Invisible Acropolis

I have always wondered why it is that Buddhism is called as such... and more specifically the figure of Guatama referenced in such a way - when in the Pali canon, Guatama consistently refers to himself as the "tathagata"... and the word "buddha" is not found in the texts until much later, after his death.

I went ahead and did a google search to see if others have already recognized this simple truth and written far more eloquent words about it than I might ever be able to come up with... here is a sample: https://www.oriannesociety.org/faces-of-the-forest/rattlesnakes-reputation-vs-reality/?v=400b9db48e62

Nothing needs a name. Language is only useful for communication with others, and even then its not something which is "required" or "necessary". In many ways, the origins of human deception and social manipulation are found in the origins of spoken languages. Written languages expanded and broadened these possibilities.

Vamachara is particularly associated with the panchamakara or "Five Ms", also known as the panchatattva. In literal terms they are: madya ('wine'), mamsa ('meat'), matsya ('fish'), mudra ('grain'), and maithuna ('sexual intercourse'). Mudra usually means ritual gestures, but as part of the five Ms it is parched grain. Taboo-breaking elements are only practiced literally by "left-hand path" tantrics (vāmācārins), whereas "right-hand path" tantrics (dakṣiṇācārins) oppose these. The word is derived from the Sanskrit term kapāla, meaning "skull", and kāpālika means the "skull-men".

It refers to the Six Lokas, or "bardos".

Yes, that is a great Sutra. However I have not heard it referred to as the "four fields". Where does this terminology originate?

the ghost of the past parting picture of your world just your reflection

dissolve in free verse vitriolic alchemy find the Hidden Stone

Alternately...

1 - O Agni, thou art Varuṇa at birth; but when thou art blazing high thou becomes Mitra. In thee, O Son of Power, all Gods are centered. Indra art thou, to man who brings oblation. 2 - Bearer of the self-sustaining Law, who keeps the secret name of the mysterious Virgins; Forging the Lord and Lady of the House as One, thou shining streams reveal thee as the friend Mitra. 3 - The riders of the heavens array their attire with rich displays for thy glory, Rudra! Yea, for thy auspicious birth, the arising of the brightly-coloured one. Thou guards and keeps the secret name of the shining, streaming cows as thou moves among the Great Triad, the final and supreme abode of Vishnu. 4 - By the glory of thee, who hast the true Seeing, all the Gods are employed and therefore taste immortality; Men have chosen Agni for their sacred priest, aspiring with him and making an offering. - Rig Veda, 5th Mandala, Hymn 3

Guatama himself, ever the reformer, did the same for this ancient concept as he did with the (less ancient) concept of the Atman.

Yes, well I did not explicitly state it in my response, but rather simply alluded. Namely - the harmonious blending of "consciousness" and "unconsciousness" within the physical body, into something "more than the sum of its parts". Nothing means anything without context - for example: doesnt mean anything to me at all. Whereas at least I have some grasp of the word "science" already. Zazen was a favored practice of many samurai, so this makes a lot of sense. I am not familiar with Gudo Nishijimi, but unfortunately I consider Brad Warner as an obnoxious poser... at best.

1 - I Travel with the Rudras and the Vasus, with the Ādityas and All-Gods I wander. I hold aloft both Varuṇa and Mitra, Indra and Agni, and the Pair of Aśvins. 2 - I cherish and sustain high-swelling Soma, and Tvaṣṭar I support, Pūṣan, and Bhaga. I load with wealth the zealous sdcrificer who pours the juice and offers his oblation 3 - I am the Queen, the gatherer-up of treasures, most thoughtful, first of those who merit worship. Thus Gods have established me in many places with many homes to enter and abide in. 4 - Through me alone all eat the food that feeds them,—each man who sees, breathes, hears the word outspoken They know it not, but yet they dwell beside me. Hear, one and all, the truth as I declare it. 5 - I, verily, myself announce and utter the word that Gods and men alike shall welcome. I make the man I love exceeding mighty, make him a sage, a Ṛiṣhi, and a Brahman. 6 - I bend the bow for Rudra that his arrow may strike and slay the hater of devotion. I rouse and order battle for the people, and I have penetrated Earth and Heaven. 7 - On the world's summit I bring forth the Father: my home is in the waters, in the ocean. Thence I extend o’er all existing creatures, and touch even yonder heaven with my forehead. 8 - I breathe a strong breath like the wind and tempest, the while I hold together all existence. Beyond this wide earth and beyond the heavens I have become so mighty in my grandeur.

whenever I see articles like this, i try to point out the origins of such concepts... but most often it is an unwelcome exchange, and very little to no "enlightenment" seems to happen And I must point out that the concept itself is much more detailed and pervasive, even since the Rig Veda. And even these modern interpretations lack much of the context where the term originally appears - and as most of us know, it is the context which gives true meaning to a particular term - rather than simple definitions alone. It is found in many hymns of the Rig Veda, which is the oldest known Hindu text. For example:

Good question... (as I am predisposed to seeking the origins of things) On a side note: While plenty of animals have poisons and/or other strange chemical effluvia, for some reason snakes have been considered to be representational of wisdom or knowledge (both helpful and harmful) in many different (supposedly unconnected) ancient cultures - as well as esoteric traditions which may be considered in the realm of "alchemy" and/or "sorcery", etc. There is a commonly held belief (and artistically represented) connection to "rebirth" or "immortality" as well as a connection to "secret knowledge" and "esotericism" and so forth, which appears in numerous traditions.

Have you written anything about this in reference to the autonomic nervous system vs parasympathetic vs somatic? I understand what you are getting at and I do agree with you that this point is a key to cultivation practice in general. Breathing is one of those things that is both conscious and unconscious, by default. Unlike your heart pumping blood, or your liver filtering blood, for example.

wrapped around a heart Samaritans carry lambs kill it and eat it

The word buddha mostly appears when others talk about Guatama, rather than when he refers to himself. I still wonder why the term "buddha" was the most remembered, rather than the other terms which have other meanings.

Its rather common knowledge (and so far, borne out by all the available archaeological evidence) that the entire Pali Canon was written hundreds of years after the death of Guatama. Its also commonly thought that the text is most likely a written account of an oral tradition, which is again something that would only be derived from the followers of Guatama, which as you point out was most likely sourced from Ananda for the most part. this is what I am referring to when I mentioned: Not that the word itself is not in the texts, but rather ALL the texts themselves are not found until much later, after his death. Fair point - and good job finding this. And yet I still have to wonder what it is about this passage in particular which caused the term "buddha" to become more remembered and referenced than the term "tathagata" - especially in regards to the technical definition of each.