Ajay0

An insightful article by Joan Tollifson on the nature of addiction, on how capitalism focusses on creating desires and addressing them rather than needs, creating an artificial psychological sense of lack in the process and thereby pleasure addictions... https://www.joantollifson.com/writing9.html Joan Tollifson is a spiritual teacher whose background includes Buddhism, Advaita, nontraditional meditative inquiry, radical nonduality, martial arts, somatic work, addiction recovery, political activism, visual arts . She is a student of Toni Packer, a teacher of zen buddhism , and have authored books and articles on meditation, nondual philosophy and openly shares her own experiences with addiction, depression, cancer, aging, disability, and other life adventures. Born handicapped losing a hand ( her right hand was severed in utero by a strand of amniotic tissue) she is also a disability rights activist.

Well, what can I say ? I am glad that knights in shining armor like yourself, Nungali and Taoist Woods are there to protect the ladies from the bad guys.

Guru is an ancient sanskrit word meaning remover of darkness ( unconsciousness). It is an ancient tradition in India and the Buddha himself was a Guru and enlightened master. In the ancient epics Ramayana and Mahabharatha, you can see the Avatars Rama and Krishna having Gurus like Vasishta and Sandeepani. The yoga vasistha is a famous treatise on the discussion between prince Rama and his Guru Vasistha on various issues touching worldly and spiritual life. The Ashtavakra Gita is a similar treatise on the dialogue and discussion between King Janaka and his Guru Ashtavakra leading to his enlightenment. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna serves as a Guru to Arjuna in the midst of the battlefield, clearing up his confusions and delusions. It is not a two or three century old tradition. An enlightened sage is also a source of auspicious energies and high prana/chi levels. This is why satsang or company of sages is emphasized in eastern religious philosophy. There is no hard and fast rule that one needs a Guru for enlightenment. A very healthy person, holistically speaking, can attain enlightenment on his own with proper effort and minimal guidance. However the learning and progress curve is greatly reduced by the grace and guidance of an enlightened sage, and one can then find time for other pursuits and interests and even excel in them. The west has no concept of enlightenment or Buddhahood, and this is why such concepts seem strange over there.

Do you seriously think that a man who was equanimous and clear-minded even after taking a heavy dosage of drugs which would have made anyone else delirious or nuts or even dead with a heart attack, would be moved to lustful agitation by the presence of a woman !

Common sense is not synonymous with ignorance. It is similar to saying that Trump is the owner of the Taj Mahal, when it is actually a historical monument in India.

This is not there in the book, only in the article, possibly due to misinterpretation , not studying the whole context in the book, and lack of knowledge of Indian cultural traditions of Tantra. It is quite clear in the book itself that NKB exemplified Tantric practices. These are some of his own teachings obtained from the book you have posted here ... What knowledge do you have of right handed Tantra, which is an ancient tradition in India !

A similar theme stated by Samdhong Rinpoche ... https://samdhongrinpoche.com/en/foreword/ I would say that a certain knowledge and understanding of the mind should be imparted in modern secular education so that children will not be conditioned to associate material success and gratifications with happiness solely while growing up, which can be a recipe for discontentment, depression and addictive behaviors later on. A happy, mindful and equanimous mind independent of circumstances and situations is also more productive in work and personal relations, compared to an unhappy mind filled with cravings that prevent contentment and consequently peace and happiness for himself or herself.

Yes, all the more reason to stay away from dangerous people like him.

Lol. I checked the event described in the book, and the context surrounding it. This is again an another example of misinterpretation of cultural traits of Hinduism. Here is additional material after that... As per Shaktaism and right-handed Tantra, every woman or female is a manifestation of the Divine Mother on earth and is seen as such. Sri Ramakrishna bowed and fell on his feet before every woman, including prostitutes, hailing them as the Divine Mother of the Universe or feminine God. NKB had similarly approached this woman as a son approaches a mother. I found other similar incidents in this book, and this should be studied and understood in the cultural context of Shaktaism and right-handed Tantra where a man perceives a woman as a son perceives his mother and treats her so, as a form of worship of the Divine Mother. You can see from the op that NKB is capable of mind-reading and had responded to Ram Dass's inner questions and doubts promptly and clearly without Ram Dass asking any questions. An enlightened sage similarly can study the mental makeup of a person , his karmas and psychological structure and act accordingly for the purpose of resolving karmic issues, even though such behavior may seem strange and unconventional to conditioned people. Sri Mumtaz Ali Khan, an Indian muslim of Afghan origin, had recounted in his autobiography , ' Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master (A Yogi's Autobiography)' , of how he met a famous naked sage through his uncle. When Khan prostrated before the sage, the sage kicked his face . When Khan protested to his uncle, his uncle said it would be for a reason. Later Khan found his sinus issues which had bothered him for a long time had totally disappeared.

