mean carry on with your deluded/ignorant thinking and forget about meditation. At all, at all. The ordinary/natural/spontaneous mind is the mind of great clarity of understanding, the mind of non abiding awareness. All thoughts, emotions, sensations are coming and going, but you don't entertain them, you don't serve them tea😀 you see anger and jealousy, greed, gluttony, addictions, obsessions appear, smile and wave them good bye.(you notice that they are disappointed, come less often, or stay away😀😀) On the other hand, if you divide life into practice, cultivation, and then fall back into your old patterns, it is like going to church on Sunday, and after prayer you go home beat your wife. So this is the way to understand Hui Neng, Bankei, and many more Zen teachings of the southern school. Also advaita, even neo advaita fall into this category. I know this doesn't go down well with the orthodox priesthood with shaved heads, Chinese/Japanese names, flowing medieval robes, satori certificates and so forth😀😀

There is no reality in doctrines (sudden or gradual) unless they are applied. It should be clear that you can practice non abiding awareness 24/7 standing, sitting,walking, running, swimming, lying down, reclining, whatever. Nobody say you should not sit in front of the wall if you so wish

I am restricted to 10 comments a day(newbum)😀 This is just a metaphor (well worn in Zen tradition) Can frogs cultivate loving kindness, compassion, bodhicitta, altruism???? There is more to it than beating yourself up with the zafu😀😀😀

😀It depends further on the motivation. If you take refuge to the Buddha within (non abiding awareness) and ask the Bodhisattvas for instruction to gain skilful means to help others on the way you be fine. If you just meditate to assert yourself superior or have some other axe to grind it would be futile to put it mildly 😀 Unless you want to become a magician)sorcerer/immortal😀😀😀😀