Seth Ananda

Time is not speeding up, our culture and pace of living is. The more mindful we become, the longer each day takes... Slow down... breath... enjoy...

Does someone held in high regard as an Ayahuascerio {or however one spells that} by the Shipibo count? I have friends who have lived in there getting trained for over a decade, speak Portuguese and local dialects, and bring back the most potent brew...

Well good luck! And do you have any kind of proper sadhana? 20 mins of watching the breath every couple of days and a few moments of mindfullness while washing the dishes every now and then wont give you any interesting experiences... It can be dangerous to 'hunt' for experiences, but if you really want them, pick a process and do it till something happens... seriously, if it takes you months, just keep at it like a dog at a bone... lol, 'something' will happen...

This is a great Idea and a Dharma service as well! There are already many other denomination focused 12 step programs out there for the theistically minded, and that can make Buddhists uncomfortable. I had never even heard of a Buddhist 12 step program... I will follow keenly...

Hmm, I am glad for my few experiences with Aya, {and everything else I occasionally tried over the years, peyote, psilosyb's, aminitas...} But seriously my days with anything like those are over... I know a lot of people who go head over heels for Aya, and to me it seems {meaning it may have nothing to do with actual reality, lol, just how it seems} that they are finally getting to 'Experience' something: Bliss, Healing, Entities, Energies and so on. I find this a bit sad. Most I know have never had any form of real Sadhana in their lives, so never really had any Interesting or 'spiritual' experiences.. So then Aya comes along and all of a sudden it becomes the Be all and end all of everything... I guess I was fortunate. I had already gone far further many many times into realms of bliss, energy, spirit, than a mere substance can produce... So although I found It valuable in ways, I could not see what the big fuss was all about. I too prefer el natural! so much deeper and clearer.... All that said, in the Jungle Junky community I have one friend [out of about 100] who has grown so much with Aya that is is quite amazing to me. He joined Sante Daime a few years ago, and completely took on its world view, and its transformation of him is remarkable..

He is making a great point in a way... That is how the object of our desires end up... He seems very concerned about Impermanence, and I get that. It is a hard subject to accept, especially when our whole culture is trying to make us feel like everything will be alright as long as we buy... Or shag... I do worry for his mental health though... Realising Impermanence, in its completeness should foster more compassion, as the cycle everyone is stuck in becomes very obvious, and it should generate great happiness, as one will naturally stop fixating on changing and temporary things that only lead to suffering in the end. Tulku does not seem very happy yet, and I think he is in great distress, but blessings to him. Not dying when he thinks he is supposed too could do very good things for him.

I have met many deeply joyful and serene monks. And some who were less so. I think there can be a general resistance to the Idea that monks could be really happy in a western audience, as they seem to be deprived of many things, and in the west, deprivation is 'never' good. It creates an uncomfortable reflection for many, as If a monk can be happy with so little, why cant we? So we write them off as having crazy fears of the world {which some may have} of being escapists {which some may be} or any other problems one may think off {which some may have} But many many monks, have very good lives as well. I read a study on a Carmelite {if I remember right} cloister of Nuns, and the general physical and psychological health among the older women was far higher than those of the general public. To me at the very least, it seems like an awesome retirement plan for many... {lol which is not my motivation for wanting to join} consider how many Old people are only kept alive by their work, and then are left to rot alone, once their significant other has passed on... In a Monastery one can age gracefully, working towards Enlightenment, surrounded by peers {community} to keep ones mind lively, daily prostrations and cleaning duties to keep you fit and healthy, and a simple diet... Seth.

double post

Hi Well for me all my first exposure to the concept was of a Nagajuna/Chandrakirti perspective, which denys emptiness as being a void that things rise and fall within. I find it very workable in my own life and practice to be able to look at things I would normally cling to, and see their lack of permanent or inherent existence. Seeing that an impermanent empty thing is not a satisfactory source of happiness, really does remove most of my desire for it. Instead of taking refuge in something temporary, I take refuge in Buddha, my own enlightened mind... And I am very fond of the 11 points: Emptiness is not a substance Emptiness is not a substratum or background Emptiness is not light Emptiness is not consciousness or awareness Emptiness is not the Absolute Emptiness does not exist on its own Objects do not consist of emptiness Objects do not arise from emptiness Emptiness of the "I" does not negate the "I" Emptiness is not the feeling that results when no objects are appearing to the mind Meditating on emptiness does not consist of quieting the mind But, it does seem that some schools of Dzogchen and Mahamudra {my favoured approaches} [pre longchenpa if I understand correctly] do see emptiness as more than just the nature of things in their impermanent and dependently arisen state {therefore only being relatively real}. I really just want to understand the other views better. I dont think conflicting views is bad, as long as the view does not create delusion. Look at the Shentong/Rangtong debates... Both schools have fully realised Masters behind them... Even Chittamatra is considered potentially useful for attaining the first Bhumi, although to go deeper it is believed by the other schools that, some aspects of its view will have to be dropped... I guess one thing I really want to understand is, If Emptiness is not a Void, then what is it that is void or space like, that things do seem to rise and fall within... Anyway Blessings to all

I certainly wish to become a monk one day. I wish to wait till my karmic obligations to my daughter are wrapped up enough {when she turns 18}. I think it is very Important that one be ready for such a decision. For me my studies and practice have helped me naturally renounce many many things, and I am slowly learning to live more and more like a monk at home. My time in Tantra was wonderful. On the sexual side of it, having had tons of the best Sex humanly possible, has brought me to a place where I am no longer constantly craving it, which would have made monk hood very hard. Now I know deeply, the happiness and joy sex brings, but also the happiness and joy it specifically can not bring. It is just no longer that important to me. I more and more feel like my mind can turn away from clinging to the 10000 things, as that is what it is doing all by it self, just from exposure to the Dharma, and having already lived very well...

