Tommy

I believe Jesus was opposed to violence much like Kung Fu students are taught how to fight but also to not fight whenever possible. Being taught how to fight doesn't mean to go out and find fights. And when in situations that absolutely requires fighting, one fights. Not to harm or to kill. But to protect. Wasn't there something called the Sermon On The Mount?? May be that wasn't real? IDK. That was over 2000 years ago. It could have been just being surrounded by a whole bunch of passerby people?? And Jesus was over heard teaching to his disciples. IDK. You could be right. But then that would make Jesus someone who I would not like to be around. Preach violence and I don't want to be around you much less listen to your words. Hmm, why would someone say the same thing twice? Maybe to emphasize something? IDK. It isn't unheard of. And sometimes poets use that method to bring about a point. Who knows?? Note: Jesus knew very well what was going to happen. I doubt his religion would have been as big if Jesus died of old age and not having bring about change.

Just realized that it is similar to the car forums where a person says that his car is having problems starting. He then states that he has replaced the starter but still have the problem. Then asks if anyone knows what problem is. There is just not enough information to make any real diagnosis. As a person who knows a little bit about cars, I know right away there is not enough information to give any advice. The OP, in this thread, has stated his issue and question. But, he has not given much information. So, as advice might be plentiful, it still misses the mark of being helpful since there is not enough information given. It is a shot in the dark. I am sorry to have taken this thread into a tangent.

So, telling his disciples to protect themselves amount to preaching or advocating violence? Is this what he taught to the general public? That his message to the people was to go inflict violence upon one another? Then why heal the one who is injured? Jesus did not come to bring peace or the status quo but to bring about change. Some changes are violent (not all are).

I feel that blocking people only makes me smaller as I would then be uncapable of handling the situation. And it would make my world smaller as it shuts out other ideas. I do not argue with anyone here. Only ask questions to learn more. I apologize to anyone who thinks I have offended them. My thoughts were that this was a spiritual question related to one's practice. There are many who do not have teachers nor sanghas to help them. So, being sent to a psychotherapist was not entirely helpful? IDK. It may be what the OP needed. It may not. Again IDK. And I apologize for my rudeness in asking these kind of questions.

I have a hard time distinguishing the truth. As in the story of the farmer who lost his horse, the next day the situation makes what happened before bad luck into good luck. And like subjective truth, Hamlet says that a thing is neither good or bad, but thinking makes it so.

I tend to think of it as saying that bringing peace would be keeping the things the same (Status Quo). Where as the sword means change. He did not advocate violence. Wasn't he the one who said that if a person strikes your cheek to offer him the other cheek?? Treat thy neighbors as one would thyself??

I was on another forum which I had done just that. Attempt to actually help where the person who wrote 5 separate threads about the same thing. My advice was straight forward. But apparently it didn't help the person cause she reported my post as inappropriate. The moderators sided with me and left my post alone. Others there said a kind word would have gone further to help. So, am at a loss. And questioning this one. But, as I said, never mind. It is not important. I am just being overly critical.

So, you are saying the content of the question matters which why you advised to see a psychoanalysis. And seeing lights is a flagposts. Okay. I am not trying to contentious. Just trying to understand Obviously you see this situation more clearly than I do.

It is not a question what the OP had as an intent when asking the question. It is about people who answer. Is it a knee jerk reaction or was it well thought out response. Was it because of the content of the question being violent images? What if it was about light he sees? Then would you recommend a psychotherapist in order to get to the reason for seeing lights? Was the response given a knee jerk reaction or was it a measured act? I am not a good judge of these things. IDK. So, I wonder about these things. If the advice given was go see a psychotherapist no matter what the question was about then it would seem the response did not depend upon the question or nature of the question. However, since it does seem to be dependent upon the question, the response is dependent on the question. Yes, good point. Why react this way to advice given to talk with a psychotherapist? IDK. If I was the OP asking such a question then I figure that the more advanced people here or more knowledgeable people here would be able to answer the question. And, that advice to go see a psychotherapist was a little mean and uncalled for? This OP took it well. Yes, agreed that meditative practices can bring up strange things. Not always repressed or poorly processed experiences can arise. And that is my idea, that which is the most compassionate way to handle such situations. Some people will come to a forum for kind words. This is not a teacher - disciple relationship. Never mind. I guess I am being overly critical.

Knee jerk response would be " Very Carefully". How else would one do it, mindfully? Will watch video later.

Just wondering what kind of tests there would be .... If the OP had asked why does he sees lights while meditating? Would one have said go see a psychotherapist to figure out why? But, when he asked why he sees violent images, one says to go see a psychotherapist? Is it because of the nature of what he asked or because one believes it is wrong to see violence? I am not saying one response is better or worse. Just that the response shows the human mind. How one person just reacts (knee jerk) to another person's post instead of acting (mindful) upon the post. I know I have been much like that. So, where does wisdom and compassion reside in me?

Are you talking about spin or solar rotation? Anyway, the planet takes no notice of either. It's memories are buried in the crust. When my friend died, I could not talk to her anymore. Could not reach her memories. So time is what happens now. Only memory makes for having known a past or notice of a future to come. When the body is gone then so are the memories. Then there is only now. As an edit: I would like to say that I am genetically inclined to have dementia as I grow older. So, my memories will fade away and the past will disappear. My past will have no meaning.