Ram Dass had given an account of NKB' interaction with a foreign female devotee, but he has not given such explicit details as is written in the article, otherwise the whole book would have been controversial back then itself. So your argument that it is 'not rigging' does not hold water. NKB gives attention to foreign devotees who have come all over the world to his ashram. Because of their youthfulness, perhaps NKB gives more attention and care to them. Because of cultural differences this is often misinterpreted and even amplified with false narratives . I remember reading a letter in a local Indian magazine by an Indian youth addressed to a counsellor, who had a disturbing experience with his cousin who was born and brought up in the west. In his own words, when he met his teenage cousin after a long time, he tried to show love with intimate hugs and holding hands , which is a typical cultural charecterestic in the east. However the westernised cousin misinterpreted this intimate behavior as homosexual , and even insulted his shocked elder cousin with homophobic slurs. He was at a loss on what to do and thereby wrote a letter for guidance on this matter. Imho, much of such accusations has to do with cultural differences along with propaganda by powerful vested interests.

Accusations of rape and sexual abuse is an easy way to slander people and malign them. Vivekananda, after his success in the Parliament of religions in 1893, was similarly accused of sexual promiscuity, meat-eating and various other slander without any merit in them. That an eastern heathen had come and become a major success in the 1893 Parliament of Religions ( which was supposed to be a platform for the supposed superiority of certain religions) was oviously not to everyone's liking. Rigging up false witnesses and testimony is not a major deal in today's world, if you ask me, especially if it serves certain vested interests. Some spiritual teachers like Anthony de Mello and Thomas Merton, who had emphasized interfaith dialogue in their works, were found dead in mysterious circumstances suggesting foul play.

High moral standards or virtuous conduct can also lead to spiritual development and enlightenment. I had created a thread on the female enlightened master Rajini Menon who had attained enlightenment solely through adherence to virtuous conduct... Swami Satchidananda considered meditation and virtuous conduct to be synonymous, while Buddha had also stated that virtuous behavior is capable of attaining the highest , namely enlightenment or Buddhahood. These teachings negate philosophies like nihilism and existentialism which claim that values and virtues are abstract mental contrivances without relevance or significance of their own.

Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a drug that is used in the minority Tantrik sects of Hinduism (left-handed path) along with alcohol and meat, and some northern Shaivite sects, such as the Naga sect. Its use is not standard in Hinduism, due to its potential addictive properties that lead to cravings and unconsciousness. It is stated in Ayurveda, the Indian medical system, as 'nectar' due to its medicinal properties and as 'poison' as a reacreational drug. It is used judiciously in some religious settings to still the mind, but never for a lengthy period of time due to the tamasic or negative states of mind it can create such as dependency and addiction. But these are done rarely and is frowned upon generally due to the dangers associated with it. It is also taken according to religious rites and regulations , and is considered sinful if not taken according to such rites. Consequently, the sadhus as shown in the photo above, who indulge in cannabis are a peaceful, religious and austere lot and are not known for criminal activities such as theft and murder. It is also used amongst those of the Sufi and Sikh religions during festivals. British researchers in 2007, using Delphic analysis, stated that cannabis has a lower risk factor for dependence/addictivity compared to nicotine and alcohol. In Buddhism, cannabis is generally regarded as an intoxicant and hindrance to development of meditation and clear awareness. It is legal only in some regions of India where licensed shops sell it. Other drugs such as opium ( introduced in India around 700 A.D. by the arabs) has no similar status or sanction though it has medical properties in Ayurveda when used judiciously. The same goes for other drugs like heroin, lsd, mdx and so on.

