RongzomFan

I don't deny "you" exist. There is simply a discrepency between how you think you exist and how reality is. However, I do completely deny that time exists.

Copy of my first post, since you did not read it If "I" is the body, when the body dies there would be nothing. Total annhilation. There would be no reason for spirituality or morality. If "I" is Brahman/Self, death of the physical body would not matter at all. So "I" logically must be something in the middle. The thought "I" feels relatively solid and static, even though every aspect of you constantly changes. Emotions and thoughts are constantly in flux. Focus on the CLARITY and VIVIDNESS of the NOW instead of focusing on the thoughtstream. Realize that "I" is literally a thought. You can even practice it right now. Repeat in your mind "I am looking at a computer screen", which you are. See how "I" is LITERALLY a thought. Notice that "my" and "mine" are literally thoughts. Thus how can a THOUGHT own anything? How can a THOUGHT own a plasma tv, or ipod? Saying "This ipod is mine" does not make sense. There may be an ipod in your hands, but thats about it. Bring to mind various friends and family, and recognize how they exist in your mind as a flawed packet of memories (happy memories of childhood perhaps?) and future projections (projections into a fictitious future). When a person is standing in front of you, notice that even though their thoughts and emotions are constantly fluctuating, your thoughtform of them is relatively static. So thus realize the false nature of people-thoughtforms. By the way, this is the ultimate meaning of forgiveness, if you hold a grudge against someone. Look at something valuable like diamonds and gold in a jewelry store window and then look at something not valuable. You will realize something interesting...I won't spoil the surprise though. Also imagine yourself as emperor of the world followed by imagining yourself as a poor bum on the streets. Dalai Lama likes to say sunyata is simply the discrepency between every thoughtform and how reality is. Time, yourself, other people exist in your mind as highly flawed thoughtform packets/bundles. For example, go look at clock right now. It is just an object with two pieces of metal pointing at two different spots on a dial. There is no such thing as time. Every thoughtform (and all of them are flawed) will produce either 1) affinity or 2) aversion. The key is to be centered enough in the the present moment beforehand. And everyone is already perfectly centered, you just have to acknowledge this. So this method is effortless and easy. It is already accomplished.

xabir2005, You know I love you right? I'm dissapointed that you are still obsessed with this "Thusness" fellow and his arbitrary schema. Yes I realize you were defending me. Thanks. By the way, both Mahayana and Theravada buddhists say that one cannot obtain personal experience with past births, unless one has the divya caksus (cakkhu). It is a high level psychic ability called the Divine Eye.

Has anyone stumbled across instructions that allow one the ability to survive without eating or drinking? My thinking is that if someone has this ability they can choose move to a temperate climate, and just live free outdoors. No job, no worries

You already gave away that you have no understanding of buddhism. And you already gave away you are a taoism supremacist.

If "I" is the body, there would be annhilation. What is so hard to understand?

Any memory of a previous life is actually caused by negative spirits that attach to various people, transferring memories. Even if you don't agree with this truth, you cannot rule it out.

You are kidding right? I did not even mention taoism, or honestly even think about taoism when I started this thread, yet you and your friend both asserted the superiority of taoism and its practitioners. And there was both "unsolicited advice" and "correction of concepts". Get a reality check.

Why don't you actually study buddhism for the answer? Thats the problem with people. Noone really knows what buddhism actually teaches. Study Madhyamaka.

Not really. When you typed all that you were just looking at a computer screen.

I agree All you need to do is focus on the clarity and vividness of the NOW, instead of the monkey mind.

I don't understand your point, but you do realize Zen is pure sutra Mahayana right? I am talking about real Zen, not western neo pseudo-Zen.

The onus is on you to prove that there is a "Self", not on me. Nagarjuna says "I make no claims, therefore I have none to defend"

a collection of aggregates

If that is true, you should have memories of existence before you were born LOL. I notice you have Adi Shankara in your signature. You do realize he ripped off Nagarjuna for a lot of his stuff right?

Time literally does NOT exist. Look at a clock. There is a motor that turns two pieces of metal. These two pieces of metal move around, but thats about it. BTW, the Dalai Lama is simply the head monk of Gelug school. There is no reason to think he is a full Mahayana Buddha in the first place, although I am sure he has realized the nature of the mind.

That has been debunked. He is a big fraud. I contacted one of the doctors Manek claims to have studied him. Did you really think an Ivy League doctor would say Manek is real? This same doctor appeared in the documentary Religulous with Bill Maher, among other things. All you will get from sungazing is eye damage. But thanks for the try at least.

hello

With understanding dependent origination, the correct question would be "why is there birth?"

I am Indian (state of Andra) , raised Hindu, and I agree with that Ebook

There are some misconceptions of hinduism in this thread. Hopefully this will clear those up http://www.siddha.com.my/religionoftheagamas/

I've heard that taoism developed directly from Samkhya philosphy

lol

lol

do you have a basic understanding of the eightfold path?