adept

What are we talking about here? I don't seem to understand.

Lots of info here

THRESHOLD

Why mourn for a cocoon

After the butterfly has flown?

Death is one of the few givens in life, and yet we fear it. We immaturely deny its presence or refuse to take it into account. In life, where so few things are stable enough to serve as true reference points, death is one of our few assurances.

Death is not an ending. It is a transformation. What dies is only our sense of identity, which was false to begin with. Death is the threshold of this life. Beyond it is something else, some mystery. We can only be sure that it is unlike this life.

Let us be unabashed in admitting that no one knows death definitely. The closest we may come is a supposed near-death experience, which, by definition, cannot be death itself. Alternately, we can examine other people who have died. We can look at a corpse. When we do, we see that whoever or whatever it was that animated that body is longer in force. Is that body our dead friend? No. Whatever it was that was the person we knew is gone. What use is there to mourn over a lifeless shell in a casket?

Death defines the limits of life. Within those limits, there is structure upon which to base one's decisions. Whenever one deems that one's life has been fulfilled, one can utilize death as the portal away from this existence.

RUNAWAY

They call her useless

And yet push for achievement.

"I want a baby."

They bicker between themselves,

And reproach her for being distant.

"My friends have so much fun."

They dwell on money,

And indenture her to loyalty.

"I can't stand this every day."

She is innocent.

They have ambitions.

There was a girl who was both a good student and a good athlete. Her family did not find that to be enough. They pushed her to spend all her time studying or practicing for her next sport competition. Finally, she could stand it no further. She ran away.

Her family was firmly convinced that it was a kidnapping.

In so many families, a girl is told how useless she is. Is it any wonder that she gets pregnant? A boy is told how lazy he is. Is it any wonder that he rebels as an act of individuality?

When parents demand without understanding, they thwart development. Forcing children to fulfill parental ambitions destroys individuality. Before parents blame their children, they should first look to how their daughters and sons were raised.

(quote)durkhrod chogori, on 04 August 2010 - 04:10 AM, said:

 

Definitively, a good Buddhist thread was overdue on this forum. I will open it shortly. Thanks for the reminder.(end quote)

 

 

 

On the contrary. If all buddhists were to commit to opening their own buddhist threads instead of suddenly jumping out of closets within taoist ones with a mighty "boo!" --

I for one would burn incense on my taoist altar and make offerings to my taoist deities in gratitude.

Good point Taomeow.

I had a lucid dream experience of my Rinpoche running up my spine but within a tunnel riding a horse with wind blowing all hair on both Rinpoche and the horse back... moving very fast, and Rinpoche was slapping all my main chakra points with a stick, his eyes wild with bliss, love and radiance and at the end he was churning me, my awareness stuck at the crown of my head and this heat baking me on the top of my head like in an Native Bread oven, he was looking at me with this fierce bliss! I've heard that the windhorse is a synonym for kundalini? What's up?

Stay off the weed maaan !

Instant enlightenment, just add water !

Definitively, a good Buddhist thread was overdue on this forum. I will open it shortly. Thanks for the reminder.

Oh no ! Run for cover.

POETRY

Anything is subject for a poem :

A catalog of boxing equipment, a collage of other poems,

Serpentine trail of incense, raised deer fur, old shoes pointed pigeon-toed,

Glass and steel cityscape, almond eyes of a saint, weeping tiny flowers,

Sunlight on whitewashed walls, blue shadows of stooped women,

A spring mousetrap, a trickle of blood in the gutter,

The homing swoop of a gull, chill whitecapped bay, scent of eucalyptus.

Green lawn of broken blades, clods of fat earth.

Anything is subject for a poem.

Even in sleep, write a poem.

When waking, write a poem.

While loving, write a poem.

Even voting, write a poem.

When angry, write a poem.

While dreaming, write a poem.

The sages say quite seriously that those who wish to know better should cultivate the poet in themselves.

We, everyone, no one excluded, have no idea if there was a universe prior to this on. Yes, we can pretend we know but that is not knowing.

It is all mere speculation, we just don't know.

No, actually, I don't wonder about that. The concept never interested me. I am happy with this life I have.

And so am I.

Don't bother with him Hari, it's not worth it.

Looks like I've rustled a few Buddhist feathers.

DECLINE

Fog chills heaven to gray,

Nights come earlier.

Everyone knows decline,

But few discern its border.

Although it is summer and there are many warm months to come, it is possible to sense that the heavens are already turning downward. Nearly imperceptibly, the fruit is ripening on the trees and the nights are lengthening once again. It is too early to talk of autumn, and yet the next season is on its way.

Why do we never prepare for decline? We all realize that it is a valid phenomenon -- we know about the fall of empires, the aging of heroes, the lessening of our own skill -- but we are not always aware of its approach. We often realize too late that we are in a period of decline, and so we are unprepared. It takes a wise person to perceive the moment when things begin to change.

