Lightbringer

I actually read a webpage by a satanist who was defining some of the nuances of satanism as he saw them. The idea was not to embrace negativity but rather the other half of a fictional dualism which is often shunned. Basically it was about accepting shame, guilt and doubt as the path to knowing them and being free from them when one has become more evolved spiritually. Obviously this doesn't reflect all or perhaps even many of the world's Satanists but it's damn hard to disagree with. Of course Lightbringer actually translates to Latin as Lucifer so I could be a bit biased

I have gotten so many different types over the years but these days I get constant ENFJs with very similar percentages. I do dislike some of the questions though given their yes or no format. Ie. You are more interested in a general idea than in the details of its realization. I put no because that is untrue but that leaves me asking if that is interpreted as being more interested in the details. I happen to be AS interested in the idea as its implications. Anyways, this one gave the expected though judging seems a bit higher than usual for me. ENFJ Extraverted Intuitive Feeling Judging Strength of the preferences % 44 62 12 28 Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul II, Nick Nolte, Tony Blair, Katharine Graham Uhhh...awesome list of famous personalities haha. I guess I'll just pretend I'm an ENTJ and say I'll be as rich as Bill Gates

Hello all, I don't post here tons and am a fairly new member but I would like to invite you all to another forum. It's run by a good friend of mine with a rich history in Yogic teachings. However his forum is quite special in that it maintains a view free from dogmatic tendencies. It is not exceptionally focused on any particular tradition but rather inquiry into the nature of ourselves regardless of background. For anyone who is looking for a new resource in their search for enlightenment, awareness, God or happiness I would highly suggest it. For those who simply want to pop in for a different take on things, I'd be shocked if you didn't end up staying www.free-awareness.com/forum/

Any feedback? It's always nice to hear thoughts from folks outside the community.

The name and domain for this place has been updated to free-awareness.com now. For anyone interested in studying enlightenment, meditation and awareness free from dogma and open to all approaches, I encourage you to come by! Also feel free to leave comments here regarding your thoughts on the forum so others can get an idea of what it's like. Thanks Edit: Updated original post and thread name.

Egos aren't the cause of much besides confusion. Egos are no more the cause of birth than they are the cause of the seasons. Birth is the necessary way which spiritual beings manifest into the material world. Egos are simply karma. If you have no karma, birth will bring no more of it than you already had because it is not a particular thing to be quantified but an attitude. Karma is not the cause and effect of natural laws but our reaction to them. When these reactions are based on fear, they find a home in our subconscious. As a group label for all these unconscious reactions, we simply use Ego.

Never could either, but it's the dishonesty of that situation that I don't like. Now when my girlfriend is interested in expressing her bisexuality and women are throwing themselves at us rather than just her or me...Well, we'll see.

How does sleeping with a disciple end up making him corrupt? Maybe he simply had seen that he needed to explore his karma with a sexual relationship. I think it's a sign that growth was needed simply because he was not honest about his choice, but corrupt? Just because it's your personal taboo (or more likely a socially imposed one you subscribe to), doesn't matter. We all have our karma that no one else can fully comprehend. Me, I may end up in a relationship with a couple women because that's where my and my girlfriend's karma seems to lie. It's not something people like, but good for them. It's not their karma. In the end, I may go "This isn't for me anymore" or "There really is something good about this" but I'll never know unless I do it. And my karma will not be resolved until I put myself in that situation.

I never thought in a million years, that I, the pseudo-Hindu guy, would be the first to say this. Maybe it's all just a bit too obvious for the Taoists, but obviously the parts of Taoism that you should be applying to everyday life are...wait for it... All of them! Whatever your beliefs, if they aren't integrated into your everyday life, then clearly you aren't living a life with a lot of integrity. If you act like everyone else, then you're not living by your conscious ideals but the ones you've chosen subconsciously (as most people do). To live with your beliefs consciously known to you is to live in the present moment. If you choose Taoism, great. If you choose Hinduism, that's great too. Whatever you choose doesn't matter as long as it's right for you and you live by it fully. Maybe you'll find some bizarre bastardization of everything works for you, but at least you've chosen and a life of choice will eventually mean a life filled with truth. Then beliefs are pointless

The cause of suffering is the ego. Birth does not create the ego. The teachings of others, misinterpretations of events by the child and ignorance cause the creation of an ego as a defense mechanism for those enslaved by fear. If the world lacked people who propagated fear (creating more fear through their own fear-based actions), then children could live and resolve karma happily without ego resistance.

