old3bob

nope, but the wicked witch of the west monkeys did take some bites out of me along my way on the yellow brick road.

in the 60's we'd say, "far out dude", which is still applicable in 2025

when i was in 2nd grade our school bus had a route through some desert area where it ran over a Gila monster; its dead body supposedly got stuck between the dual wheels at the back of the bus but we were kept far away from getting a closer look to verify that. Anyway the event was talked about in awe and speculation for several days among us as to whether or not it it survived the run over and might still be around to bite one of us.... yikes

good one but it doesn't sound like that would work with a short haired cat but with thick furred Persian-yes...also the story has parable potential.

I'm not familiar with many Buddhist sayings but a tangent on to the " two truths' saying my take would say awareness of the apparent and of the not-apparent at once.

human beings and I'd say all other types of created beings evolve, devolve or change... Spirit/Buddha nature/The Self/or your preferred term/ do not. But with beings that are going through particular changes one could say there are changing levels, states, or phases. Imo such is depicted in the Tibetan wheel of life. Cryptic like sayings about the absolute have different strokes for different folks.

I'd say our mind aspect is dual and may know duality very well, namely down to the finest points but not non-duality which is beyond such...thus certain methods or certain masters can not force their way or their students to the "beyond" or past the threshold reached by wholesome practice, good fortune and balanced karma (which granted is extremely important) and then nail same down with the mind aspect. For That which can "know" without a shred of doubt already is and knows beyond regular knowing that can not be added to or taken away from or found in the mind aspect.

What is the motive? Is there an attachment to the idea of something "inexplicable"? There is that saying along the lines of being careful of what you wish for...(and that which could be unexpected)

? "never say never"

rumor has it a new "Stargate" show may be in the works...

The potential and or actual dangers of spiritual paths (including forms of Buddhism) gone wrong have been spelled out here before.... (with many examples being shared by many members over the years) Btw. I don't see non-acknowledgement of that as being honest for anyone that has been at this site for awhile, etc.

various people have been sharing some of "dangers" at this site for many years, I'd say that many have noticed such when brought up (now and then) and have sometimes offered advice, help or warnings as best they can.

nope, just mean to say that lovely quotes won't really cut it when (or if) one is dangling somewhere, yet they do have a purpose not to be denied. Btw if one does not know of the dangers then I'd say one will meet such sooner or later.

thus a contrivance of non-contrivance or bypassing, many here could also state or quote all sorts of transcendent stuff but such doesn't really cut it...and which can be dangerous for new and even some advanced students.

transcendental type ramblings and throwing the baby out with the bath water, what the hell?

do the teachings of the historic Buddha have meaning to you?

then again the historic Buddha did speak of meaning as being important.

I can think of better things passing by than a bus regardless of its color... btw, no need to go get lost in a nihilistic sounding variation via a hologram when the happiness of right dharma at all levels is here, there and everywhere.

could be many years of talk and who knows how many thousands of bucks in cost, along with having someone who may or may not be safe in digging around in our heads, is such natural?

one has to wonder at times....

have had several older Fords thus have experienced the meaning of, "Fix Or Repair Daily..." Newer vehicles aren't much fun either since one can't hardly DIY with them without tech. info and special tools. (as for talking to them I don't think they respond as well compared to older ones?) I have used the brute force method at times on some engines when nothing else worked, namely several shots of starter fluid down their throats which btw one doesn't want to get carried away with or risk them vomiting up flames!

""Om Tat Sat" is a Sanskrit mantra from the Bhagavad Gita that signifies the supreme reality, absolute truth, or "all that is". It is a combination of three sacred sounds: "Om" represents the primordial sound of creation and Brahman; "Tat" means "that"; and "Sat" represents eternal existence or truth. Chanting the mantra is believed to awaken higher consciousness and connect the practitioner to the true self by affirming ultimate reality and unity in existence."

most of my 4 years in the military were during the Vietnam war era (but I remained stationed statewide) soon after I graduated from high school. I had a civilian like job which I liked and was pretty good at. (telecommunications which included being a telephone man which are mostly extinct now) The comradery among our guys was good, (there were no women in our unit) meeting new people, going to new places and learning new tasks was interesting and at times challenging to deal with. It was somewhat conflicting to me at times that we were under military rules while protecting civilian or democratically related freedoms, rules or laws.... As in civilian life with its whole gamut of human interactions (good and not so good) the military also has its whole gamut of things going on but with a command and rule structure from a 4 star general down to a new private that included orders being given and which must be followed or rather drastic consequences could follow! Also there are the dubious or dirty politicians and others deciding what would happen to and where our "boys" would be sent to carry out their political agendas which caused a lot of unnecessary suffering and deaths in war zones on all sides, along with riots taking place back in the states. (for example Kent state was a horrific one) As human beings there really is no free lunch for us; the saying, "the price of freedom is eternal vigilance" (thus certain sacrifices) has been proven though the ages and is universal, so if taken for granted it won't be there for those that come after us! There are many examples about what some people get wrong or do to our military forces, like them being dishonored, betrayed, misused, or being under very poor and insane like leadership !! . Alas as with all peoples whether military or not our better or worse angels may come into play.

well I was practicing my tap dancing before some unknown force or probably the little gray guys drew me outside to converse with them....