This is a fair enough response... To me it looks like your opening statement was attacking Blasto, {who I consider a friend} and as you pointed out, when I get uppity, it is over people attacking my friends. This habit of mine goes well back past my brief RT involvement, and is just another thing I have to learn to drop... Sigh.. Just a damn hard year... Awesome for growth, not for much else... {being slightly over dramatic lol, but gruelling is a great word for much of it...} And to be honest, I find your communication style very trying sometimes. That does not mean there is a problem with it, it may just be me, but the people who piss me off most are the ones who don't 'seem' [to me that is] to read peoples posts properly before typing a long response... Anyway this is just another chance for me to drop my over protectiveness of friends... Peace. I have 7 day retreat starting this weekend with Changling Rinpoche, so hopefully I'll chill out a bit more...

Oh so starting with this is you making amends?: "I'm just trying to see if I read this right, are you essentially saying, it's your way or the highway? Are you just going to keep leaving and coming back until everyone suits your own method of behaving? That seem very immature to me." Wow, you really told me! perhaps if you read the actual post before responding, [your usual tactic] you would see I wrote in brackets, after mentioning young people: "{nothing against them}" Actually I was. That may sound arrogant or conceited to you, but I have 20 years of intensive practice and experience that I draw on... I was fortunate to be able to follow my path full time as well, for many many years... well I guess I am proud of my few achievements! Before you jump up and down, please note I have no delusions about being a master of anything... Sure... I created the poll that led to that subforum coming into being, and started a bunch of the threads in there, to try and get more quality discussions happening along areas I am enthusiastic about... what is your point? Seth.

what a bunch of Blah Blah... this is just you having a dig, as you have issues with Encephalon. He is leaving because it has gotten boring here more often than not, and he does not enjoy it as much as 3 years ago. Fair enough. Three years ago was like a TTB golden age. So many good threads, conversations, so often. When I would load up, every thread on a page would demand a look. Now Its lucky if one in ten look remotely interesting. There are so many more younger people {nothing against them}, really really boring pseudo intellectuals, passive aggressive know it alls {with almost no experience}, new age fluff heads, Right wing fascists, and others who sound like they need serious medication... Now there were always a few, but... The senior people here with a decent chunk of practice/experience under their belts, used to post regularly in very engaging ways, but most post far less now days if at all. Now it seems the few seniors who do post regularly are nearly all selling something, and nothing against that either, but it does change things a little... Good luck to Encephalon! TTB's may swing back a bit {hopefully} but probably not. No one needs to stay somewhere that no longer serves them... This isn't some emotional black mail attempt, he may have just outgrown his need to be here... Blessings! Seth Ananda.

Flakey baby boomer, Osho Neo Tantra, but they have some good sex skills... lol

Cool. Yep for me it is a great set. It spends plenty of time feeling and moving chi, it stretches, it Invigorates.. and with the spontaneous it pretty much covers everything I would want from a Chi Kung set. Such a good balance.

Blessings to the victims. Sad. Seth Ananda. P.S. The secret is ruining our planet. Bob Proctor told his audience, that every one alive on the planet, could drive a BMW, and that fuel and resources were no problem, because as we want them, the universe will magically supply them... And wanting less, to help the environment or show global responsibility is just poverty consciousness, and not aligned with 'Universal thinking'... and all starving people have to do is change their thinking...

Ahaha! Wonderful.. I teach my daughter cloud hands...

Good Idea, lol

Thanks Serene! You Rock!

Thanks CT, as usual you come through with the goods! -^-

Um Taooneusa, maybe you meant to put this in the Vedantic subforum? The Buddhist subforum is for discussing Buddhist philosophy and perspectives...

Lol well he is in one of the best ever Vampire movies, 'Kiss of the Vampire' so it must be true!

This is my last Max post in this thread, but I would like to congratulate Scotty on his superb Information manipulating skills, I think he must be a Lawyer. But despite all the double talk and pretending that truth is malleable, and accusing me of trying to make a 'tiny' bit of truth more concrete than it actually is, The truth here is not up for Intelligent, debate as it is absolutely set in stone. When Max said, "this has never been taught out side of a Monastery", that is exactly what he meant. He was painting a picture... A false but mysterious picture... If he had wanted to say until a few generations ago, this was not taught outside of a monastery, he would have but, but it would not have served the picture he was consciously painting. The picture he wanted portrays him as a secret wisdom holder, a special being, with deep vows to only release this special sacred teaching when the time was right! $$$ Which is Now! $$$ The picture does not give Jenny her Due as lineage holder of one of the main parts of his 'unheard of' only in a monastery teachings. {very very disrespectful} Only later, did that stuff start to come out. Again for legalists like Scotty, "Never taught out side", means Never. It is blatantly dishonesty to try to infer that he did not mean Never, {as he wrote} but that he really meant some time in the past. 'Some time in the past' is not 'Never'. Can you see, Two totally opposed concepts and meaning structures... It simply did not serve the picture he was painting to say "some time in the past" Anyway I have said my piece, and it is here for all to see. Scotty's reply may be amusing in whatever tactic he takes to try to change blatant fact into some 'simple misunderstanding', but either way, i am out. Max is what he is. Part Liar, and that is unarguable as again it is in the realm of solid fact, but he may also be part Awesomely good teacher. So best wishes to him and his Students. [you too Scotty]

Practising push hands with one of the HeavenManEarth crew, yang mian still, but going back to Montague's school as its the only one at the moment that fits my schedule... Sword stuff is just from bits and pieces over the years, Including Escrima. I just love the chinese double saber [Tao] forms, but am yet to learn one, but am determined to and thus I keep working both sides, and regularly battle my house mate...