Self-love is very important, but if you're ever going to avoid the heartbreak when neediness sneaks it's way into your relationships, you have to realize something else: Love DOES come from other people. It's APPROVAL which should only come from within. When enlightened, you will have all the love you will ever need, but having good people in your life is key to getting there. Love people for their perfect bits, those glimpses of the perfect man and woman and soon you'll see those perfect bits are part of ever-changing, perfect wholes. Love others, and you'll have more love returned to you than you'll know what to do with. For example, what you remember loving in that dream wasn't a human woman but the very essence of femininity itself. Ultimately, it's what every man loves in each woman. If you love the femininity of your partners rather than their transient qualities, then it allows for a successful relationship. There is no heartbreak, no falling out of love, because what you love is always there. Love can change forms, and sometimes individuals grow apart, but there is such a thing as a happy, mutual break up. So it's all good news, you can learn to love fully without getting hurt, and you can find that perfectness in each woman. Eventually, with enough time and enough nurturing of that femininity in a particular woman, the baggage drops away and you're left with just love and happiness. Edit: Ever write something then read it and feel like you had nothing to do with writing it? Maybe I wrote this more for myself... I swear it's not narcissism!

I'd like to know how you've decided that I'm relying on what I hear or read rather than experience. It seems like you've jumped the gun a bit. To be honest, your tone comes off as quite condescending, like you're lecturing a child. This isn't compassion, it's an ego game to feel holier than thou. And I don't do my Vipassana during a little 2 month vacation. I observe myself constantly in the real world. Personally, I think this ascetic mindset that the only place for "real" growth is in some cave or in the mountains is a load of crap. Running from the real world is a result of discomfort with it. A calm mind with no one to challenge you, expose your weaknesses or make you really think isn't a calm mind at all. Higher states can be reached than that. Try to extend what you have learned about yourself in quietude to the bustling, noisy world and then let ME know what you think about this.

+1 for this guy. It really is that simple. Keep looking at what you're doing, what you're thinking, what you're feeling (and what others are doing/thinking/feeling) when it comes to relationships and they become clearer and clearer (and subsequently easier). It's like being in a labyrinth and expecting to be able to see straight from the beginning to the end. You'll just end up trying to look through walls. Instead, focus on getting yourself to the next corner, then look towards the next.

The Buddhist idea of no ego is not so much that it does not exist, but rather that it doesn't have to exist. You must choose to have an ego. Something that you can just will out of existence is only existent in a broader sense of the word. However, Buddhists leave me irritated more often than not because these things are not explained very well. For example, you start with thinking "Why do we have an ego?" and every traditional Buddhist answer leaves you going "But why?" until finally you get "The ego does not exist". Suddenly you are stonewalled with generalization. It's a bit of a cop out, and I feel this has less to do with the way of the Buddha and more to do with the structure of the "ism". Keep trucking away and you'll end up with a much clearer version of things that are part Hindu, part Buddhist, part everything but also different from what is often taught in all those traditions.

Sounds like general common sense to me. But people limit themselves in many ways, so such sense is rarely applied. Naturally bad things result. Me, I'm often not employed. I've spent plenty of money on years of university and I'm going back for 3 more years. I don't work during school semesters because I like to focus on my studies. Despite all that money finds me constantly. I'm not wealthy, but I'm comfortable. Financial comfort a state of mind first, and a result of little things like market trends and fluctuations second. People who apply themselves always have opportunities, arguably more in a turbulent time like we will soon see. Deal with your own karmic limitations and solutions to all things financial just pop up out of nowhere. Hell, serious success may be right around the corner these days.

There are many distractions and even hope or love can become distorted by the ego to something which slows our progress, but all of it is our karma to learn from. It will manifest some way for if it doesn't then we will not have the chance to overcome it and be better for it. Hope can power someone's progress as can anger, even revenge (The Count of Monte Cristo comes to mind) but eventually it is time to let these romanticized notions go. At some point you don't need hope, you know all is right with the world. There's nothing left then but to enjoy it and contribute to it.

