Apech

In vajrayana they are taught to regard their Lama as a Buddha and there is an understanding that he/she should act in relationship to them in accordance with buddha-nature as such. This doesn't include sexual predation. And there is also a onus on the student to hold the Lama accountable for non-dharmic acts.

(hopefully not adding to the digression) The assimilation of pagan beliefs and cult centres into Christianity was actually an effective strategy which can been seen right across the ancient world and particularly in Egypt and the Celtic church. What the commentators fail to take into account is that as Christianity became the majority religion the 'language', symbols and ideas with which it was communicated came inevitably from the pagan world - because nothing else existed in the popular imagination. This is why the Isis/child Horus iconography was turned into Madonna and child - because it was an instantly recognisable and impactful image. Also as Christians took over the cult centres they did not destroy and build again - they adapted. For instance a pagan temple dedicated to healing or child birth would keep its traditional function with the gods replaced by appropriate saints. This was kind of lost at the Reformation but maintained in Catholicism. Jesus himself said (or is attributed to say) that he came to fulfil the law - which can be taken to mean that his mission, life and teachings were a fulfilment of ancient traditions - his identity with kingship (of any kind) suggests a fulfilment of the sacred duty of self sacrifice by leaders - chiefs, kings and so on - which I usually think of as the lineage of the wounded king. There may be valid connections then with Osiris/Horus, Mithras or any other mystery tradition in this sense which do not take away from Jesus Christ but only confirm him. Why this is confusing is the kind of exclusivity with which the Christian Fathers taught - though even they liked to say that there was an 'ante-deluvian' wisdom which predicted both Christ and the Trinity. (what we now call hermeticism).

Avoiding sexual misconduct is a precept of Buddhism which this Lama should have upheld. It's a simple as that. He didn't because he a is a flawed person and a poor teacher. Just because you say you are a Buddhist teacher and wear the robes and have the titles doesn't mean you are one. Being a bit promiscuous is not actually a crime - in fact it can be a largely forgivable human trait - but using some religious veil to do this is just a kind of confidence trick. And as with all confidence tricks there is a sense of buyer beware and these women would have been better advised to check if what they were being told to do was valid or not, and indeed that people can only be conned by using their own ignorance and greed against them - it is still the case power brings responsibility and they handed power over to him and he abused that trust. He is a weak, stupid and bad person and that's that.

We could liaise at the Joint Inter-Hominid Species (Equality and Diversity) Committee workshop which is scheduled for 39,000 BC. Gibraltar Cave Complex Suite.

I'm a kind of internationalist Neanderthal - left leaning with tribalist tendencies but in favour of free trade in flint and mammoth meat.

I think I took a wrong turn at Z35447 and ended up as a neanderthal.

It's from the brilliant maps site - no idea about the sampling.

Here you are:

Ah but the Normans were from Norse land and not Frankish at all - and the Franks were germanic anyway.

Forgive my simplicity but wasn't he just saying he wasn't building an earthly state but a spiritual tradition???

The lymph moves by muscle movement and not a pulse - but the cerebro-spinal fluid does drain into that system.

I got the manure.

Let sleeping dogs ... bite you unexpectedly in the butt.

Perfect! if I may say so. But does not apply to OP.

Thoth god of wisdom - yes.

The cerebrospinal fluid is pumped into the brain - scroll down to gif on the right: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebrospinal_fluid I am thinking there is a connection between lymph, chyle and cerebrospinal fluid. So you have two systems circulating in the body - blood and plasmas (?). Maybe this links to ida and pingala ????

I was going to say you are doing quite well without it ... but on second thoughts ....

Thanks CT I am a bit disappointed that this thread seems to have gone off on a strange tangent

That makes no sense at all and certainly isn't Buddhist. I think you need to have a look at dependent origination as CT mentioned earlier. If it is your personal view fine, but if you think its dharma then no.

What is the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering? It is craving which renews being and is accompanied by relish and lust, relishing this and that: in other words, craving for sensual desires, craving for being, craving for non-being. But whereon does this craving arise and flourish? Wherever there is what seems lovable and gratifying, thereon it arises and flourishes. There is this Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering:such was the vision, insight, wisdom, knowing and light that arose in me about things not heard before. This Noble Truth must be penetrated to by abandoning the origin of suffering.... This Noble Truth has been penetrated to by abandoning the origin of suffering: such was the vision, insight, wisdom, knowing and light that arose in me about things not heard before. [Samyutta Nikaya LVI, 11]

Most flowers and probably all are attracted to sunlight - plants grow towards it.

I still think you are probably the only person to have reported themselves ... for which kudos.

I find it hard to believe you were an ass .... only once