dwai

the evidence speaks for itself - I take no credit (except my broken record that plays over and over, repeating this on various threads ) a good source I think is based on Swami Lakshmanjoo’s teachings (he was after all the last living master of this tradition in the 20th century). If you read the Shiva sutras, his commentary makes it very clear what is being referred to in the sutras. from my perspective, there is no doubt about the nondual essence of all existence, so I reject all dualistic methods and explanations as incorrect/incomplete. i am of the opinion that The Yuan shen/yuan qi is indeed pure tattva. if you read the doc shared in the OP, I think the general thrust is in that direction.

It is hard to trace these things so far into antiquity, but that there is commonality is indubitable.

This is an excellent article and thanks @Yueya for sharing it. It is no surprise to me that this mirrors precisely what I've learnt in the Hindu traditions (Vedanta and Yoga/Tantra). Allow me to point out the correlation as follows -- The Northern School of Neidan with its focus on Xing, correlates to the Direct Path of Jnana Yoga (Vedanta/Sambhavopaya of Kashmir Shaivism) in the form of aphorisms such as --- The Southern School of Neidan with its focus on either Xing and Ming together, or Ming and then Xing reflects the Yoga tradition or the Kashmir Shaivism Shaktopaya (Xing and Ming together) or Anvopaya (First Ming and then Xing). According to the Hindu traditions, not everyone is ready for The Direct Path, because there are karmic causes for the obscuration of one's True Nature in one's mind (scattered or polluted). Then such people need to follow the path of Xing and Ming together or Ming first (and then Xing) depending on how deeply karma influences the delusions of the mind. https://ikashmir.net/publications/doc/shaivism.pdf (read sections 7-1, 7-2 and 7-3 specifically). I apologize if my adding from the Hindu tradition muddies the waters, but in my eyes, I don't see any difference in essence, only in labels (and associated trappings of language, cultural context, etc).

strangely enough, that is how Maya is described. It is neither real nor unreal (neither existent nor non-existent).

It is love pure and simple — verily a taste of the Self

To become nondualist, duality must first be negated 😜

Double post — deleted

Why love is not an emotion — https://www.medhajournal.com/non-dual-awareness-is-without-attributes-but-what-about-love/

Anxious furtive glances Try to take in the latest news Meaningless yet wanted Social media listed abuse Who did whom in Who laid whom out Every thing is a sin Every one is a lout This world of vitriol This life of ridiculous strife Only exists online Only we give it life Tireless weariness Exhausted endeavors Manufactured filthiness We inhale like Hors d’ouvres When all things are said and done When everyone is put to rest Will we recognize the harm Will we unburden our chests? Earnest interests in Finding the next villain Will we ever turn inward To find that secret garden? When scandals become the norm When gossip becomes our friend Is when time plays out in an infinite loop Cursed to repeat again and again

This is a translation of the early 20th century poem by the Indian national poet Rabindranath Tagore. I find it quite apropos for our current times

Serpent/dragon in Vedic tradition — Vritra — https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vritra

Maybe find a way to create a barrier for ants? I usually get my home perimeter treated — supposed to be eco-friendly & non-toxic. Prevents ants from coming into the house. I had tried many things including those powered gadgets that are supposed to emanate a field that dissuades ants. Mosquitos are interesting. I usually let them bite me when I’m outdoors, mostly I don’t feel them unless several of them come at me simultaneously. Having grown up in places where mosquitos are rather ruthless and brutally vindictive (or so it seemed then), with potential for being carriers of malaria, we either hid from them behind mosquito nets or with strong anti-mosquito incense (which was probably as toxic as malarial parasites themselves). I don’t have any doubts that mosquitos and humans don’t go together

I like how Rupert Spira says, “learn to sit with your feeings”.

This is part 4

Here’s an excellent set of videos where the one and only Swami Sarvapriyananda teaches via the Panchadasi text, the way to study and analyze the Vedic aphorisms - * Aham Brahmāsmi - I am Brahman * Tat tvam asi - You are That * prajnanam brahma - consciousness is Brahman * Ayam Atma Brahma - The Self is Brahman

This is a very interesting topic. I was reading a quote from Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche which states “the problem with western seekers, is that they want to experience their enlightenment”. I think it is not a specifically western phenomenon anymore — it is true for all modern/“scientific” minded people. The implication of that quote was that because we want to experience our enlightenment, we can never be enlightened because that which seeks to experience is the ego. So long as the ego tries, enlightenment cannot happen. The other thing to point out is what in Advaita Vedanta is called the chidābhāsa (reflected light). The “I am” is made up of three things — the thought - “I am”, which is the root of ego, the reflected light of pure consciousness, and pure consciousness (witness). That which we see/experience is the reflected consciousness in the surface of the mind, which we know as “I am” — a thought. That which knows, but cannot be known, is pure (witness) consciousness or Atman/Brahman.

From a yogic perspective, the reason why meat (or excessive consumption of it) needs to be avoided/minimized is because meat increases Rajas and Tamas (kinetic energy and sloth) in phases. Rajas causes vikshepa, ie scattering of the mind, tamas causes avarana (veiling). When someone who is meditating, especially in early stages, eats too much meat, their minds are not able to stabilize and therefore subtle intelligence doesn’t function well. Subtle intelligence is required for the mind to break through the veils of delusion (called āvarana) which hide our true nature from us. Depending on certain conditions certain minds have natural tendency towards clarity (satva), Rajas (activity) or tamas (sloth). They are combination of genetic, social conditioning but really are rooted in karmic tendencies. But other conditions such as weather, Geography etc also apply. If someone living in Siberia or alaska or high in the Himalayas where vegetarian food options aren’t plenty, doesn’t eat meat, that becomes a survival issue. Then other actions need to be taken to counterbalance the effect of meat eating. The main thing is to maintain moderation.

Was going through some of my teacher's notes from his sessions with Master Liao -- Taiji progresses this way -- The idea is Taiji practice must be done from the above perspective. Ideally, we must let it happen as shown above (not youwei but wuwei). He then tied it back into a discussion of "The ability". The ability is what is important, not the action/activity itself. It reminds me of the Kena Upanishad verses which I share after this. This is something I've been asked to contemplate, with the meditation practices of Temple style. What gives one "the ability" to do anything, to think even. That is what needs to be known/understood/realized. Here are the verses from the Kena Upanishad themselves.

I remember even as recent as the 1980s, when the local "dairy" would visit our homes in a mid-tier city in southern India -- then the operator would proceed to milk the "dairy" right in front of our own eyes and fill our jar of A2 milk. This was the way, every morning at 7 AM. Until one day they just stopped coming...people started buying packaged milk from the local dairy store which mass-produced the milk in factories. There are still some people who retain the old ways, even in the heart of the indian cities...but they are becoming an ever-diminishing rarity.

https://www.medhajournal.com/non-dual-awareness-is-without-attributes-but-what-about-love/

Goring

Olórin

Meow

Try to find out who is not willing to accept what currently exists. Changes will continue to occur whether we want it or not. The only option we have is to accept the change and let it be, or work towards an outcome that is more conducive for us. I like looking at "burden" as a purpose. I've seen that everything that we face in our life is somehow or another of our own making (either in the material realm or at a higher spiritual plane). So, if we look at the thing that is burdening us as a purpose to fulfill, that may be a worthwhile endeavor.

Find out from where does that feeling of being burdened arise.