A quick note before I get to my main point: Raja Yoga is the incorporation of all forms of yoga into basically "Super Yoga". It's just intended to be as efficient at awakening one's awareness and union with God as can be. Thus it incorporates hatha yoga (the poses, or asanas I believe they're called), as well as other forms which each separate out into yoga pertaining to breath, mantras, meditation and maybe another that I can't remember. So yoga at your health club is just hatha yoga, but go to a Kundalini Yoga class and you'll be enjoying Raja Yoga (which has various styles as well these days). There are many forms of yoga though, practically infinite since doing anything with total attention and dedication will bring you closer to God. You could do sweeping-your-floor yoga or archery yoga! (aka Zen Archery) Now, there has been a lot of talk about the gods of Hinduism and how they might relate to Taoism, but what most people don't realize is that Hinduism isn't polytheistic. Sure some people think so, but some people think red and gold and Buddha's belly are lucky and that religion is some ticket to fortune and happiness if you jump through a few hoops. Hindus are subject to the same tendencies to look for the spiritual quick fix (ultimately to solve their worldly problems, not the root spiritual ones) so they have developed all their rituals and diverse beliefs. After all, if one person wants money and another wants sex and both turn to the gods for help, there will be disagreement about the priorities of the gods based on simple desire for the gods to have the same priorities as oneself. Naturally, two such concepts of God(s) do not agree and so schisms result. Seeing past all this, the root of Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism and other religions all become clearly related. So back to my original point, there is only one Hindu god, all other "deities" are merely aspects of a greater entity which is not some separate entity from the universe, but is the universe (perhaps consciousness would be a better word?). As someone mentioned, the Gods are useful as symbols because people originally must have wondered "How can I find union with God? What does the Godly Potter or Fisherman or Blacksmith (or Accountant? ) look like?" So archetypal deities were created to give specifics, and guidance for people who all wanted to get to the same place but needed different directions to get there. I think the Taoist relationship has become clear now so I'll stop. It's getting late anyways

Just wanting to add that this common fallacy caught my eye. Karma is no more a moral system than the law of gravity. It designates not right and wrong but action that results in suffering and action that does not. There is no right or wrong as when someone experiences suffering, they are compelled to seek out the path that frees them from that suffering. It's the method by which we learn, and learning what doesn't work is no more "wrong" than learning what does. Not too much moral superiority to be had with such a system Even the Tao (along with many other belief systems) speaks of the karmic nature of our existence and the transcendence of it.

They're only difficult to define for those who are rarely exposed to them. Work to bring them into your life. Then feel what aspects of what you associate with "virtue, compassion and wisdom" make you feel content, satisfied and fulfilled. If something gives you a boost and makes you feel "good about you" it's no more one of those three concepts than that which makes you feel like crap. Again, this is a symptom of someone who has limited exposure to the above three positive concepts. Feeling good about yourself is not the same and being happy to serve yourself, others and universe as a whole.

Regarding what? My friend is a Psych PhD who works with seriously autistic children for a living. I'd be glad to pass on some questions, as I often am curious myself about her job and the human mind.

Good stuff.

Yeah, but nurses, teachers and other professionals here have no idea how good they have it compared to their American counterparts. They like to go on strike every other week, but in reality they seem to be the metaphorical spoiled brats who always want another pony because they know they can get it from their parents. It's far less to do with underappreciation and lack of total pay.

Buddhism only focuses on other planes as it relates to this one though. It has no concept of life, death and rebirth in the astral or causal planes, and never talks about ascension because enlightenment is all it takes to trascend the karma of the physical body. Also, Buddhism is like Christianity in that it has had it's history and message changed to aid political and personal ambitions. I am only referring to the knowledge of the Buddha himself, and the Buddhas that came after him, not a text. Anyone can write a book, change a book or burn a book. Reliance on such texts will give you no understanding, only more questions about the inconsistencies. Only choosing to become a Buddha, one with the Tao, will provide real insight into what's fabrication and what is universal truth.

Generally, poor blood flow (and therefore a cold body) is a result of too many bodily obstructions to energy flow. Ultimately, the chemical reactions in your body that create heat aren't happening with as much vigor as someone with more energy flow. From a basic physical standpoint, B12 supplements will up your blood flow and will warm you up. I had an ex who was always super cold (to the same degree as yourself) and she solved her problem with B12. Be sure to check that you take a proper dosage by consulting with a pharmacist, then try to find the least amount below that dosage that still warms you up. Any foreign substance, especially one so potent will make your body attempt to correct and so you will end up being VERY cold without the supplements for a while. Obviously the B12 is not a permanent solution because of this fact, so I would suggest working on the emotional and physical blockage(s) which are impeding the blood flow. Heal Your Body is a good book for it's chart listing common issues tied to physical symptoms. This may give a clue as to what you emotional issues you need to resolve. I don't agree with some of what she says, but the chart is useful for getting you thinking in the right direction. After that, it's a matter of finding what issue seems to feel right and striving to solve it. You'll find that when on the right track, you'll be able to further lower your dosage until the B12 is not needed. Also, I don't know if I believe the whole yin/yang foods thing or that one's body can be too yin or yang. It's a gross oversimplification at best. My ex who was always cold would be seen as too yin based on her female gender and always being cold. Yet, she was so incredibly yang in behaviour and beliefs that she actually had endometreosis, a disorder resulting from serious issues with one's femininity (there were other indications of excessive masculinity). The key was not that she needed more yang or more yin, but that there was an underlying resistance to her body's nature. Resistance to the energy flow of the body, which is both yin and yang, is what caused the imbalance and thus the condition.