adept

I don't know if it was more but at least as many, plus the Japanese also did biological warfare experiments on chinese citizens too. Yet for some reason the Germans get a lot more publicity. In the Phillipines the Japanese would round up Filipino citizens in a village, tie them to trees and use them for bayonet practice for not provocation what so ever. Of course karma did its boomerang thing and they Japanese are the only nation to have suffered a nuclear attack (twice).

What the hell has this got to do with a natural disaster ending the lives of thousands.

The atrocities that took place in war have nothing to do with innocents killed here.

Why should the whole nation suffer as a result of a few maniacs in wartime ?

Nice to see sympathy and compassion being shown here on Taobums.

After witnessing the catastrophe unfolding in Japan, I'd like to send my heart felt wishes to anyone affected by this awful tragedy.

May all beings be free from suffering.

Namu Amida Butsu

Isn't there a new Kunlun book due out ?

Excellent site of Taoist/Buddhist inspired poetry here

Introduction to Huayen Buddhism

Huayan

More Huayen books:

This

and this.

Both these look really good.

I often wonder how it is that I cannot hold onto the feeling.

Because your trying to grasp the un-graspable.

For want of another word, craving. The cause of all human suffering and stress.

Better to just relax and enjoy the moment, without expectation.

Well, I practice my zhan zhuang in the woods every morning.

The connection that I feel to nature is beautiful. The peace, quiet and serenity is exquisite.

Feeling the cold air making contact with my exposed face and hands makes me feel alive.

As the rain hits my face and head it causes me to thank whatever forces are making this wonderful event in time happen.

The birds come really close as I stand still, my internal energy in constant motion.

A fox, prowling it's way through the undergrowth, on the lookout for a stray bird, looks up at me, then continues on it's way.

You can't put a price on this type of experience. It's absolutely wonderful.

When i was in my 20's i once went to a party that lasted about 5 years

but that is off topic.

I think mine lasted 10 years, but I can't remember much of it. :D

The problem is that ordinary people and beginning spiritual practitioners approach Buddhism with an objective MIND without putting the hard yards, and this is where the problem starts.

 

I still remember when I attended my first Vipassana retreat if I could bring along the Middle Discourses of the Buddha. The teacher I corresponded with by e-mail said: NO. Do not bring anything in here, you won't need anything. After I concluded the 3 week silent retreat I understood his clear NO (well it didn't take me that long to figure it out) to books and other written material.

 

The only way you can understand Buddhism (and all its irrefutable truths) is while walking and sitting in meditation. By watching the mind and all the internal and external processes in silence and solitude.

 

Thinking and taking about it only causes anger and frustration because the ego gets quickly involved and inevitably people are just trying to make a point

 

I can see Vajrahridaya's point but honestly why so much effort in arguing if we know that the Buddha wasn't wrong! Let the others find out by themselves.

Excellent !

Well, the Buddha was not an atheist since he founded his own religion

He didn't start a religion.

His followers descendants did many years after his death.

From my personal experiences over the years I believe that a mixture of:

1. A moving qigong or neigong practice or martial art form.

2. A standing practice.

3. A sitting meditation ( vipassana, zazen, anapana, zuowang).

... can give you all you need.

Don't complicate it. Keep it simple.

Practice, practice practice. Increasing the length of time slowly.

I believe that the Buddhists put too much emphasis on the concept of D.O.

Without dependent origination, the teachings of the Buddha have no meaning.

It is what binds the four noble truths, the eightfold path, kamma, emptiness, mindfulness meditation, all together.

D.O is the Dhamma. It is that important.

This discussion still generally lies in the realm of theory and no real world experience. Ya Mu requested examples and none are given. The Buddhists still remain in airy fairy land and will never want to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty for fear of a contaminated DO experience.

As a result of studying the theory and applying it in real life, I am now more considerate towards others.

Every thought, word and deed of mine has an effect on anyone and anything I come into contact with.

Therefore, careful consideration is needed before an act is performed.

In this way genuine compassion is a natural outcome.

This is all I will say on the matter. I don't wish to get caught up in repetitive and meaningless mega-posting.

Bravo!!

 

But it also means there is no prime mover, no original source, no one behind the many, no alpha and omega.

 

P.s. oh yeah, and no primordial Self of all.

Yes. The groundless ground.

D. O does not need to be as complex as it has been described here.

You don't need to be a Buddhist or a Daoist or whatever to understand it either.

The way I see it is that everything is constantly changing, nothing stays still, not for a moment.

Permanent impermenance if you like. Constant flux, continual movement.

For these infinite changes to happen, certain conditions need to be present.

Because of this...that arises. Conditionality.

These conditions are themselves dependent on other conditions ad infinitum....

Examples can be found everywhere in the natural world, in our ever changing thoughts, in our bodily awareness, in our meditation as we notice things arising and ceasing.

Everything changes, all the time, but I can have some control over my own life by the choices I make.

What have I gained from this realization ?

That whatever I do, think of, act upon, can have consequences that affect not only me but all who I come into contact with. This makes me more thoughtful as to how I go about life.

D.O, emptiness, cause and effect, impermenance, mindfulness are all linked together. But it is D.O that binds it all together.

D.O is not mere mental masturbation, it is a practical guide to life.

I experienced a death in the family.

From that day on 15 years ago, my spiritual quest started.

I don't know if I'll ever find the answer though.

1. The Tibetan Book Of Living and Dying - Sogyal Rinpoche

An awesome book that has challenged my conditioned beliefs. Utterly captivating.

2. The Writings Of Nichiren Daishonin

Not by my bed as this is online.

These videos look interesting. When I get more time later today I'm gonna watch them.

Thanks for posting them.

Will a moon so bright ever arise again?

Drink a cupful of wine and ask of the sky.

I don't know where the palace gate of heaven is,

Or even the year in which tonight slips by.

I want to return riding the whirl-wind! But I

Feel afraid that this heaven of jasper and jade

Lets in the cold, its palaces rear so high.

I shall get up and dance with my own shadow.

From life endured among men how far a cry!

Round the red pavilion

Slanting through the lattices

Onto every wakeful eye,

Moon, why should you bear a grudge, O why

Insist in time of separation so th fill the sky?

Men know joy and sorow, parting and reunion;

The moon lacks lustre, brightly shines; is al, is less.

Perfection was never easily come by.

Though miles apart, could men but live for ever

Dreaming they shared this moonlight endlessly!

Shui Tiao Ko Tou

Well I was meditating daily but since I've felt like I really understood I haven't been meditating much.

Who is it that meditates ?