ralis

Good point! When I first saw the video, it seemed contrived to me. The same guys seemed to be forcing it!! If he threw them in the air, that would be a great demo. These characters are always on their feet. ralis

Best treatment I have ever had. My posture is more fluid and natural. All the tension and lack of movement in my upper neck is gone. Extraordinary treatment!!! Highly recommend having it done. ralis

Who teaches Kan Li? ralis

Why do we take all of this so seriously? Whether it is of vows or some other belief system misses the point. No belief system or language can adequately describe or quantify the universe. Therefore one religion or belief system(BS) is as good as any other. You can pay Mak Tin Si to make you a taoist fo 90.00 or burn incense for you for 10.00 a month. How about becoming a subgenius minister for 29.95. On the subgenius site one can buy pope cards and immediately become a pope. LOL! ralis

This is an excellent discussion! Very interesting how a system of beliefs has so many contradictions. Asking one to be attached to a certain moral code, while asking to not be attached to anything. Direct contradiction to the 4 noble truths. I read in "The Torch of Certainty" that if one had sex within 50 ft. of a Lama one would wind up in some hell realm. Sounds like something from the dark ages. ralis

I took them along time ago, then I was shown that non dual awareness is the natural state. That removed my concern over vows. However, I don't think I ever took them very seriously. ralis

The teachings say that if one keeps one's vows and therefore becomes enlightened, one will enter the absolute Buddha realms. My understanding is that the actual vows and teachings come from these absolute realms.

Is "Yeshe Lama" the title of the book? Do you know when the publication date is? ralis

Rex, Point well taken! Too many people want some type of system to absolve themselves of any critical analysis. The preferred system seems to be one of being a tribal member and doing what one is told. This is the critical error of Tibetan Buddhism. The system is all about the Lama. (See Donald Lopez's "Prisoners of Shamballah"). He states that what is in Tibet is Lamaism and not real Buddhism. Just a mix if indigenous and various belief systems. Fear and superstition is the glue that holds it all together. ralis

I submit that these so called samaya vows are contrived belief systems. Samaya vows are implied to be absolute and can follow the true believer through eons of time. It seems to me that this system of vows was created by humans (lamas) to make certain that their system was supported. They act as if their system was given by some all powerful deity that will punish if offended. Many of the deities have been bestowed with that kind of power. ralis

I have received the Dzogchen intro. from several teachers. Dzogchen as it is taught by most is mixed with tantra and various preliminaries all of which have no relevance to the natural state. Read Keith Dowman's latest book "Old Man Basking In The Sun" for an explanation. There is no preparation or any exercise one can do to prepare for the natural state! If any Lama or teacher tells you otherwise, they are lying. The natural state can't be contrived or constructed. What most do not want to accept or have no knowledge of historical facts, was that Tibet was a theocracy for 800 years. Tibet was composed of the ruling class of religious elites (monasteries and the Dali Lama) and a superstitious uneducated peasant class. If one wanted to do a practice then the only way to obtain permission was from the local monastery. This authoritarian system treated the ordinary tibetan the same as most monks in the monastic system. The so called higher secret teachings were reserved for the very few. Usually the very few were the independent so called hill yogis. The threat of suffering in hell realms for eons for violating vows was the perfect check to keep the hierarchy on place. Read "The Torch of Liberation" by Kongtrul. My point is that this same authoritarian system is still in place if one wants to receive the highest teachings. Prostrations, preliminaries etc. will be demanded while denying one's birthright of realization of the natural state, to the body of light. Treckcho and thogal do not require purification preliminaries or moral constructs of any kind! I speak from experience, although one might lose one's mind, whatever that is. LOL!! ralis

Been reading many of the posts here with great interest. In fact, the thread on the 7 cervical vertebrae was quite useful. I have been practicing Qigong for about 10 yrs. Chi-lel at first and now Soaring Crane. Also have practiced kundalini yoga and various aspects of Tibetan Buddhism. ralis