Mandrake

American Christianity tries to make this an issue for every christian, claiming that you can't believe in both Jesus/God and evolution. This is just dogma, and no christian has to play their game. Perhaps, similarly, some other philosophies are too blockheaded to understand how their views can coalesce with evolution. You can absolutely base your worldview on both evolution and karma, reincarnation/transmigration, beings in other dimensions etc. Mandrake

From what I understand, if that happens, one is doing the prostrations the wrong way. There's correct physical movement/support and gradual increase to hold in mind. Mandrake

You made my day, Thanks! Mandrake

Evolution is a theory, still, in scientific parlance. But also fact, if one by that means that it can be observed readily in nature. Mandrake

We also discover new processes. Electromagnetic fields weren't just there in the stoneage view of what constituted natural processes. Mandrake

What we consider to be "the processes of nature" has changed repeatedly throughout history. It has several times been upgraded to include many concepts and paradigms that weren't there before, and this will probably happen again. \Mandrake

In science, a "theory" is a statement that among many criteria, is backed up by lots of evidence over time, has yet failed to be falsified, produces predictions, among many criteria. Thus, to state that something is "only a theory" is misguided, since this epithet isn't awarded lightly. Mandrake

I have a friend who's girl has the same crazy demands. He insists on staying with this unstable partner, who's making a good work of destroying his other relations; deep and best friends are dropping off. This your partner does not seem to even conceive of the idea that the male body is different. At least, demand that she produces a magnificient female ejaculation everytime, then you will follow. Her psychiatry doesn't seem to have made any positive imprint on her ethics. There are 3 billion women out there. Mandrake

Immortal, You basically answered yourself. Too many people seem to have the mistaken notion that buddhism, daoism, eastern philosophies... are about "having no desires", "suppressing desires" and secondly, destroying the ego. From my understunding, desires will always be there, even when completely enlightened, but are you the master or them? Are all desires channeled for constructive purposes? Most importantly - are they mixed with a deluded apprehension of reality? The ego needs to "be destroyed" as much as the belief in the monster in the basement I had as a kid needs to be destroyed. Was no monster there. All needed was to grow up, explore the basement and see that nobody was there. Still, this concept of the monster, totally non-existent in any place but my idea-world, was threatening, and to go down the stairs also felt threatening and uneasy, but it was a relief to finally get that idea discarded; to not have life restriced and directed by imaginations was and still is only positive. The path (in buddhism) is about self-discovery, discovering the functions and the nature of experience, the world - external and internal - and in this process some beliefs are updated and/or discarded. About the skeletons: Context is everything. For a person with sexual addictions (relative to the past, quite common in all degrees) something like this is good to counterbalance excess desire. The point is to master it in order to allow for the mind to recognize that the objects of lust (I want) are sentient beings in themselves, with their own volitions, wills, emotions etc. and not tools for us to use, with the resultant negative attitudes when they don't behave as our lust would like. And also - be careful to generalize. I don't know who gave these teachings, but the words and deeds of that person as a singularity can't be generalized to be the ten commandments of all buddhist lineages. All the best! Mandrake

uote name='alwayson' date='05 February 2011 - 09:25 AM' timestamp='1296926736' post='240447'] I am only 12 That makes sense. Keep up the learning. Mandrake

Not at all, far from it. M

Daoist meditation contains a multitude of different branches, many precludes following other practices. I would recommend to never stop studying different traditions, even those you're not excited about, expand your knowledge and understanding of principles: Why do a certain branch (daoist, buddhist, whatever) structure its practice in a certain way? What is the goal? Caveats? Dogma and spiritual marketing? Previous practicioners of branch X - what are their experiences? Can this system take me far on my own? Is this system really right for me - does it motivate me? How do I know when I am making progress? Is this teacher somebody I would like to emulate? What am I seeking to accomplish? Etc. Some skills you can transfer, such as stability of mind. Thus studying with a skilled meditation teacher who happens to be a buddhist won't normally hinder you in your pursuit in becoming an adept in a daoist tradition, on the contrary, cultivation wise it can save you much time. Above all, never loose your independence, earnestly cultivate mundane and spiritual wisdom yourself, confirm things with your own experience, question your darlings and don't become trapped in imposed views. This is from my own experience, hope some of it helps. I'll send you a PM. Mandrake

[uote name=ralis' date='05 January 2011 - 10:41 AM' timestamp='1294252869' post='233793] If what you say about "endless things" and dependent origination is true, then how do you reconcile open systems as opposed to closed systems? "Endless things" i.e, an infinite universe, is a concept of an open system which would necessarily require energy and information from an outside source. Dependent origination would be a finite closed loop with no dependency from an outside source i.e, isolation. In a closed system, entropy increases and that is defined by the second law of thermodynamics. For a further discussion see: https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Entropy Understanding this law voids the idea of "endless things." Why? "Endless things require infinite amounts of energy and this law does not allow for that. If the universe were an open system, the laws of thermodynamics would not apply. Further, all the universal laws that make everyday things work would not exist. What you propose is a contradiction in the laws of nature to fit your neat little world view. This kind of reasoning gives science a bad name. At least you didn't use quantum mechanics to sell snake oil. Mandrake