Drugs are also a cause of geopolitical issues and disturbances around the world. It served as a major source of funds for terrorist organisations like the Taliban and ISIS. After the defeat of U.S.-NATO forces in 2021, the Taliban came to power and ironically banned drug production, possibly to gain international legitimacy, declaring it as haram under Islamic law, and possibly considering the large number of Afghan drug addicts. The Mexican drug war, initiated in 2006, has resulted in over 350000 homicides and 90000 missing.Similar drug wars in the Phillipines, Thailand,Bangladesh has resulted in deaths of thousands. As a result of the concentration of drug trafficking, Latin America and the Caribbean has the world's highest crime rates, with murder reaching 32.6 per 100,000 of population in 2008. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_drug_trade_in_Latin_America#:~:text=As a result of the,intensified the Mexican Drug War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_on_drugs Narcoterrorism is a term coined by a former Peruvian president describing terrorist attacks against his nations anti-narcotics police. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcoterrorism It is clear that a sea of blood has been tragically spilt in these issues of competitive drug trafficking and drug prohibition, as well as violence committed under the influence of drugs. Getting into 'highs' should not be at the expense of society around oneself by creating victims in the process, imho.

Whether you are being drunk with alcohol or stoned with drugs , you are just experiencing euphoria for a temporary period of time followed by miserable hangovers. Also the strong desire or craving one develops for such external intoxicants creates addictions and effectively prevent one from moving to higher states of consciousness and enlightenment. Drugs and alcohol actually have the effect of making a person more unconscious rather than mindful or aware. Statistics shows that the majority of manslaughters, murders and stabbings and domestic assaults, traffic violations and accidents are committed under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Dependent users of drugs also commit crimes such as theft, fraud and shoplifting to buy drugs if they lack the financial resources to buy the same.Drug users in the general population are more likely than nonusers to commit crimes. https://www.drugwise.org.uk/how-much-crime-is-drug-related/ https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/DRRC.PDF https://recovered.org/addiction/alcohol-drugs-and-crime Meditation is cheap to study and learn, but it is not so with drugs/alcohol and I know of many people who have badly damaged their finances as well as professional and personal lives due to indulgence in it. It is quite clear from this that meditation makes one more aware or mindful while drugs and alcohol makes one more unconscious. Also health benefits from practice of meditation are well researched and documented... https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-benefits-of-meditation https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-of-meditation/ Alcohol and drug consumption, on the other hand, are associated with poor health... https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/13/well/mind/alcohol-health-effects.html https://www.who.int/health-topics/alcohol#tab=tab_1 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-20365112 https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/substance-use/index.htm I regularly read or hear of people dying of drug overdoses but never a single case of one dying out of meditation. So one can see that meditation can produce high bliss levels without any of the heavy social, financial and health issues associated with drug and alcohol consumption.

These points have been covered in this thread of mine...

Yes, this is true, the bliss of higher states of consciousness and especially enlightenment is superior to all known pleasures. This is stated in the ancient texts and enlightened masters have also stated the same to me. In fact one of them humorously and gently reprimanded me when I asked him politely on his well-being during a visit, saying that he was blissful always effortlessly, and there is no need for me to ask the same. Even being in the presence of an enlightened being also raises one's own prana/chi levels, and I had felt deep peace and joy within as well as blocks dissolving in the inner body. Meditation was effortless and easy in the presence of enlightened masters. Whether you are being drunk with alcohol or stoned with drugs , you are just experiencing euphoria for a temporary period of time followed by miserable hangovers. Also the strong desire or craving one develops for such external intoxicants creates addictions and prevent one from moving to higher states of consciousness and enlightenment. Thus it would be equivalent to a thirsty person finding and being content with sewer water when a freshwater lake is available nearby.

The full moon for this month is today on July 3. It is called as a Buck moon because the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time. Ryaku Fusatsu is a monthly Buddhist ceremony that takes place on the evening of the full moon that involves a repentance ritual and renewal of vows. https://seattlesotozen.org/events/ryaku-fusatsu-full-moon-ceremony-885-137/

The term 'Stoned' is American slang which means being drunk or under influence of drugs, for pleasure ( of a temporary nature.) Sadhguru is implying that one can be 'stoned' or intoxicated without external intoxicants as well, while being alert and productive at the same time. Sadhguru's mother tongue is Telugu and speaks Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and other Indian languages. He is proficient in english language as well. Ananda means bliss in sanskrit while kosha means sheath, and Anandamaya kosha is the sheath of bliss. It is said to be the most subtle of the five layers of the body as it is the innermost layer, as per Vedantic philosophy. https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5886/anandamaya-kosha Here Sadhguru is stating that accessing the Anandamaya Kosha will enable natural bliss without dependencies on external intoxicants. All dependencies suggest weakness and consequent attachment or addiction. Since attachment or addiction imply strong desire or craving within, it would go alongside with psychological suffering (tanha) as well .