Summer does not fade away in a day. Our actions must accord with the times. Just as the decline of summer is gradual, so too should our actions be commensurate with the pace of change. Even though decline may be approaching, we must gauge how quickly or how slowly events are moving. If we are too hasty -- like someone who notices the first cool breeze and immediately dons winter clothing -- we will be overreacting. It is important to think of decline as something natural and inevitable. Therefore there should be no emotional values attached to it. It simply happens, and that is all.

I really don't care. I know Namdrol personally.

Like an ostrich who buries it's head in the sand.

Maybe the hacker who brought down E Sangha was one of the many people who were denied a voice on the forum ?

I've never heard these stories or saw these arguments leading to banning from him. I read most everything he wrote. So, these must be unfounded rumors.

Read This

And This

And This

There's lots more.

Scandalicious !!!

In the various recollection of his past lives from different scriptures. In Buddhist scriptures from various sources.

But not directly from the Buddha himself.

There is no proof that the Buddha did indeed say the things that were written down hundreds of years after his death.

I find it hard to comprehend that the amount of Buddhist literature supposedly attributed to the Buddha, could be memorized over many generations, before being written down.

The Buddha talked about what was prier to the Big Bang

Where ?

The thing about E-Sangha as they wanted to keep the teachings in line with what the Buddha taught from people who actually studied all the texts for many years, including Namdrol and not get overwhelmed with divergent views that would confuse new-comers to Buddhism.

What you mean to say is that they wanted to keep a sectarian bias towards certain types of Tibetan Buddhism and anyone who disagreed with it was met with hostility.

There are loads of stories about experienced Buddhists ( many of who were ordained ) who were banned from E Sangha for disagreeing with the Namdrol. (He does sound like an orc chieftain from LOTR !)

meeting an experienced Buddhist scholar online named Malcolm Smith (Lappon Namdrol

I take it this is the same Namdrol that used to rule over E-Sangha with an iron fist. Banning members who didn't share his views.

A rather controversial figure to say the least.

Now I know where you get your evangelist type preaching from.

You keep good company.

Bump.

 

Cleary's translation is superb and very easy to understand compared to Wilhelm's. A completely different book altogether.

A practice that can be used in the midst of daily life by anyone, and not just on the cushion by monks in a secluded monastery.

It has taken me years to find the ultimate book on 'meditation'. This is it. No more books or teachers are needed.

Thank you Thomas Cleary.

 

The very essence of mind.

It trancends ALL traditions, religions and belief systems.

Pure Ch'an.

Pure Tao.

Without the 'isms'

I have to agree with this. I've just finished reading it and have found it to be an excellent manual on meditation.

I had also tried to understand the Wilhelm/Jung version but it proved to be a non starter for me.

The Cleary translation and commentary is VERY accessible and easy to understand.

The differences are startling.

Wilhelm's talks about a MCO/energy type of practice, whereas Cleary's terms his translation as 'turning the light around', a mind looking inward.

Fascinating and totally compelling reading.

ABUNDANCE

Sun in heaven.

Abundance in great measure.

Supreme success

In the midst of impermanence.

The midday sun in summer is the hottest and brightest of all. It symbolizes a zenith, a fulfillment, a period of great brightness. In the affairs of people, it stands for the combining of strength and clarity, which yields brilliance. When the times are in accord, abundance cannot be opposed.

The period of abundance is a time for vigorous action. Bright light shines not only on the good but on the bad as well. Therefore, when evil is revealed, all good people must oppose it. Pluck it out by the roots and energetically promote the good.

Abundance is a cause for celebration, but followers of Tao also remember to be cautious. No zenith can be preserved forever. In fact, the time of abundance just precedes an inevitable path of decline. Nothing in life is permanent. Therefore, the wise person enjoys and is gladdened by abundance. But while they take advantage of the time, they also prepare for what will follow.

Thank you everyone for your continued efforts to help me understand this. Regarless how I come off I am very thankful for all of your imput. Keep it coming

-Astral

You raise some very interesting points. I have come to similar contradictions of late, it's just I find it hard to put into words what I actually DO think.

You have worded your posts very well, much better than I could of.

Maybe this doubt that we have can be a catalyst for finding what the hell it's really all about.

Thanks for your posts. I'm enjoying reading them.

I prefer the Taoist ones, also just sitting relaxing in the emptiness of all words and ideas and meanings.

I like this too. Simple and without all that extra baggage of other 'systems'.

Why have all these so called levels? Aren't these just more constructs?

 

ralis

I was about to say the same. It seems to be more confusing than I originally thought.

Excellent thread!

I haven't a clue either.

I've given up trying to be 'enlightened'.

I just try to live my life the best way I can.