[quote name='sykkelpump' date='29 December 2010 - 09:56 PM Vajrahridaya is on a such high level that we can not understand.but where is his universial love and enlightenment.Is it between his words?maybe.I just cant see it.His wisdom is standing between maybe.excuse me:LOL What do you think Cat? You seems to be impressed about his complicated talking.Why?? beacause his copy paste work??********************,dont understand the essence,but just finds it charming when people say things in a complicated way(not easy or intelligent) they usually cant break it down in an easy way.usually it is because they dont know or understand themself.because of no experience they just reference to books and old masters etc.I know my latest post is about the same,WAKE up tao bums dont belive everything.I am a hater?NO.but what is spreading lies. /quote] This Vajra-bashing is tiresome. A handful of people seem to have real issues with every post of his - usually grounded in their own inabilities - and their posts always comes with a feeling of wanting revenge, of personal righteousness being slighted. How is this supposed to contribute to the community? How is this flaunting of personal issues with somebody else going to help us other members? There are thousands of members on this forums, thousands of posters. Many posts don't elicit any interest and further understanding in me - guess what? I just brush these posts aside. Most here are cultivators or at least professes interest in spirituality, they speak about meditation, give advice, but the image they present - their comments and acting - reeks with negativism. What utterly bewilders me is that third parties (cat and others) who say that they benefit from Vajra's posts - and god forbid, their litteracy don't struggle at all reading his posts - are attacked. Does the internet entitle you to behave like this against other people or do you behave like this in real life as well? Mandrake

Wow, this topic is ending up with loads of useful information! TaoMew: In the context of what you just said, what steps would you recommend for people who want to find their optimal diets? Regarding this: "but I've known raw foodists (many, a whole hive, in LA) who had two things in common all of them -- the chronic runs, and the blank stare in response to things like love, compassion, enduring friendships, all those "intangibles" a warm heart generates spontaneously..." This shows that there are a lot of issues that are due to deficiencies in diet - but that are attributed to different causes. Very tricky. You've also mentioned ability to concentrate. So there are a lot of mental conditions caused by an inoptimal diet, conditions that clearly are detrimental to meditators. So how does one go about finding out one's constitution? What imbalances does surplus of the different elements cause? Thanks! Mandrake

Sorry to chime in: The buddhist view is based on DEPendent origination, not INDependent origination (the difference is significant). Also, buddhist cosmology incorporates endless universes, different planes (astral, whatever), planets, different types of beings (insects, humanoids, ethereal beings...), so there is no shortage of beings reincarnating or shortage of possibilities for reincarnation. In maths there is the example of a hotel with infinite number of rooms, each single one reserved for a charter trip with infinitely many travelers. Suddenly the manager gets a call from the tour-booker: We have to change, our travelers have doubled - can you accommodate that? The hotel manager just assigns each of the previous guests the room number that is equal to their previous number times two (so if you had room number 1, you will have number 2 instead; if you had room 9 you will receive number 18 instead, and so on). Now there is room for the additional - infinite - guests. Georg Cantor spawned some intriguing mathematics about infinities. Infinities can have quite strange behaviours. Mandrake

Absolutely, It would be wrong to throw out the baby with the bath water. But in order to progress, we have to take an earnest look at the existing problems and the historic baggage. Does monastic systems have anything good to contribute? Off course - but we have to diligently evaluate continuously that they _are_ creating surplus value, and doing what they are supposed to do. Is there any kind of abuse going on - whether of children, visitors, of offered money, monks being lazy or whatever you think of - then we need to acknowledge this without self-deception and improve the institution. Can the whole institution be remade in order to serve society better? Would a different version suit today's and the future's world better regarding benefit to humanity? Organizations that are lazy and careless about this kind of evaluation and self-criticism are potentially dangerous organization, potential breeding ground for all kinds of shadow-stuff. And of course there were some tremendous good that emerged in pre-China Tibet, but there were also some serious problems that we must not overlook just because we want to preserve an lalala utopian outlook on Tibet. Mandrake

Interesting, thank you for this information TaoMew. I know that epigenetics allow for this. Furthermore, there are some catalogued genes that appeared in the nordic populations 6000 years ago, which is what I based my assumptions on, together with what we usually here about East Asians and milk. Thanks again. Mandrake

This is such good news! You are such a remarkable human! Next stop book shop! Mandrake

Check out the research of Price and Pottenger, and also material from raw paleodieters. Ayurveda has lot's of praise for ghee, buttermilk, curd and milk and their beneficial effects on many ailments. Some populations don't have the genetics for milk, as many East Asians. On the other hand, there are populations that live on large parts raw milk (some on mainly raw milk and meat) and have excellent health. From what I've heard, sometimes people who are allergic to pasteurized milk are able to consume raw milk without reactions. The "baby-argument" is based on premises I don't agree on. The reasons babies are not allowed to go on drinking milk is because of new babies coming, because adults need more nutrition and that those adults will get babies on their own, and because other sources of nutrition are needed for the original production of milk. Nutrition is individual, and maybe milk does not suit you. But remember that there is a huge difference between raw milk from cattle living on pastures, and ultra heat treated milk from cattle that are fed an unnatural diet. M

Ralis has a point. Being a monk does not equal renunciation. Some people become monks just for the easy life. People overestimate the cultivation accomplishments of monks. I've seen enough. There are people who are serious and devoted in monasteries, but you can also find renunciates who are living in society. When adults, who through their experiences and contemplations reach renunciation, enter into monk-hood, you have good candidates, but again - how many children are able to do this? For the former, adults, monasteries can provide a splendid environment, not for renunciation - since it is a mental aspect(you can dream of lavish buffets, sex, drugs... while living in a cave) - but for dedicated cultivation. Mandrake

I always felt that admitting children into monasteries was deeply wrong. We have enough backing from western psychological research in the development of children, of childhood traumas, building healthy connections and personal borders etc. to forbid this kind of thing here. Admit only adults, and this kind of violence towards the helpless will disappear. And of course - when you send a lot of kids into a monastery - many of them never wanted that lifestyle consciously - so the result is not the serious cultivator, who does not care about possessions and practices brachmacarya. There is an article about the huge material hoarding of high ranking lamas in pre-China tibet. Organized religion carries sinister potential and needs to be monitored and shackled from power. Mandrake