A similar article and teaching by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar... https://wisdom.srisriravishankar.org/the-importance-of-awareness/

The full moon for this month is today on June 3. The days of the new moon and full moon are also considered to be important in Wicca. I found these Wiccan articles informative and useful. https://pluralism.org/new-and-full-moons https://wemoon.ws/blogs/magical-arts/full-and-new-moon-rituals New moon rituals seems to be focused on setting intentions one wishes to manifest, while full moon rituals are focused on appreciation for personal accomplishments as well as gratitude to the Divine or nature for blessings and providence since the last full moon.

Do you know the ego feels its existence in negativity and in positivity the ego doesn't feel so strongly? The ego pulls the mind back to negativity to feel its existence. Go back to your past: how many bad events of life do you remember and how many good events? You will find 90% are bad and more clear. 10% are good but like in a fog. This is the great power of our ego. ~ Baba Hari Dass In good things, the ego doesn't feel its strength of individuality as strongly as in doing bad things. If you do bad things, the ego is right there in the present. Then its memory which repeats in the past. Then its imagination of doing bad things in the future appears. If we look back in our own life, what do we remember the most? All bad things we did or people did to us. Memories of good things appear as if veiled by fog. ~ Baba Hari Dass The tendency of the mind is to hold on to something negative. If ten compliments and one insult are given, the mind holds on to the negative - that one insult. So when we know this, we are already one step out of it. Time and again, we must realize: 'I am going on a negative trip' and immediately come back to the here and now. ~ Sri Sri Ravi ShankarIf we reflect on your past, you will notice that all bad things that happened to you appear as if they happened yesterday and the memory of good things appear as if in a fog. Our ego feels its presence more deeply in pain or in pain causing events, thoughts, emotions. So we always think about such things which bring unhappiness. In that unhappiness, we feel 'its happening to me' even though it happened 10-20 years ago. So pain and suffering are the expressions of the ego caused by desires and attachments. ~ Baba Hari DassDesire to be happy is a natural thing in all human beings. But the mind likes to be in pain by bringing the past memories and not seeing any progress in the future. If we dwell on the negative side of the mind, then we can't be happy in any situation. ~ Baba Hari Dass Human ego is very attracted to negative qualities, so it needs much austerity to develop positive qualities. ~ Baba Hari Dass

'Effortless effort' is a phrase often used in zen. Both intense effort as well as relaxation are given due importance in zen. https://zenhabits.net/dao/ https://www.thewayofmeditation.com.au/how-to-balance-effort-effortlessness-in-meditation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zazen There is a zen proverb related to Shikantaza that goes thus, 'Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes and the grass grows by itself.' This saying is not exactly an endorsement of workaholism. Slowness and relaxation have its place in reducing the compulsive and habitual mental activity of thinking and emoting incessantly and feverishly. This enables increased awareness or mindfulness in the process.

These are actually nutritional needs and surge in pregnancy hormones that corresponds to the pregnancy phase. https://www.pampers.com/en-us/pregnancy/prenatal-health-and-wellness/article/pregnancy-cravings These are also needs that correspond to infanthood, both animal and human. If preoccupied adults forget to give food and attention, tantrums help to serve as a reminder.

Food, clothing, shelter are necessities of life, and not part of greed or cravings. Needs and cravings should be distinguished. Needs are finite but desires or cravings are of an infinite nature. Needs can be taken care of, but no amount of augmented human productivity can fulfill desires or cravings due to its inexhaustible nature. Most of our likes and dislikes, cravings and aversions are instilled by conditioning. Craving for a new cellphone or car with the latest features and looks, after seeing it in an impressive advertisement, even if you have an efficient cellphone or car at present that takes of your needs, is an example of craving in action. Such cravings can even lead to criminal activity. There was a real life criminal incident of a young teenager, besotted by the latest iphone and its features, kidnapped his neighbors son for ransom money to buy the phone. This inspite of the fact that he had an old mobile that took care of his needs. Cravings can also lead to addiction problems as well. I had created a thread in this regard...