old3bob

I'd say "empty" is a dangerous four letter word when misunderstood (or misinterpreted along the lines of nihilism and or other high sounding connotations that are still negative)

the way I'd put it is that the transcendent was, is and always be will be "established" but the veils over same will not be. Grace is part of the "transcendent" that reveals such it being omni-present, omni-potent and omniscience - so and in that sense (or that perspective if one will, aka non-duality) is not separate from anything including so called samsara or the so called mundane. Even some Buddhists state, (to paraphrase the saying) "samsara properly understood is nirvana"

sounds real uppity, could be a samsaric being...

ok, also and in that case reason or intellect could also be tossed since they can't cut the mustard either when it comes to the so called transcendent...

that is one technical definition, but there are others or different ways of description or meaning that can come across so why be a party pooper?

unbounded joy and freedom are the emotions of "enlightenment", and spring forth irresistibly. Om Tat Sat

well many aspects of emotions have been submitted here, my two cents is that emotions are or can be fuel for an evolving or devolving path or situation. Aka human love and hate, both being powerful like fuel...

"original ideas" that have existed with various beings since the beginning of the cosmic cycle billions of years ago that some of us now stumble upon in 2023 or that are have been revealed to us. Btw, I'd say the best, truest or liveliest "game" is to realize we are not the mind/or a mental program that runs itself .

there are countless contradictions (apparent or actual) in most spiritual teachings; here are some examples paraphrased from the Bible: "only the pure in heart shall see God", countered by: "no man(kind) shall see God and live"...

one could observe how a full moon affects various animals...for instance a common picture we see is wolves howling at or during a full moon.

dam, that was a bad moon rising... this guy didn't listen...

at some time most of us have played the different parts in this clip, from being part of the no account mob or crowd, to the particular tormenter with the wet rag, the tortured Quasimodo, and the compassionate beauty...something not to forget when we are discussing the "Absolute"

Great reminisce Tao Meow! Btw, I saw a documentary about the burning of forests in the Amazon areas that showed the horrible levels of destruction going on there and for a long time now! It definitely sounded like far fewer forms of life and mankind will be able to adapt to what is going on!

"and list out exactly what will happen to you for the rest of your life" Our human "you" is not all there is... our incarnations in time and space with past and future lives can also be seen from a timeless perspective of the Self which is our truest identity, but and sure those lives do have laws related to all our karma that a spiritual master can see the probabilities of, but with that said higher laws may supersede lower laws, thus and thankfully not all is written in stone.

sounds kind of like George Burns, except for the hospital job...

Just read some info on dark chocolate: (in Feb. issue of Mother Jones mag) turns out that most brands including the organic ones are way over the daily limit for lead and cadmiun, like 100-200%! And I thought I was being healthy minded in eating lots of it. There are a few brands according to their info that are lower in heavy metals, for instance Ghiradelli which is not organic so maybe it could have lots of pesticide and herbicide content? What is soul to do?

in the list in the MJ mag some of the formed bars were very high in said heavy metals...

right or at least cut back...

It is deemed to be the abode of Lord Shiva and his consort, Goddess Parvati, by Hindus, the deity Demchok by Buddhists, Rishabhadeva by Jains, TagzigOlmo Lung Ring, or the “nine-story Swastika mountain by Bon religion. Many mountain explorers failed incessantly or lost their lives in their endeavor to summit the mountain. It is deemed that no human soul can ever conquer the mountain, and now it's prohibited, owing to its sanctity of it. In Tibetan texts, it is written that Shambala, a spiritual country, is located in the northwest of Kailash.

To correct an apparently common misunderstanding: Advaita Vendanta does not have a monopoly on non-dualism..."Shiva and Jana Yoga, the Yoga of knowledge, Shiva is the main deity honored in non-dualistic Advaita Vendata and non-dualistic Shaivite systems like Siddha Yoga, as he indicates the supreme Self and its direct realization..." David Frawley (as just one example)

finding one's own truths on these matters matters more...I will say that I meant Dharma in a more universal way although many teachings say it has many aspects as you are apparently implying. Btw I'd add present and state of being to the import of application of laws or rules to "previous".

trying to copy someone per-se could turn into a problematic slippery slope but seeing dharmic principles in action could bring about one's own understanding and variation of same...being around enlightened beings could be very helpful although roses also have thorns if one is not prepared as far as possible. (or even if one is)