ralis

Why did you drop the last sentence that I can drop karma at anytime? Can't live up to my challenge?

Tell you what. If you drop your karma, I will drop mine!

This view creates a concrete personified force in one's mind that is virtually impossible to destroy, liberate, bargain with or overcome. This view is reinforced by gurus that are trapped in the same limiting belief that karma is somehow ubiquitous and relentless. Then at some future date, this insidious force will be somehow purified. Further, it places the responsibility in the unknown past as opposed to the present. Until one stops the addiction of focusing and worshiping gurus, personifying Buddhas or whomever, then one will never truly be free. "Great Men are only the idols of Little Men" Wilhelm Reich

The incessant focusing on karma and past lives, can be distracting and therefor create obstacles to practice. Discussion of the issues serves no real benefit to anyone.

This view being posited by Vajraji is the same as original sin in the Catholic tradition, with some philosophical tweaking. One problem I have is that past life aggressions are somehow punished in a future life. If one has no knowledge or belief that a so called punishment is from a past life, then this Buddhist tenet is moot! There exists no absolute proof that past lifetime problems are carried forth.

I am uncertain as to what his point is.

You are comparing McCarthyism to Maoism? Complete nonsense! During the McCarthy era, people were not executed en masse for their beliefs. Under Mao they were! Here is a link for the estimated murders of Chinese during the "Cultural Revolution". Scroll down to #7. http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat1.htm

He comes off as an apologist for the "Cultural Revolution". The estimates are upwards of 60 million dead since the beginning till the present. How can anyone condone this!

Espionage charges may be imminent. The Justice Dept. is making this up as they go along. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4652750#4652921

You consider that funny?

There is no answer!

One of Assange's accusers leaves for the middle east. This is getting twisted! http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/assange-accuser-stops-cooperating-police/

Then the "Cultural Revolution" happened under Mao and untold millions were slaughtered! For what purpose? As always, the psychotics wage genocide in the name of some higher cause!

Since we are on this subject, rolfing changed my life in more ways than I could possibly imagine. Character armoring is a serious consideration in evaluating where one is in terms of emotion and being able to feel deeply. I highly recommend it as a means to deal with certain issues before embarking on any serious spiritual quest. Most spiritual traditions are naive where the body is concerned. Why? Most are not even in their bodies.

The photo of Gangteng's stupa above carries with it a description of the facilities for retreat and a religious university. It makes no mention of taking care of the needy. This all smacks of personality worship! HH. Gangteng Rinpoche is responsible for more than 25 private Nyingmapy monasteries and temples in Bhutan and Gangteng Gonpa - the largest private monastery Buthanu throughout the Kingdom. Since completion in 1992, the strict seclusion of another, Gangteng Tulku works continuously to strengthen and spread the teachings and practices of the lineage of Pema Lingpa. The fruit of his intense Buddhist activities in Bhutan is created a new three-year retreat center, science center Dzogchen retreats, new shedra (school for the monks at the university level), as well as many temples and religious schools.

That is one occurrence!

I wonder if the examples I have sited are a misuse of the kundalini forces. If these spiritual leaders really considered that taking care of business in the physical, instead of floating around in mental spiritual concepts, their attitudes might change.

With all the posturing around Tibetan monasteries, exactly what has been accomplished for the physical welfare of others? 1. Clinics and hospitals? 2. Feeding the hungry that live in close conjunction to the local monastery? 3. Clothing the needy? A perfect example of neglect is this display of arrogance in the name of the Dharma. Gangteng Tulku spent a fortune on refurbishing this antique stupa while neglecting the local poor people. Why? So he could sit on his golden throne and dispense, whatever he dispenses!

Excellent insight! Wilhelm Reich's "Mass Psychology of Fascism" analyzes the rigidly armored personality. The armoring is characterized by rigid inflexible emotion, fanaticism toward a higher cause (usually religion) and physical armoring in the muscles and fascia. Jack booted goose stepping Nazi's and religious fanatics are just two examples of the effects of rigid indoctrination that insists on suppressing the life force. As you pointed out in the last paragraph, that is a perfect example of justifying abuse in the name of some nebulous higher cause. BTW, I have taken responsibility to rid myself of character armoring. The work is not finished. Rolfing, Feldenkrais training and honest introspection. This has taken years and no amount of meditation could ever take the place of that work. Here is a good example of a hierarchy gone amuck!

If you meant 20 year old then just say so. You respond in ways that seem that abuse towards others, especially anyone in a monastery is fine as long as it is for some higher cause. Reread the article I posted and do a thorough Google search in regards to this topic. Some of us here are not interested in abuse in the name of religion. That is not a clinging to the negative while forgoing some positive. That is showing compassion.

I just saw this and it really freaked me out! http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/homeland-security-messages-coming-walmart-hotels-malls/

You have no right to make that judgment! You have continually made it a point to belittle me on this matter. My relationship and experiences with Norbu's teachings are none of your business!

I guess vows of celibacy mean nothing!

A very good friend of mine who is a Tibetan scholar and important translator, told us in a class in the Tibetan Stupa here in Santa Fe, that homosexuality runs rampant in Tibetan monasteries. Even among the young men! Please, spare me the pure vision of Buddhist monks. It does not exist! http://www.lamashree.org/dalailama_08_childabuse_tibetanbuddhistmonasteries.htm

Is this a discussion about existentialism? Existential angst?