Apech

daredevils, the pure ones who are like our angels, risking all for love.

Nice in a number of ways.

Not sure that lion = ego can you elaborate on that idea? I was wondering about the four beasts which include a lion and a man ... but I haven't had tome to think deeply on this one.

Bump for Dao Ting Thomas (more discussion please)

I was under the impression that all the mod team have achieved ultimate enlightenment. (and the Stewards are Bodhisattvas ... )

to the wind: this way! to the wind: six thousand posts, we're getting closer.

It happens anyway without any effort.

Pythagoreanfulllotus ... i.e. Drew ... there's a thread on deer hunting with compound bow by him ... did you miss it?

Looks like PFL missed again ... no arrow.

4) Jesus said, "The man old in days will not hesitate to ask a small child seven days old about the place of life, and he will live. For many who are first will become last, and they will become one and the same." I am guessing that there is a Jewish tradition that somehow a human soul becomes established after seven days. I just looked it up and circumcision (ouch) happens on the eighth day - so I think this why seven days is mentioned. The 'place of life' is an interesting phrase. Not quite sure what this is referring to but it sounds like a reference to a centre in the body - anyone know? This passage echoes also the idea of 'alpha and omega' - the beginning and the end … and that they are one in God … that is life is a continuum and not a serial process. 5) Jesus said, "Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden from you will become plain to you. For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest." I think this discussion about understanding the hidden (i.e. the mysterious source) and the manifest 'that which is in your sight' should be natural territory for Taoist students. I reminded of the famous quote by Wang Bi on the Laozi (TTC) - "ah! It does nothing more than encourage growth at the branch tips by enhancing the roots" … this is about the non-duality of 'the real' … whatever is seen comes from the unseen root and reflects it. 6) His disciples questioned Him and said to Him, "Do you want us to fast? How shall we pray? Shall we give alms? What diet shall we observe?" Jesus said, "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered." I included this passage because it reflects the previous two through the 'hidden and manifest' link. Jesus is saying that it is not about outer practices or following rites and so on - it is about how you really are inside. Don't lie or do what you hate - don't be false because falsity will be exposed - most importantly self consistency is the key …

I expected more discussion - but maybe move on. Two together to ponder. three now - added another.

Bump for Jesus

found this exotic bird in garden ... any ideas what it is it seems very tame ...

I just put that in large font bold in case anyone missed it.

manifest as one... but only counted by three with nothing between.

Oh really? Then why does the author conclude that:

Swiftness of stillness. I feel like I'm standing still I'm going so fast.

I'm going back to Hermetic sub - the worst we have to worry about is if the salamanders get loose again and drink all the elixir.

Maybe just some macho Stewarding is the answer ... just hide the drivel and let the rest flow?

Sometimes when there is a long bickering thread the reports just become part of the back and forth - and are mostly just spiteful. But that didn't happen very often. The thing is the report function should be used - instead of retaliating just report and let the mods make an objective assessment. So it can be a kind of safety valve if you like.

Not sure what you are asking here. I read your first post but I couldn't quite work out what kind of thing you wanted. Is it a book you need or do you think a teacher to study under for a while would be a good thing. Why the occult and not other forms of mysticism? From your descriptions of yourself I would guess you are ready to start some cultivation of some kind. You need to follow what your heart draws you to. So what comes to mind that you think might be the right thing? I'm sure people on here can give you pointers.

Boa sorte. I hope that thread is closed ...

I still see an article submitted by a member - which presumably they have spent time and energy creating and want to share with others and specifically place in the articles section has a different status to a general post. But maybe that's just my view and so I will rest there (knowing I am and always will be right :) ).

3) Jesus said, "If those who lead you say, 'See, the Kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the Kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living Father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty." I think this a very significant passage indeed. Jesus starts by talking about 'those who lead you' - so he is addressing teachers here - or people that other people would follow. He identifies two 'wrong' directions, the sky and the sea. This could be taken figuratively but also symbolically as referring to 'air' and 'water' or perhaps reason and emotion. Beings drawn in these directions could be birds and fishes. That is people dominated by rationality who see the Kingdom, the goal if you like, as an ideal expression and those dominated by emotion who see the goal as a swell of feelings. Jesus then is pointing to a third way. And he is saying that if you follow those other ways you can be no better than the birds and the fish in that they have distinct realms in which they are happy but are not really free - for instance cast a bird into the sea and it is unhappy (unless its a penguin I suppose). Jesus says the Kingdom is inside you and outside you. Not two Kingdoms but one. So actually this is saying to me - locate the kingdom within and the world will change - or even further what we perceive as the outer world is merely a projection of the Kingdom which is actually neither inner or outer but BOTH inner and outer (because when one comes to the Kingdom inner and outer cease to be a duality). If you know yourself (an echo of the Greek 'motto' of the mysteries) that is you come into the Kingdom within yourself then you will be recognised - because coming into the Kingdom is an act of self-recognition … of knowing who you truly are … and that is a son of the Living Father … in other words a self transparent entity which recognises its own identity as the source power of everything - a son of light. Otherwise you dwell in poverty … because you are that poverty … that is that lack of knowing. BUT ironically 'blessed are the poor in spirit' - so it is not a condemnation but actually an affirmation that we need to be poor and know that we are poor if we are to find the Kingdom - the path of prodigality is affirmed.