Hello and welcome to the forum Shakti Abby, It is nice to meet a younger woman, who is a Devi-Bhakta. Not that I know what that means. I'm sort of novice here myself. Surprised that they would let me become a member with no qualifications. Anyway, good to have you here. I hope this place is everything you are looking for. Tommy

What is that teaching, ..., nothing arises by itself. All things arise in dependence upon their respective causes and conditions. They do not arise without a cause. Words do not just denote a single meaning. They have connotations. Meanings associated with other things. And what is clear to you may not be clear to others. Communications is much like an art form. Not everyone gets it right away. Again, I apologize for my mistake.

I think @Taoist Texts means to say it doesn't need a teacher because it can not be taught unless you are the chosen one?? Who knows? You could be that chosen one? That is what I think when I play the lottery. But, I never win anything.

Yes, you did not say that explicitly. But, the way I read your response, it did seem that way. To go to see a psychotherapist to find out why you are seeing violent daydreams. Isn't that what psychotherapist do? Help someone understand themselves so they can correct their behavior?? IDK. Anyway, I apologize for mis-reading your responses. I am very very sorry.

What is the story about the farmer mean? One day the farmer goes out to the stable to find his horse running away. He could not catch the horse. His neighbors said that is bad luck to lose a horse like that. The next day the horse came back with another horse. Apparently, the horse missed his companion and went to find it. The neighbors said what good luck to have two horses. The next day, the farmer's son while trying to train the new horse, fell and broken his leg. The neighbors said such bad luck the new horse brought. The next day, the army came by to conscript all the young men in the village for their war. When they saw the farm's son, they saw his broken leg and left him. The neighbors said that it was such good luck his son had a broken leg so that now he does not have to fight in the war. So, what is the truth or wisdom in this story? Is what you feed your mind today good for tomorrow? Or do we not see the truth because situations change all the time?

Isn't suggesting to see a psychotherapist a way of saying that he needs help? Help can come in the form of a kind word of understanding. I do not see it as an issue that requires help from a psychotherapist if there is no violent actions that follows those violent daydreams. He is reaching out to forum members for information. Yes, he is asking why ... which shows concern which I believe it means he is not a psychopath or sociopath. It is part of his practice or a result of his practice which makes it a religious discussion. If it were just random daydreams then it would not be religious. Do the daydreams need to be of priest and nuns in order to be religious? But since it comes as a result of his practice of meditation which is part of Buddhism, ...., it becomes a religious discussion. It should not be dismissed. He is asking for compassion and wisdom. Yeah, I know this forum can not handle certain situations and sometimes suggesting professional help is the better alternative to advice given on a forum. What to do? IDK. May be I should stop watching boxing because whatever one feeds the mind is what grows much like Karma. Plant a seed and it will grow. Never knowing for sure when and how it will come back to bite us in the a...

Is violent thoughts and images something to be worried about? I do not know for sure. If one doesn't act upon violent thoughts or images then what is the issue? I like to watch boxing once in a awhile but it doesn't mean I know how to fight or want to fight. Does that make me a bad person? Is it against the 8 fold path? IDK.

Why is this happening? I find that when I begin meditation, the mind fights with whatever it has to retain control. May be in your mind, violence is something that is not appealing? So, you are repelled and left asking why? Perhaps a different technique would be more amenable to your temperament? The mind wants to daydream, to draw attention away.

Thanks for the reply. I do not have a teacher. Did have one when I first began meditating. Then mostly off (and on). I noticed the noise in my head. But, mostly that anything I do in this life has this noise or mind in order to move forward. Otherwise, there is no desire to do anything. And, it becomes hard to understand anything without this noisy mind. Looking for milestones was important to me, one time. I seem to have given up looking for progress now. And just enjoy the company of people who know more than I do. Note: I have not notice being kinder or nicer or more patient. But, I do like to spend time just sitting.

I was really looking for milestones. Things that would show itself when one has moved forward along this journey. That way I would know what I am doing is sort a right?? But, I think I come up short because I never have such experiences. No dramas, no insights, no feelings of energy. Only feeling lack of sleep. Finding myself staring into space. Thoughts rush in and out of which I have no control. The analogy would be like floating in the middle of the ocean just hanging onto a piece of wood. The night is cloudy. With no sense of direction, swim this way or that way makes no immediate difference. Effort is weak. All that can be seen is no change. Just stuck. Then, from desperation, the five stages of grief. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. Lastly, Give up and try again later. So, ever since beginning this when I was young, it has been off and on. Mostly off. And as I get older (65), I find myself at the bottom of the stairs again wishing to climb higher this time around. Reminds me of Moody Blues "Late Lament". Breath deep the gathering gloom, Watch light fade from every room, Bedsitter people look back and lament, Another day's useless energy is spent. Genetically in line for dementia. Good thing. This way I can forget my failures and become a different person.

I have had dreams of being out of the body and flying. I do not know if they were real or just childhood fantasies. Was, .. Is there a way to tell the difference between dreams and the real out of the body experiences? Do I need to look at my hands? Or do I have to see something in real life to prove the dream was real? As far as I know, this self is of this body. Cut away an arm and leg and the mind is diminished because the mind no longer controls these limbs. Feed the body alcohol or drugs and the mind travels to areas where control is lost. The body is influenced by the chemicals that were ingested. It all points to body and mind are linked. It seems when I die then all that will be left are the strings of karma created by this mind and self. Never know when it will return. It isn't like flowers in the spring time. An apple seed is planted and begins to grow. When and what sweetness the fruit comes, that is unknown to me. I wish I could say i can rest as awareness and let all else arise and fall away.

It has been a while since you posted this link. Has it helped you? Is it worth the time and effort to read and learn? Elucidate the stages of awakening so clearly? Has this helped you awaken? Would it help anyone or only those who are doing his practices?